Visitors avoid the buses because they look confusing. They are the cheapest, most frequent and most enjoyable transport on the island, and the system makes complete sense once someone explains it.
Here is the explanation.
| What it is | a shared minibus running a numbered route |
|---|---|
| Timetable | none — they leave when full |
| Stops | anywhere you signal |
| Payment | cash, on arrival, small notes |
How it works
- Buses run fixed numbered routes, and the number is displayed
- They leave the terminus when they are full, not at a set time
- You can flag one down anywhere along its route
- Tell the conductor where you are going when you board
- To get off, say "bus stop" or knock on the roof or window
- Pay when you get off, in cash
The crew is a driver and a conductor. The conductor is who you talk to — he takes the money, hangs out of the door calling the destination, and will tell you where to get off if you ask.
Ask. That is the whole trick. Tell the conductor where you want to end up and he will make sure you get off there, even if it means a reminder halfway through.
What it is like
Fast, close, loud and sociable. Fourteen or so seats, filled properly, with music playing at volume.
- Drivers go quickly and know the road
- Seats fill in a particular order, and people shuffle to let others out
- The music is not optional
- People talk, to each other and to you
- Shopping, tools and produce travel too
It is genuinely one of the more enjoyable parts of being here. Half an hour on a bus tells you more about ordinary life than a day of organised sightseeing, and it costs a fraction of a taxi.
Etiquette
- Greet everyone when you board — good morning or good afternoon, out loud. This is expected
- Move along so others can sit
- Give up a seat for someone elderly
- Have small notes ready
- Say thank you when you get off
- Do not eat on board
The first is not optional and it is noticed. Boarding in silence is the single most common visitor mistake and it reads as rudeness rather than shyness. A greeting to the whole bus takes two seconds and changes the whole journey.
Practical limits
Being honest about what buses do not do well:
- They stop in the evening — services thin out considerably after dark
- Sunday is very limited
- They follow main routes, so remote beaches and trailheads may need a walk or a taxi
- Luggage is awkward, so airport transfers are better by taxi
- They are not fast if the route is indirect — sometimes the road goes the long way round
The evening point matters for planning. Getting somewhere by bus in the afternoon and assuming you can get back at nine is how people end up paying for an expensive taxi — check the last realistic service before you set out.
Working out routes
- The terminus in town is where routes start; each has its own area
- Ask which number goes where you want — everyone knows
- Conductors call the destination from the door
- You may need to change for cross-island journeys
- Going out from town is easy; crossing between two outlying places may mean going in and out again
That last point is the one to plan around: the network radiates from town, so two places on the same coast can be awkward to connect directly.
Frequently asked questions
How do you catch a bus?
Flag one down anywhere on its route, tell the conductor where you are going, and pay in cash when you get off.
What is the most common visitor mistake?
Boarding in silence. Greeting the whole bus out loud is expected, and not doing it reads as rudeness rather than shyness.
Can you rely on buses in the evening?
No. Services thin out considerably after dark and Sunday is very limited — check the last realistic service before setting out.
Why can two nearby places be awkward to connect?
Because the network radiates from town, so a cross-country trip may mean going in and coming back out again.
