ADO bus stations in Tabasco: terminal guide

Travelling by bus in Tabasco

Tabasco is a flat, hot and very green state of huge rivers, wetlands and forests, halfway between Mexico City and Cancún. Travellers come for the Olmec heads of La Venta in Villahermosa, the 1,500-year-old Maya city of Comalcalco, the Pantanos de Centla wetlands and the Usumacinta River around Tenosique.

Villahermosa is one of the busiest bus hubs in southeast Mexico, where routes from central Mexico meet those heading to Chiapas, Campeche and the Yucatán Peninsula. Smaller terminals in Cárdenas, Comalcalco and Tenosique serve the towns west of the capital and the overland route to Guatemala through El Ceibo.

How ADO serves Tabasco

ADO has served Villahermosa since the 1950s and is the main operator in Tabasco. First-class ADO buses connect the capital with Mexico City, Veracruz, Coatzacoalcos, Palenque, Mérida and Cancún, and run hourly to Tenosique. AU (Autobuses Unidos) and other group lines handle many shorter regional routes, including Comalcalco and Cárdenas, and ADO also runs Villahermosa's large second-class terminal.

Villahermosa Bus Stop (Terminal ADO Villahermosa)

Address: Calle Ignacio Allende 438, 86000, Villahermosa
Coordinates: 17.98703, -92.92513
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, ADO Platino, AU
Departures: about 567 ADO connections a day to 57 cities

Villahermosa's first-class ADO terminal is one of the main hubs of southeast Mexico. Buses run to Mexico City, Veracruz, Coatzacoalcos, Palenque, San Cristóbal, Campeche, Mérida and Cancún, and to Tenosique and other Tabasco towns.

Getting there: The terminal is at Avenida Francisco Javier Mina 297, at the corner of Lino Merino, about 1.5 km from the city centre. Wikivoyage puts a 10–15 minute taxi ride at around M$30 in a yellow taxi or M$45 in a white one.

Tip: The large Central de Autobuses de Tabasco on Boulevard Ruiz Cortines, also run by ADO, handles second-class lines, so check which station your ticket names. Wikivoyage suggests staying in the centre rather than at the hotels next to the bus station.

Cardenas Bus Station (Terminal ADO Cárdenas)

Address: Carlos A. Madrazo 18, 86560, Cardenas
Coordinates: 17.98982, -93.38514
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, AU
Departures: about 250 ADO connections a day to 46 cities

Cárdenas is Tabasco's second-largest city, in the north-west of the state between Villahermosa and the Veracruz border. ADO and AU buses link it with Villahermosa, Veracruz and Cancún, and buses between Villahermosa and Comalcalco often stop here.

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

Tip: Long-distance ADO and AU services toward Veracruz and Cancún call here, so you may not need to go into Villahermosa to start a long trip. Check whether your bus starts in Cárdenas or is passing through.

Comalcalco ADO Bus Station (Terminal ADO Comalcalco)

Address: Carretera Comalcalco-Paraiso 141, 86357, Comalcalco
Coordinates: 18.26433, -93.21980
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R), ADO GL, AU
Departures: about 48 ADO connections a day to 20 cities

Comalcalco's ADO station is the departure and arrival point for AU and other group buses serving this town and its Maya archaeological site. The main route runs to Villahermosa, and many buses stop in Cárdenas along the way.

Getting there: The station is at Carretera Comalcalco–Paraíso 141, in the Centro district. The town is small enough to walk around. The ruins are on the north side of town, and taxis can be found near the Zócalo.

Tip: Ride-hailing apps do not work in Comalcalco, so use street taxis. If you visit the ruins, bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

Tenosique Bus Station (Terminal ADO Tenosique (Estación Nueva))

Address: Prolongacion Calle 20, 86901, Tenosique
Coordinates: 17.46111, -91.43604
ADO lines: ADO, ADO Aeropuerto (R)
Departures: about 20 ADO connections a day to 10 cities

Tenosique's ADO terminal serves the town on the Usumacinta River and the overland route to Guatemala through El Ceibo. ADO runs hourly buses from Villahermosa, and other lines run less often.

Getting there: The terminal is on Prolongación Calle 20. Moto-taxis and taxis can be found near the Malecón and the Tren Maya station.

Facilities: Wikivoyage describes the station as run-down, with limited staff.

Tip: Buses run roughly hourly to the El Ceibo border post (around M$40 per Wikivoyage). There are no ATMs at El Ceibo, so get pesos or quetzals before you leave Tenosique.