In Central America there is a phenomenon called the chicken bus. It is the term used for public transportation and is used by locals within or between cities and towns. Backpackers utilize them because of the cheap cost of travel. Why pay $30 for a comfy shuttle that takes half the time and drops you at your door when you can pay $2, have unique experiences, and travel with the locals.
Now, the really fun part about the chicken bus, they usually are old retired school buses brought down from the United States. Imagine the bus you rode to school and that is 90% of the chicken buses. Here in Nicaragua most are still yellow with virtually no changes. In some locations such as Panama where I last rode them, the buses get pimped out with lights, sound systems, and extravagant paint jobs. In most, the seats are still the thick cushioned 2 seaters we bounced up and down on as kids.
Unfortunately they are also used for long distance travel so today as I write this, I am on the longest school trip of my life. We are traveling 7 hours from Managua to Bluefields so that we can go to the Corn Islands, and the bus is no different than the one I rode to middle school. Except, no permission slip was needed.
Life is good!