The Chicken Buses of Central America

GUATEMALA — Central America is where American school buses go to retire. In the balmy tropical climes of places like Guatemala and Honduras, they’re given a new, colorful lease on life.

Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Painted
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Filed Under: Guatemala

North Africa and the Middle East is where old Mercedes cars have their afterlife. And Central America is where American school buses go to retire. In the balmy tropical climes of places like Guatemala and Honduras, they’re given a new lease on life. Their engines are removed and replaced with beefier truck engines that handle the mountains better. And they get a colorful new custom paint job over that distinctive National School Bus Glossy Yellow (yes, it’s an official color mandated by American law).

Once refitted, they’re let loose on the roads of Central America’s wild west of mass transit. Privately owned, they run specific routes. You pay by the mile. You might end up with a neighbor’s chicken on your lap. And they don’t slow down for much–definitely not for those pesky speed bumps and potholes.

But they’re also a vibrant and beautiful kind of street art.

Central American Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Fronts
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Painted Sign
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Rain
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Chicken Bus station in Antigua, Guatemala
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Old yellow school bus in Antigua, Guatemala
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala American Eagle
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Row of Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Embarking
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Three Chicken Buses in Antigua
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Angel Bonnet
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Girl in Window
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Panorama
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Front Left
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala with Scooters
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Open Door
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Yellow Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Red White and Blue
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Brightly painted chicken buses in Antigua, Guatemala
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Chicken Buse in Antigua, Guatemala
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Chicken bus in Chichicastengo
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Red chicken bus in Antigua, Guatemala
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Colorful Chicken Buses in Antigua, Guatemala
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Chicken buses station in Antigua, Guatemala
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Dogs
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Two Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala
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Volcano with Chicken buses in Antigua, Guatemala
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Red Front
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Loading
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Leaving
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Chicken Buses Antigua Guatemala Blue and White
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Women and Chicken buses in Antigua, Guatemala
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com
Colorful Chicken buses in Antigua, Guatemala
Photo © David Coleman / HaveCameraWillTravel.com

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David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my gear reviews and tips here. More »