Buses arround Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires

Collectivos are buses. And busses are everywhere. There are 144 different lines in the Cap Fed. If you're travelling on a budget, or even if you aren't on a budget, buses are a great way to go. They run 24/7, though service at night is less frequent.

The fare for buses is 70-80 centavos depending on destination, which is less that 25cents US. They take coins only...NO BILLS!!! Tell the driver your fare and deposit it into the machine next to the driver and take your ticket.

The buses seem to run on just about every street, though learning the routes can be a little tricky. I was advised to buy a 'Guia Te", and though there was a lot of information, it wasn't very user friendly. My advice is to go any of the city sponsored tourist information booths scattered around town and ask them for a map. Tell them where you're staying and where you most like to go. They will draw the bus routes on the map, complete with pick-up transfer points. I as lucky enough to have one of the buses stop right in front of the apartment I was renting, which made transportation very convenient.

The only downside to the buses is at rush hour they can get quite crowded. And also bus drivers are a pretty impatient lot. Even if you are stopped at a red light, they'll often just lean on the horn for no apparent reason. I mean, there is nowhere to go, but I guess they just like making noise.

Getting around BA by subway and taxi is easy, but taking the bus can be a great experience, and this bus line number 152 is a good one to know. If you want to visit anywhere along Avenida Santa Fe, like El Ataneo bookstore, Alto Palermo Shopping Center, Marini Restaurant, etc, then you should come by taxi or subway to get there from the city center. However, going back from Palermo via Ave Santa Fe is great to do by bus. Bus 152 drops you right off at Plaza San Martin or near the Sheraton Hotel when coming from Palermo.

All buses within the city cost 80 centavos for a single fare. Jus go to a bus stop that has the bus number you want to take, when you see the bus coming flag it down ike you would do for a taxi (because otherwise it won't stop), and when you get in tell the driver "ochenta" which means 80. Then put your coins in the machine and your change and ticket will come out at the bottom of the machine!

If the bus is crowded, then watch for pickpockets like you would in any crowded place. And here, by the way, buses are known as "Colectivos".

Well... I do not know it this is a trnasportation tip, a sports tip or a warnings or dangers tip... Colectivo (collective) is the name of the public bus. It is cheap, with excellent frequencies and REALLY FAST... If you dare to take one, BE PREPARED!

Bien... no sé si esto es un consejo de transporte, de deportes o de recomendaciones y peligros... Colectivo es el nombre que recibe el bus. Es barato, con excelentes frecuencias y REALMENTE RÁPIDO... Si se atreven a subirse a uno ¡¡¡ESTÉN PREPARADOS!!!

An impressive local bus network run up and down all the city... you have to look to the front and located in wich direction you are ...so you will know if its the right bus or not... just for the origin and the final point....the main buses starts on the main avenues or squares so its not hard to take it ..the fee is 0.70 also....
The best important thing is that you will need COINS ...its the sole chance to buy the ticket because the driver dont charge it ...there is a machine.....you have to tell to the driver where you want to go and release the machine with the fee...0.70 this is usefull if you go outside the city (quilmes, Avellaneda....) ..in other case is just 0.70....so keep well the coins and use to pay with bank notes in order to receive them as change

We used the local bus ('colectivos') in Buenos Aires. It is a very cheap and common way of transportation and if you are just looking around in Bs As it seems if there are ‘thousands’ of buses. It is a great experience, at least one should travel once by bus like many local people do. In Buenos Aires you can ‘enjoy’ the crazy traffic on the roads while sitting in a 'colectivo'.

Your host or reception desk will tell you which bus you need (there are almost 150 lines !!). Or just buy a ‘Guia T’ or 'Guia Lumi' at a kiosk. Once you know were to go, find a bus stop and flag ‘your’ bus down. You have to buy your ticket through a machine which only accept coins. A ticket is just 1.25 pesos, but the machine returns change. You have to know where to get off the bus, because the driver does not announce anything.

Difficult ?? No and if you do have any trouble (finding the right bus, buying your ticket or getting off) it is for sure there is a friendly ‘porteno’ to help you.
Most buses do still run after 10 pm, when the metro is not operating any longer.

Buses are all over BA too and it's pretty easy to figure out the system if you can speak Spanish. I got on the bus one day and noticed that you pay in an electronic ticket machine. It only takes coins so make sure you hang onto your centavos. I think I paid 1.50 pesos. The bus driver was able to tell me that I was on the right bus and he even nodded to me to let me know when to get off.

I had no clue what bus number was correct, but the destinations will be listed on the front of the bus in big blue letters, so you can't go wrong. If you are visiting a particular sight around town, just ask a local what bus number to take and you shouldn't have any trouble.

Buses are a good way of transportation.
You can buy a "guia T" at any news paper's kiosco. It has the detail of the traject of every bus of the capital city.

You must know that you can pay only with sube card or coins, the machine gives u change from coins but notes are not accepted at all. If you don't have sube card or coins, the bus driver will ask you to go down...
The average cost of a ticket is $1,60 with sube card and $2,00 with coins.

Los colectivos son un buen medio de transporte. Podes comprar la guia T en cualquier kiosco de diarios y revistas. esta guia tiene los recorridos de todos los colectivos de la capital.
En los colectivos se puede pagar solo con la tarjeta sube o con monedas. La maquina da cambio de monedas ,pero no acepta billetes, Si no tenes la sube o monedas, el chofer seguramente te pida que bajes.
El promedio del boleto es de $1,60 con la sube y de $2,00 en monedas.

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I heard that there are over 146 different bus lines (collectivos) in Buenos Aires and it is quite evident as I saw so many different numbers that I felt confused and dizzy at times.

We actually used the collectivos more than I usually use when visiting a city as Ferni was sick for most of this trip. He had gotten a terrible cold and was quite exhausted from the heat most of the time, so we would hop on a collectivo.

Because there are so many different collectivo lines that it doesn't matter where in Buenos Aires you are going, the collectivo will get you there. Another added advantage is that the collectivos run all night where the subte runs until 11:00 pm.

When you board the collectivo let the driver know your destination and he will give you the price of the ride, You then put your change in the machine and it will print out a receipt. Don't worry if you don't have exact change, the machine will give you the difference.

Please also note that each line has its own stop, which it may share with another line and you will also find that there may be many stops in one street, so make sure to check that the stop you are waiting in has the colletivo line you want.

I noticed that within the city the average price was about $1.20 (un peso venti centavos). (11/08)

Bus transportation is very convenient if you are stopping by in a remote place, far from downtown or simply if you don't like subways. Buses run almost 24 hs a day (depending of each bus line) and are very fast (except on rush hour when it gets very crowded)
There are A LOT OF lines so be careful when getting on a bus, otherwise you can end up lost.
There are booklets, sort of guides where you can find the correct bus for the correct destination.

The buses run 24 hours a day and takes you to the places where the subte can't and where it isn't advisable to walk to on your own. It costs around 1,20 ARP (January 2010) for an one way journey. However, BA is known for its high congestion of traffic and there's a high chance of being stuck in traffic and end up getting to your destination later than anticipated.