Coahuila de Zaragoza is Mexico's third-largest state, a vast stretch of northern desert and mountain along the Rio Grande border with Texas. It blends colonial wine country in Parras de la Fuente, the turquoise pools and unique desert ecosystem of Cuatro Ciénegas, the cool pine forests of Arteaga, and the industrial and cultural cities of Saltillo and Torreón.
- Public
- Saltillo and Torreón both run city bus networks and a growing rideshare presence, but Coahuila has no passenger rail, so first-class intercity buses do the heavy lifting between the state's spread-out cities and border towns
- Taxi
- Sitio (radio-dispatched) taxis are common in Saltillo and Torreón and are the safer choice over street-hailed cabs, which often lack working meters and require a fare agreed in advance
- Rental
- A rental car is close to essential for reaching Parras de la Fuente, Arteaga, Cuatro Ciénegas, and the Bilbao Dunes at Viesca, none of which have direct, frequent public transport all the way to the site itself
- Walking
- Downtown Saltillo around the Plaza de Armas and Torreón's Zona Centro are walkable, but Coahuila's cities sprawl and summer heat is intense, so walking is impractical for anything beyond the historic core
Transport at a glance
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Coahuila is Mexico's third-largest state, stretching from the Sierra Madre Oriental around Saltillo and Arteaga to the Comarca Lagunera around Torreón and the Chihuahuan Desert basins near Cuatro Ciénegas, with a long stretch of the Rio Grande forming its northern border with Texas. There is no passenger rail service anywhere in the state, so travel relies on two main airports (Saltillo and Torreón), a smaller international airport at Piedras Negras, first-class intercity buses, and a rental car for reaching desert and mountain destinations off the main highways. Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña are the state's principal land border crossings for travelers driving in from Texas.
Airports
Plan de Guadalupe International Airport
Francisco Sarabia International Airport
Piedras Negras International Airport
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Use first-class buses (ETN/Turistar, Futura, Coordinados, Autobuses Americanos, Ómnibus de México) for intercity travel between Saltillo, Torreón, Monclova, and the border cities - they are comfortable, air-conditioned, and far cheaper than a private driver
Rent a car in Saltillo or Torreón to reach Parras, Arteaga, and Cuatro Ciénegas comfortably in a day; Cuatro Ciénegas in particular has almost no onward local transport from its bus stop
Cross at Piedras Negras-Eagle Pass or Ciudad Acuña-Del Río early in the morning to avoid the longest vehicle wait times
Carry pesos in smaller towns like Parras, Arteaga, and Viesca since card acceptance is inconsistent outside the two big cities
DiDi and Uber both operate in Saltillo and Torreón and are generally cheaper and easier to hail than street taxis, but neither app reaches small towns like Parras, Arteaga, or Cuatro Ciénegas reliably
US travelers driving a US-plated vehicle beyond the border zone need Mexican auto insurance and a Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit, arranged at a Banjercito module at the crossing or in advance online
Confirm current fuel availability before driving to Cuatro Ciénegas or the Bilbao Dunes - Pemex stations thin out on the desert highways between towns