ADO bus stations in Southern Veracruz: terminal guide

Travelling by bus in Southern Veracruz

Southern Veracruz runs from the river plains of the Papaloapan basin through the volcanic hills and lakes of Los Tuxtlas to the industrial ports of Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán. Travellers come for Lake Catemaco, the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve and the Olmec heritage of the region, while many more pass through on their way between central Mexico and the southeast.

That makes the bus stations here more than local stops. Coatzacoalcos and Acayucan are key transfer points where routes from Mexico City and the port of Veracruz meet roads heading to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Chiapas, Tabasco and the Yucatán Peninsula. Smaller terminals in Catemaco, San Andrés Tuxtla and Tierra Blanca connect the lake and farming towns with the rest of the network.

How ADO serves Southern Veracruz

ADO is the main operator in southern Veracruz, and the Coatzacoalcos terminal is one of the stations the company owns. First-class ADO buses connect the region's cities with Mexico City (TAPO), Puebla, the port of Veracruz, Villahermosa, Mérida and Cancún. Group brands such as OCC (Ómnibus Cristóbal Colón) and AU (Autobuses Unidos) also call at Acayucan, Tierra Blanca and the Los Tuxtlas towns, with AU running night services from Catemaco to Mexico City and Puebla, and OCC providing links south toward the Isthmus and Chiapas.

Coatzacoalcos Central Bus Station (Central de Autobuses Puerto de Coatzacoalcos)

Address: Av. Juan Osorio Lopez 164, 96599, Coatzacoalcos
Coordinates: 18.12095, -94.44573
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, ADO Platino, AU
Departures: about 453 ADO connections a day to 52 cities

Coatzacoalcos's main bus station is the transport hub of southern Veracruz, with ADO as the main operator. It has intercity services from most major cities in central and southern Mexico, including Mexico City, Veracruz, Puebla, Villahermosa, Mérida and Cancún, and it also receives international buses from Guatemala.

Getting there: The terminal is in the Villas del Sur district, several kilometres inland from the Malecón and the city centre. Taxis are plentiful and affordable, and Uber also works in the city.

Facilities: The station has a spacious, clean waiting area with shops and fast-food outlets.

Tip: Plan to take a taxi or Uber between the terminal and the seafront rather than walking. If you need a cheap bed near the station, budget hotels are within a couple of blocks.

Minatitlan Bus Station (Terminal ADO Minatitlán)

Address: Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada 10, 96700, Minatitlán
Coordinates: 17.98261, -94.54418
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, ADO Platino, AU
Departures: about 293 ADO connections a day to 41 cities

Minatitlán's ADO terminal serves the refinery city on the Coatzacoalcos River, a short distance inland from Coatzacoalcos. ADO runs direct services to Mexico City's TAPO terminal, as well as to Veracruz and Villahermosa.

Getting there: The ADO terminal is listed at Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada 10 in the city's Centro district. A separate terminal called Terminal Sur, in the Nueva Mina district, is used by other companies, so check which one your ticket names.

Tip: If you are flying in, the Minatitlán/Coatzacoalcos airport (MTT) is in neighbouring Cosoleacaque, not in Minatitlán itself. Allow time for a taxi between the airport and the bus station.

Acayucan Bus Station (Central de Autobuses de Acayucan)

Address: Priv. Juan de Dios Peza 47, 96049, Acayucan
Coordinates: 17.94800, -94.90483
ADO lines: ADO, ADO GL, ADO OCC, AU
Departures: about 301 ADO connections a day to 49 cities

Acayucan has one main bus terminal, and it is one of the most important junctions in southern Veracruz. ADO, OCC and AU buses link it with Mexico City (TAPO) and the port of Veracruz, and with routes south across the Isthmus to Tehuantepec, Juchitán and Tuxtla Gutiérrez in Chiapas.

Getting there: Most travellers use Acayucan as a transfer point and do not leave the terminal. For trips into town or to a hotel, a local taxi is the simplest option.

Tip: Acayucan is a natural place to change buses between Veracruz and the Isthmus or Chiapas. Check whether your onward bus is a through service that is only passing through, since seats on those can be limited.

Catemaco Bus Station (Terminal ADO Catemaco)

Address: Aldama 43, 95870, Catemaco
Coordinates: 18.41704, -95.10650
ADO lines: ADO, AU
Departures: about 45 ADO connections a day to 11 cities

Catemaco's ADO terminal is the first-class station for the lakeside town in Los Tuxtlas. ADO runs several buses a day in each direction to the port of Veracruz, and AU buses to Mexico City (TAPO) and Puebla leave around 21:00. Second-class buses use a separate small terminal.

Getting there: The ADO station is on Avenida Revolución at the eastern end of the Malecón, about a 10-minute walk from the Zócalo. Taxis are numerous and cheap, and most hotels around the Zócalo are within walking distance.

Facilities: It is a small station with an open waiting area and wooden benches. Restrooms charge a small fee and do not always have toilet paper.

Tip: There are only a few ADO departures to Veracruz each day, so book ahead in busy holiday periods. Carry some coins and tissues for the restrooms.

San Andres Tuxtla Bus Station (Terminal ADO San Andrés Tuxtla)

Address: Avenida Benito Juarez 762, 95710, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz
Coordinates: 18.45156, -95.21840
ADO lines: ADO, AU
Departures: about 64 ADO connections a day to 20 cities

San Andrés Tuxtla is the largest city in Los Tuxtlas, and its ADO station connects to most cities in the region. Buses run to Catemaco, Veracruz, Coatzacoalcos and Villahermosa.

Getting there: The ADO station is about 1 km from the city centre. Taxis are cheap and are the easiest option for longer distances.

Tip: San Andrés sees few tourists, so you may hear little English at the station. It is a good base for Laguna Encantada and the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, and for short hops to Catemaco.

Tierra Blanca Bus Station (Terminal de Autobuses Tierra Blanca)

Address: Avenida Aquiles Serdan 548, 95100, Tierra Blanca
Coordinates: 18.44890, -96.35840
ADO lines: ADO, ADO GL, AU
Departures: about 178 ADO connections a day to 26 cities

Tierra Blanca is a town in Veracruz's Papaloapan region, inland from the port of Veracruz. ADO and AU run frequent services to the port of Veracruz, and ADO also runs services to Coatzacoalcos, Villahermosa and Oaxaca.

Getting there: Check the terminal details on your ADO ticket or in the app before you travel. A local taxi is the simplest way to reach it.

Tip: Some long-distance services, such as those to Oaxaca, run only once a day or overnight, so check the timetable in advance. For more departures, connect through the port of Veracruz.