This post contains affiliate links and I’ll earn a percentage of the sale if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own & I never promote anything I don’t believe in.

I found my many Mexico City experiences to be a pretty straightforward place… the ADO bus system, not so much. You need to get somewhere? Call an Uber. You need directions? Ask anyone around you. You’re hungry? There’s food literally everywhere. On the sidewalk, on the corner, in the backs of trucks, everywhere.

I kept waiting for things to be difficult. Like have you ever tried to get anything done in Italy? 

But Mexico kept surprising me with its simplicity. A surprise that, no doubt, stemmed from my attempt to purchase bus tickets on Mexico’s ADO bus system.

Do This, Not That // 3 Days in Mexico City | Dos and don'ts | Mexico Travel tips | altitude sickness | Casa Azul | Frida and Diego | xochimilco | Mexican food | lucha libre wrestling | best views in Mexico | Uber | Condessa | Tequila and Mezcal | Aeromexico | Zocala | Margaritas | view of zocalo from gran hotel

Using the ADO bus system

While my plans mostly centered around Mexico City, I also worked in a side trip to Oaxaca to celebrate Dia de Muertos—a side trip for which I’d need to purchase bus tickets. I went onto the ADO bus ticket website—fast forward one million years—and the tickets were mine! Oaxaca, here I come!

Only I, too, am dead now and my bones are being dug up to use as fossil fuels for our Martian overlords. Needless to say, making sense of Mexico’s ADO bus system constituted the bulk of my Mexican travel planning.

The process is the opposite of straightforward. I couldn’t find any useful information so I had to do all the research myself. It took four attempts to actually get those tickets in my inbox.

I’ve compiled all the information you’ll need (that I wish I’d had) to make sense of Mexico’s ADO bus system so that you can explore Mexico as it is now, before the dawning of the new millennium.

You might like
─
If you’ve got similar plans, check out my guide full of tips for celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico as a foreigner.

Mexico’s ADO bus system

There are anywhere between 15-20 bus companies operating in Mexico—the one you choose will be based on your origin and destination. Knowing where you’re going in life is half the battle, no?

The one I chose, on which this entire blog post is based, is Mexico’s ADO bus system which serves primarily Mexico City and everything south of there, on around into the Yucatan peninsula for beer bongs and booty-shaking contests. So… here ⇣

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | ADO service area map

What does ADO stand for?

ADO stands for Autobuses de Oriente, “Buses of the East”, so that might help you remember. But if you don’t speak Spanish it might just confuse you even more… so maybe you should just stick to the map above that I made for my kindergarten readers.

As I’ve mentioned previously, one of the things that shocked me in Mexico was how nice these ADO buses are. Especially considering that one of the 17 things that shocked me in Belize was how they could even refer to their “buses” as transportation.

When deciding to travel from Mexico City to Oaxaca, I’d imagined something more along the lines of America’s Greyhound bus line (of which I have no personal experience but I’ve seen their filthy terminals and I’m 100% prejudging them based on those) or the chicken buses of Belize I almost can’t believe I survived.

Why I love the ADO bus system

The ADO buses are air conditioned, comfortable and offer more legroom than someone 5’4” even knows what to do with. They show movies (some of them with almost no words at all so in your face, language barrier!), have bathrooms, black-out curtains, and the nicest, most patient employees (you’ll see).

The whole ADO bus system is organized, professional, safe, affordable, and an overall pleasant experience. If. You. Can. Figure. It. Out. Oh. My. God. In. Heaven.

Things you need to know about the ADO bus system

Before you even attempt to purchase ADO bus tickets, there are a few things you need to know (besides Spanish lolz).

The majority of my frustration when trying to purchase tickets—things were thrown—stemmed from the fact that the ADO bus system uses hella abbreviations and with no explanation of what any of them stand for or any consistency in their usage. I’m going to list those for you now in hopes of avoiding all the broken lamps and frightened pets.

The different kinds of ADO buses

After choosing your origin, destination, and date, you’re shown a list of that day’s trips and the buses you can choose from. Initiating meltdown sequence numero uno, beep boop beep.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | Order selection page, bus choices and classes
[click to enlarge]

My ADO bus questions

  • WTF is AU, OCC, ADO, ADOgl, ADO platino?
  • I put in “Mexico City” as my origin so… what is Santa Martha Acatitla? Mexico DF? TAPO? GL?
  • and OMFG these buses are expensive AF! (Hey Mexico, how ’bout them avocados? I can abbreviate too.)

I thought a bus was a bus but, as it turns out, there are more types of ADO buses than there are ways to mispronounce Teotihuacan. But while the list is long, the ones I consistently see the most are the ones in the picture above. Here are their descriptions in order of appearance in that picture because I still have questions.

ADO platino

The Nacho Bellgrande of Mexican buses. Only 27 fully reclining seats, a tray table, your own 12″ touch screen TV, free WIFI, electrical outlet + USB, air conditioning, bathrooms, a cafeteria (Say what now?), and a travel kit–whatever that is, but I want it!

AU

Air conditioning, the seats recline a little, it probably has wheels… don’t take this one. I’m Mexican bus spoiled now so I can say that. BTW, AU stands for Autobuses Unidos which means “the cheapest option–you’d be wise to choose something else”.

OCC 

Entertainment system with 3 HD screens, air conditioning, 44 reclining seats, bathroom. OCC stands for Ómnibus Cristóbal Colón (or, the “Christopher Columbus bus”, or just “Christopher ColumBUS” – a pun that has made my whole entire year). In other news, I have no idea what the difference is between the OCC and the…

ADO

Entertainment system with 3 HD screens, air conditioning, 44 reclining seats, bathroom.

I took an “ADO” bus on the way back from Oaxaca and it was perfectly fine. The bus was comfortable and clean, the entertainment was… entertaining, but by the last hour of our 6-hour journey the smell from the bathroom in the rear of the bus had wafted all the way up to the front where I sat. A little PP bonus?

Update: I chatted with someone at ADO to find out the difference between OCC and ADO and she said… there is none. It’s just a different brand. Same service, same quality, different name, almost a 100% price difference. You down with OCC? 

ADO gl

Entertainment system with 5 HD screens, air conditioning, 40 reclining seats (I was literally in the lap of the abuela behind me), bathrooms, electrical connections, cafeteria (I do not remember this), and complimentary beverages.

And it doesn’t say it on their site, but we totally got a travel kit too. There were earbuds inside and free drinks. GL stands for Gran Lujo, “Great Luxury.” Gran Lujo indeedio.

So now that my questions have been answered, the technical progression of quality would go: AU > ADO / OCC > ADO gl > ADO platino. Choose wisely… mwahaha.

Also check out
─
The earbuds may come free, but you’ll need more for your trip. Check out my full guide on what to pack for Mexico City that’ll cover you from head to toe and beyond.

The different Mexico City ADO bus stations

Besides the differences in the ADO buses, something else you should be familiar with before getting into bus ticket purchasing are the different bus stations (and corresponding terminals) in Mexico City. Initiating meltdown sequences numeros dos, tres, cuatro, beep boop beep.

When choosing your origin/destination on the main ADO page, the option for Mexico City gives you an expand arrow because there are 21 million people who live here so of course there are tons of bus stations to choose from. Or are there? Hmm…

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | what is Mexico DF, CDMX

But allow me to back up even further. And I mean, we’re going so basic here you’re gonna be like, “How in the hell did you get this far without knowing this!?”

CDMX and Mexico DF

Mexico DF means… wait for it… “Mexico City”. Or at least it did until early 2016. DF stands for Distrito Federal (“Federal District”). And though the city is now officially known as CDMX, Ciudad de Mexico (“Mexico freaking City”), Mexico DF still shows up sometimes when you’re trying really hard to figure stuff out and you’re about at your wits end.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | List of Mexico City bus stations and terminals
[click to enlarge]
Now that we know Mexico DF just means Mexico City (*facepalm*), we know where to start our ticket search. According to the options on the drop-down menu, there are fifteen bus stations in Mexico City.

ERRRRR! (That’s a buzzer sound.) There’s actually only eleven legit places you can board a bus, but one of those is an airport, a couple of them are just surface street stops, and one is a bus stop at a women’s prison and I don’t think you wanna get on any buses that stop there, if Netflix has taught me anything at all.

You might like
─
For the rest of your trip planning, read my post on the 15 best Mexico City things to do to check out. It covers food and drink, entertainment, Mexican wrestling, celebrations, and so much more!

I had to make my own map

When trying to figure out where to start my bus trip, I tried looking these stations up on a map (pointless when you can’t decode the mystery names); I tried choosing the one closest to our hotel (pointless when you don’t know where they are); so finally I hopped on ADO’s live chat.

Me: “Do you have a map of where all the bus stations are located?”
Him: “No.”
Me:

Him: “Check Google Maps.”
Me:

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | List of Mexico City bus stations and terminals

But back to this list ⇡⇡⇡, here’s what you need to know about each bus station:
(Top to bottom, left to right)

Mexico City bus stations

1. Mexico City airport, international arrivals

2. Mexico City airport, domestic arrivals

3. Airport, Terminal 1, Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de Mexico (Will someone please tell me why these are labeled differently!? I hope you can finally appreciate my Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Shave and a Haircut-level frustration.) For what it’s worth, Terminal 1 is not on Google Maps.

4. Mexico Ciudad Azteca, This one has a wikipedia page.

5. Mexico City Balbuena, small station that only serves ADO buses

6. Mexico City Central North terminal, This one has its own website that’s zero help.

7. Mexico City Taxqueña, the south/central bus terminal with information here.

8. Mexico Ixtapaluca, This one has a Facebook page with exactly 17 likes and a woman’s selfie as its cover photo?

9. Santa Martha Acatitla, address: Terminal Women’s Prison, 3097, Santa Martha Acatitla, Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico–need I say more?

10 – 13.The source of my biggest headache: TAPO stands for Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente. Or, Bus Terminal for Eastbound Passengers–and though they are listed four separate times, there is only one TAPO.

TAPOs ADO, AU, OCC, Platino, GL, and Texcoco are literally just different gates at the TAPO station. TAPO is the biggest and main bus station in Mexico City and the only one you should really even concern yourself with.

14. Terminal Ejecutiva Sur, the south terminal located in Coyoacán

15. Tlalnepantla, This one is so far north it shouldn’t even be considered Mexico City.

But where are they?

As you can imagine, the inconsistency of the Mexico City bus station names and the inability to find accurate information all in one place almost drove me to dip (another Roger Rabbit reference for those in the know).

Why are some labeled Mexico Ciudad while others are Mexico DF? Why are the TAPOs listed separately when really they are the same place? Is the women’s prison so popular they need their own bus route? Please advise.

Here is all of that information on a map I made myself because I had to:

Also check out
─
I have plenty more Mexico City tips that go beyond bus travel. Also read my post full of dos, don’ts, and tips for spending 3 days in Mexico City.

How to buy ADO bus tickets

Now, I’m going to walk you through the process of buying ADO bus tickets so I can point out everything you’re doing wrong (in the eyes of the ADO bus ticketing system).

Maybe, just maybe, it will only take you one try to get tickets to my four. Yes, it took me four separate attempts at buying tickets to make all the possible mistakes.

Couldn’t they have just pointed out everything they knew I was going to do wrong up front? It worked for my college biology professor. It works for my husband any time he sees me fiddling around in the kitchen.

It’s my belief that the ADO bus ticketing system likes you to think you’ve almost got it before throwing you an even curvier curve ball. You’ve played rigged carnival games before, you know the carny’s MO.

An hour later you’ve earned just the tiniest, crappiest token for your troubles and a question you really don’t want to know the answer to: “How many bus tickets have I bought?” The answer, by the way, is either zero or twelve.

Where to buy ADO bus tickets

There are two ways to buy ADO bus tickets in advance: the ADO website and the ADO app. I’m almost positive you can buy tickets at an ADO terminal ticket window, but it’s my understanding certain buses and routes tend to sell out.

Which of the above methods you use to purchase your ADO bus tickets is not actually up to you as the two are mutually exclusive. But could you know this until you’ve completed the 10-step process? What do you think, amigo?

Use the website if: you will be paying with a Mexican credit card.
Use the mobile app if: you don’t have a Mexican credit card.

More on that in a minute…

The ADO bus ticket buying process

Even if you’d told me beforehand that I had to buy my tickets on the app, I’d probably still go through the process on the website to get an idea of what all I need to do and in a format big enough even Ariana Grande could read it. (Girl is blind.) I’m going to use the website version anyway to show you how to do this.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | main ticket screen website

Regardless of whether or not you speak Spanish, this main page is self-explanatory if you’ve ever booked any kind of travel. If you haven’t, oh boyyy have you chosen a fun way to start!

Don’t translate the page

And if you don’t speak Spanish, do not use the translate button that your browser so thoughtfully offers. I don’t know if this is a permanent error or just, ya know, the ADO bus system testing what little patience I have to being with, but when I would translate the website to English, (besides not even translating correctly) the system would break down. And then so would I.

Try it for yourself (honestly, it’s probably just me because that’s just where my life’s at right now) but know that you may have to buy your ADO bus tickets in Spanish. It’s fine. You can do this. All those late night Taco Bell drive-thru runs have prepared you for nothing if not this moment.

Choose your bus and time

Next, you’ll choose your bus and time (like in the picture at the beginning of this post) followed by your exact seat. Personally, I prefer a window seat one row back from a TV and as close to the front of the bus as possible because… baño stinko. After clicking on a seat you’ll get a popup box telling you to choose what kind of seat you want that looks like this ⇣⇣⇣

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | choose a seat price

As you can see, these choices are about as straightforward as an episode of Lost. You’ve got Adult, Child, and Senior Citizen ticket prices–that’s normal–but then you’ve got a discounted price for purchasing in advance. I know what you’re thinking: “Whattheactualasdfuyyenskdggg!?”

Of course you are going to choose Compra Anticipada; it’s half the price. You’re probably also thinking, “In what world would someone choose a regular adult ticket when they could choose the same ticket for half as much?” And the answer is, in the world of the ADO bus system where logic is as fleeting as sands through an hourglass.

The different ADO bus ticket options

But what you don’t know at this point (because this is still your first attempt, not your third) is that this does all make sense. It’s just that they’ve labeled the choices very, very wrong. Allow me to translate ADO into English:

Compra anticipada

A discounted rate available only to Mexican residents. You know how they know you’re Mexican? Because these discounted tickets can only be paid for with a Mexican credit card. You know at what point you find this out? Right now because I’m telling you and at no other point in time.

You’ll get through the entire process, enter your credit card number, and the only message you’ll get is that your credit card can’t be processed. So you’ll try another. And if you’re the kind of person with a third credit card, why are you even worrying about pinching pesos, hmm.

So why do they call it Compra Anticipada? Because with a Mexican credit card is the only way to pay for your bus tickets in advance. Starting over and choosing “Adulto” won’t make any difference because…

Adulto

The regular, standard price for adults over the age of 12 who aren’t Mexican so they should just call it what it is–Gringo. To purchase these you must do so from the ADO mobile app, not the website.

To purchase these, you must choose the “pay at terminal” option (where you will be allowed to use your non-Mexican credit card). From the mobile app. I repeat, you are not allowed to purchase your tickets in advance if you do not hold a Mexican credit card.

Niño

The price of a ticket for a child between the ages of 4 – 12. Kids 0-4 are free but they have to sit in your lap. I imagine the same rules apply in the above two circumstances, but don’t quote me on that as I’m not a crazy person who brings children on buses with me through Mexico.

INAPAM

This means you’re, literally, a card-carrying member of the National Institute of the Elderly. What do you think the entry requirements are? Shuffleboard prowess? Top-notch Bingo strategies? If “inability to effectively use a computer” is one, I’m a shoo-in! Bring on the discounts, whippersnappers!

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | everything in Mexico should be so simple
ADO bus terminal in Oaxaca at 5:30am

Concerns you’ll have during your ADO bus travel

If you thought the questions would end after you finally got your bus tickets in your hand, you are day of the dead wrong. As with a lot of aspects regarding international travel, the only way to get to the other side is most often through trial and error. And because everything I do is to help you, I tried and erred so you don’t have to.

Should you check your bags?

While waiting to board your bus you’ll see a large window with a line of people protruding from it. This is the counter where you check your bags, not where you buy tacos. Even though the signs all imply this service is optional, you’ll still panic.

OMG should we check our bags? Everyone checked their bags! It says bags must be checked 45 minutes before our departure, but our bus leaves in 30 minutes! WHAT DO WE DO!?

This is to be expected. Remember how straightforward the ADO website was? That same pattern has flowed right out of cyberspace and into the real world of Mexico City bus terminals. And as someone who got robbed in Italy of her bags and the thousands of dollars worth of stuff inside, parting with my luggage is an absolute not-a-shot-in-hell.

So, should you check your bags? Yes. For the following reasons:

They’re going to make you anyway

(Seriously, I think the meaning of “optional” got lost in translation somewhere over Texas.) Anything larger than a backpack will need to go under the bus, and it doesn’t matter if your bus leaves in 45 minutes or 45 seconds.

It’s secure

The luggage room is attended and located about five feet from where the buses pull up. Your tickets are checked, your bags are tagged to match, and the guy who checked your bags is also the guy who puts the bags on the bus.

Yup, he pushed those suckers all of five feet.When you arrive at your destination, you can’t retrieve your bag without the matching tag stub. If it helps, you can hang back and board the bus last so you can see your bag get loaded onto the bus. (They already think you’re super weird at this point anyway. You’ll see…)

It’s free

You may see signs that, when roughly translated, say something about how checking your bags is the most secure way to travel and that it will cost you $30 (30 pesos). Don’t be fooled by the Spanish you don’t really know in the first place.

Checking your bags for your bus trip is totally free. Getting your bags shrink-wrapped in colorful cellophane the way they (and Kim Kardashian) do in Latin America will cost you $30.

It’s one less thing to mess with

I’ve ridden trains and buses with my legs crossed on top of my full size suitcase and my backpack/coat/purse piled up from my lap to my chin because I was too petrified to part with my belongings on public transportation.

Letting go of the things that slow you down both mentally and physically makes traveling the world so much more pleasant.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | everything in Mexico should be so simple
a wall I passed walking to my Oaxaca hotel that shows all of my emotions regarding the checking of my bags

Will you get on the right bus?

Yes. But what if you don’t speak Spanish or have even the slightest clue of what’s going on? Yes. But what if you’re at the wrong gate to begin with? Yes. And how do I know this? Because I tried getting on the wrong bus three whole times.

Airport-like security

Boarding an ADO bus is not unlike boarding an airplane, if you haven’t gathered that already. You’ll check your bags, you’ll walk through a metal detector, and someone will personally go through your carry-on.

They’ll check your ticket at two separate checkpoints and won’t let anyone pass who isn’t on that particular bus. Thank God! Particularly, Tezcatlipoca–the Aztec god of the nocturnal sky and embodiment of change through conflict!

You’re probably thinking I’m a complete imbecile. Like, how did I mess this up so many times? Well, the signage at the ADO gates is about as helpful as using a fire extinguisher to blow out your birthday candles.

Though about 5 or 6 buses boarded from our gate during our time there, our particular bus was the only one listed on the screen. So naturally, when people started lining up in front of our gate, we joined them like the non-Spanish-speaking sheep that we are.

Each instance was within a reasonable amount of time to board a bus, mind you. It was pretty hilarious by the fourth time the lady cop frisked me.

How early can you board your bus?

15 minutes before your departure and not a minute sooner. On the ticket itself it says to be sure to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. So naturally we got there an hour and a half early.

Forty-five minutes before our departure time people started lining up at our gate. I thought, “Oh, this is great! I can get a head start on my nap.” Nope. Same thing happened at 30 minutes. Uh-uh. Then again at 20. No ma’am.

I resolved that I wouldn’t make my way toward the lady cop again until two minutes before my bus time–there’s no way that would be too early. But at 15 minutes prior I got the go-ahead nod from Mexican law enforcement.

Where are you supposed to be?

If I learned one thing during my time in Mexico, it’s that Mexicans are the nicest people and always willing to help. I asked for help from almost everyone in the ADO bus stations at one point or another.

The metal detector guy, other people at the gate, the luggage handler, the bathroom attendant, the ticket-taker, even the SWAT guy behind the riot gear–all friendly, all helpful. If you’re lost or have a question about anything, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | everything in Mexico should be so simple
a family headed for the bus station I’m going to assume for the sake of this blog post

Related things to keep in mind

24-hour format

The ADO bus timetables are shown in 24-hour format. In America we call this “military time” whereas the rest of the world just calls it “time.”

Ado bus ticket prices

The ADO bus ticket prices are shown in Mexican Pesos. Don’t let the dollar sign fool you give you a heart attack.

Seat selection

If you go through the ticket buying process and, for one illogical reason or another, have to start over, you’ll notice the seat(s) you selected is/are no longer available. Don’t freak out–you didn’t buy anything (probably).

The site holds the seat(s) you chose for 45 minutes before opening it/them back up again. So either choose a different seat or wait an hour if that was a seat you really wanted. At one point I think I held about half the seats on the bus.

ADO bus station restrooms

At the TAPO in Mexico City, the restrooms out in the main part of the train station aren’t the nicest and you have to pay to use them. The restrooms in the ADO terminal are clean, spacious, and absolutely free.

Checking out early

If you have to catch an early bus, be sure to let your hotel know beforehand. While attempting to leave Oaxaca at about 5:00am, we found we were trapped in our hotel. Literally. There was a gate of iron bars locked tight across the entrance to the lobby and only pitch blackness on the other side.

While I was off searching for a window to jump out of, I kid you not (I’m actually laughing so hard remembering that this was my actual plan), my husband pointed out the fact that we had a telephone in our room.

By some miracle dialing zero got me an actual, albeit asleep, person. I tried my best to explain that I NEED TO GET OUT OH GOD only to get in return, “No entiendo…” uttered with about as much enthusiasm as Garfield the Cat on a Monday morning.

What to pack for your ADO bus journey

  • a travel pillow
  • an eye mask, if traveling during the day
  • ear plugs, regardless of when you travel — people chat, movies play, sleepers snore
  • some snacks + drinks — Neither of my 6/7-hour bus rides made any stops.
  • a book or something else to entertain yourself with
  • or a deck of cards if there’s two of you
  • a camera: There is so much cool stuff to see driving crossing Mexico! I saw a volcano erupt!
  • a healthy sense of wonder and excitement: Be the emoji with hearts for eyes you wish to see in the world.

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico | Where to find ADO live chat support on their website[click to enlarge]

If you have a question regarding ADO bus travel that I didn’t cover in this post, I suggest:

  • checking the ADO Terms & Conditions (translation may be needed) where they outline a great deal
  • hopping onto the ADO live chat which can be accessed through the link on the bottom right of their homepage (They use translators so you can type English to them.)
  • asking it below in the comments section and I’ll see what I can do about answering it

Buen viaje!

MORE INFO

Heading to Mexico City? Find great places to stay here.
How about Oaxaca? You can find those here too. 
But where do I personally recommend? The adorable Hotel Anua Oaxaca
What guidebook do you need? I recommend this one! 
What else have I written about Mexico? See this page.
Like this post? Have questions? Hit me up on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Do you have an ADO bus question I didn’t cover?
Let me know below!

Pin me ⇣⇣⇣

Making sense of Mexico's ADO bus system | Platino vs GL vs OCC, etc. | Where are the bus stations? Mexico DF TAPO | CDMX | bus travel in Mexico |

Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 39 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

135 Comments

  1. Paul Flint says:

    Hi Ashley

    Love your article and style! We are travelling through Mexico at the moment, and your ADO article has been very useful. It was particularly useful to find out about the TAPO terminal in CDMX. You are also spot on about using their website, but we have found that using third party sites like Busbud, or even just buying a ticket at the terminal has worked for us. All in all, as you say it’s an efficient, cost-effective and comfortable way of getting around. And once you’ve got the hang of it, almost much ADO about nothing!

    Paul and Maggie (UK)

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much Paul and Maggie! I have heard about Busbud but haven’t tried it myself. Maybe I will on my upcoming trip to Mexico. (I love using the buses there!) Have a great time in Mexico!

      Reply

  2. A heads up folks. ADO has made a change to the Mexico City departure stations on their website that appear on the dropdown menu. No longer listed as Mexico DF Área Metropolitana – the dropdown now reads as “CDMX y Área Metropolitana”. Main bus station is identified as “México Tapo – Ciudad de México CDMX”.

    Reply

  3. Hello there…
    Really enjoyed this blog. Wish I’d found it sooner.
    Anyway I made a very similar experience with the advance ticket purchase as some readers here.
    And I think I found a funny/confusing way of saving some money.
    First step is to buy an advance ticket with the ADOapp (you’ll feel your own mexican spirit by doing so). The thing with the non-mexican credit card will of course still stop the payment (in my case it didn’t stoölp ADO from charging my credit account) without getting a ticket in the app, so thats a bummer for your mexican spirit. Instead of freaking out (like I did – I’m kinda protective with my money) you should remember that your seat is in fact reserved in your name. Put simply, this means you just have to claim it. For your next step you’ll just need to go to an ADO busstation and look for an help desk where the only words you need to say are your name, destination, date and departure time. The guy/women at the customerservice will then, without any further questions asked (except maybe if you are already 18 – thanks man) print your tickets.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Jones! That’s veryyyy interestingggg. I’m glad it all worked out for you! Good to know that you can still get your ticket since you paid for it! lol Have fun in Mexico!

      Reply

  4. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this blog post. Sooooooooooooooooo helpful.

    Reply

    1. And thank YOU for taking the time to comment! 🙂 Have a great time in Mexico!

      Reply

  5. This post is PURE GOLD!!! Thanks for all the incredibly useful information and a bagful of laughs in the process of reading 😀 😀

    Reply

    1. Haha, thanks Klara!! I hope it helps you with your trip! Have the best time in Mexico! 🙂

      Reply

  6. Thanks so much for this article, the single most useful one I’ve read on Mexican bus travel 🙂

    They still don’t accept EU cards, but there’s PayPal so this takes out so much sweat!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Zeno!! That’s good to know. I hear so many conflicting things. Have fun in Mexico!

      Reply
  7. Alejandro says:

    This was incredibly useful!! Thanks for taking the time.

    Reply

  8. Hi Ashley! Your post was so informative and funny. You’re a great writer. Just adding this note to say that I booked tickets from CDMX to Oaxaca (and back) just now, used the ADO website, *and* paid with a US credit card, *and* got the pay-in-advance discount. Win-win-win-win! I guess they’ve fixed their system. Thanks for all the info, which was been exceptionally helpful so far!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Pete! Yes, it sounds like they’ve finally figured things out! Glad you were able to do it all easily and save some cash! 🙂

      Reply
    2. Polina D Olexenko says:

      Thank you so much! I’ve been looking everywhere to see if they accept US credit cards

      Reply
      2. Jade Hughes says:

        Hello great article!!
        I can’t remember if the autobus norte in cdmx has a left luggage service, we would like to leave ours for a day!

        Many thanks

        Jade

        Reply

        1. Hi Jade! I’m not 100% on this but I *think* I remember seeing left luggage stations at that station. I also checked a few forums and people seemed to agree as well. Hope that helps! Let me know what you find. 🙂

          Reply
    3. Camilo Perez says:

      I just bought tickets myself on the ADO website using a US credit card and I got the email with tickets attached.

      Thanks Ashley for the info and welcoming humor! 🙂

      Reply

      1. Awesome! Glad that worked for you. It’s weird – some people say it works now, and still others say they can’t get them. Who knows! Thanks for letting me know Camilo. Have fun in Mexico!

        Reply

  9. I mostly just wanted to thank you for that incredible funny read. Here I was, thinking I was just about to read a blog with some practical info for my trip. I mean, I definitely got that too, but when I started to notice how your frustration with the booking process and terminals matched my frustration pretty much exactly, I knew I was in for a ride (no pun intended) and I love every second of it.

    So, thank you. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Haha, thank you Loeka! As much as all that sucks, I’m glad I’m not alone/crazy/incapable of figuring things out, LOL. Hope you got your trip all figured out! Have fun in Mexico 🙂

      Reply

  10. Thanks for all the information! Very helpful after I spend quite some time navigating the Ado website and trying to book some tickets. Very enjoyable reading as well 😉

    I did eventually find a 3rd party company where everything is in English, and ADO tickets can be purchased in advance with a US credit card! Life saver!
    https://www.busbud.com/

    Reply

    1. Thanks Beth! I’ve seen a couple of other people mention that site. I will have to try that next time!

      Reply

  11. Thanks for the laughs !! and straightening out the bus stations.

    I managed to buy tickets from Canada on ADO site via paypal and received my tickets within seconds.

    Trick is you need to create an account first. Once your account is created go ahead and book/purchase your tickets. I used paypal but was told credit cards would work also.

    Reply

    1. Good to know! It sounds like they have updated their process – and I hope they did. It needed serious help! I’ll try this out the next tiem I use ADO.
      Thanks!

      Reply

  12. This was SO helpful & also just a great read! I just managed (having obstinately tried 8 times with a debit card) to successfully get tickets by paying with PayPal on the website. Not sure I’ll believe it’s worked until I am safely on that bus, but keeping my fingers crossed!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Lucy! And haha – the “I’ll believe it when I see it” is definitely the right attitude to have. I hope everything works out! I’ve had some people say PayPal worked great for them on the website! Have fun in Mexico 🙂

      Reply

  13. FWIW, there is an ADO office in Centro right across from Zocalo, Monte de Piedad No 11 Local 10, in the back of Centro Joyeria de Mexico. The alleged telephone number is 5510 4539. The concierge at my hotel told me. I can’t tell you how well it worked. I arrived there at 18:38 and was told by the security guard that it was “closed.” He repeated it when I showed him that the closing time listed on the business card is 19:00. (All the information comes from the card. But I can attest that there is a desk marked ADO at this site.)

    Reply

    1. This comment basically sums up every experience with ADO. Thanks for the information… maybe it will help someone. The thing is, ADO is such a great bus company! Why can’t they get their shit together to make it easier for EVERYONE? I’ll check this out the next time I’m in town and see if I have better luck.

      Reply
  14. Louise Carmel says:

    Hi Ashley,
    I am glad I could read your post. Thanks, laughing is good for mental health.
    In my case, it helped a lot.
    I am going to Mexico City next month and would like to go to Puebla by bus from Mexico city … on Good Friday. So I want to RESERVE my place on a bus before getting there, as I expect there will be lots of Mexicans travelling around.
    My question is: if I do reserve through the App, will I be able to pay with my non mexican credit card?
    You wrote ”I repeat, you are not allowed to purchase your tickets in advance if you do not hold a Mexican credit card.” Can you explain me please. If we cannot do it, what can be done in the App???

    If yes we can, then when I get to the bus terminal on that Good Friday, will there be a place for me FOR SURE on the bus if I can show I have a reservation?
    Will they recognize it ?

    I feel nervous about this, should I ?
    Thanks again sooooo much

    Reply

    1. Thanks Louise! Glad I could help 🙂
      So what ADO has told me over and over, is that if you want to reserve in advance with a non-Mexican credit card, you have to do so in the app and choose the “pay later” option. So you would reserve your spot, then pay at the station when you get there. HOWEVER, some people have said that when they go to pay, there is no record of their reservation. Don’t ask, I have no idea LOL
      If I were you, I’d hop onto ADO’s live chat and ask them the same thing and see what they say. Maybe they’ve got a better answer for you? Maybe they can even tell you if Good Friday is a busy day or not. (I typically find that NO ONE travels on that day instead of the other way around.)

      Reply

  15. Thanks for the super helpful post! I just wanted to update anyone looking – I’ve tried to book tickets on the website via PayPal but it hasn’t worked at all. I tried the app to reserve and pay in-person but it also didn’t process. I even tried to purchase through ClickBus and haven’t had any luck! Now we’re planning to head to the ADO ticket counter when our flight lands and just buy our tickets then. Tickets are already appearing to sell a bit but we’re hoping we’ll be able to make it work!

    If anyone has any recommendations for trouble-shooting, let me know. 🙂

    Reply

    1. I’m rolling my eyes so hard right now, lol. Why does it have to be so difficult, really? Thank you so much for the update and the information! Wishing you the best of luck when you get there – I’m sure it’ll be fine. The ADO buses are really great, hopefully they get with the program at some point!

      Reply

  16. WOW thank you for this incredibly detailed post! I want to make sure I’m clear on the advance ticket purchase thing. It looks like you can book via the app, reserve a seat, if you don’t have a Mexican credit card, and then pay at the terminal? Am I understanding that right? Or you basically just can’t get an advance ticket if you don’t have a Mexican CC?

    I’m also glad someone else in the comments asked about what happens if you miss your bus, I was thinking about trying to get an advanced ticket from the airport but if there are any delays I don’t want to waste that ticket and have to buy a new one.

    Reply

    1. Hi Carina!
      Yes, you’ve got that all right. However, someone who commented the other day said he was able to pay with PayPal on the website? I haven’t checked that out personally but maybe it’s worth looking into?
      But yes, the advance – aka – discount tickets are otherwise reserved for Mexican residents.
      Good luck and enjoy Mexico!

      Reply

  17. Hey Ashley! This post is very inefficient as you made me laugh so much that it took longer than necessary to get all the information. It’s great and thanks writing and updating it 😀

    Reply

    1. Haha, thanks Lilliane! I feel laughter is *always* worth the distraction. 🙂

      Reply
  18. Johnathan says:

    Hello Ashley,

    First, thank you for this post. I just got to Mexico and I’m planning on traveling around for 5 or 6 months, mostly by bus and like you, I thought I was in over my head when I first found the ADO website and realized my 2 months of Duolingo didn’t make me as fluent as I thought I was.

    I just wanted to let you know that I found a work around to buy the discounted tickets without using a Mexican issued credit card AND without using their terrible app. To buy the discounted ticket you can use their website (!!!! because the app is horrendous). When you get to the point where you pay choose to pay via Paypal. Once you log into Paypal you can pay in your home currency or MXN via bank tranfer, credit card or debit card. I’ve purchased 3 tickets this way so far and it was pretty pain free. I’m a little curious to know if I’ll get stopped from boarding since I’m clearly not Mexican (I’m African American), but I don’t anticipate any issues since my ticket doesn’t say anything in reference to my ticket being a discount ticket. Wish me luck!

    Reply

    1. Hi Johnathan! Thanks for the info – there was definitely not an option to pay using PayPal when I bought my tickets! Maybe they’ve changed it. Also, my friend in Mexico said she bought a non-Mexican friend a discounted ticket but she got busted as the bus station and had to buy another, full price ticket on the spot. Best of luck, have a great time in Mexico, and let me know how it goes! 🙂

      Reply

  19. whats the best side of the bus to sit on traveling from Oaxaca to Mexico City?

    Thanks

    Reply

    1. I LOVE this question because it is so totally something I would ask. Traveling from Oaxaca to Mexico City I sat on the left side of the bus (so, the driver’s side) and I believe that to be the best. From our side we had constant cliff-side, valley views, and when we passed through Puebla we saw the volcano Popocatépetl erupt right next to our bus!

      Reply

  20. Hello,

    Thanks so much for such great detail. I am debating whether to purchase a ticket beforehand or just get it when I arrive at the airport. A question I cant seem to figure out is what happens if I get a ticket ahead of time and miss the bus. Will I be able to just transfer the ticket to the next bus or will the make me purchase another.

    Reply

    1. Hi Erin! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
      So I just checked the ADO terms and conditions (because I had no clue about this either). This is what their page says, “In case of arriving up to 60 minutes after the departure time marked on your ticket, the company grants you a 50% discount on the regular price (Full) to the same destination at the next available time and seat, delivering your original ticket and presenting an official identification in force.”

      So it sounds like if you miss your bus but still show up within the hour, you’ll get half off a new ticket. This leads me to believe that if you miss the bus by more than an hour you’re out of luck?

      Personally, I am very much a buy-in-advance person but a lot of readers have said that they’ve purchased their ADO bus ticket at the window right when they needed it. If I were you, I’d: 1) get onto ADO live chat and ask them more details about what would happen if you miss the bus, and 2) consider just buying when you get there IF you aren’t arriving at the busiest time of the day/busiest day of the week, etc.

      Hope that helps! Have fun in Mexico!

      Reply

      1. Thanks so much!! I did just that – Live Chat. I appreciate your help

        Reply

  21. Hi,

    I’m trying to share your article to an expat page on Facebook. The link I share tells them this article is archived and goes nowhere. Is there a way to overcome this or could you send me a text only version that I can copy and paste? Thanks. You shared very valuable insight.

    Reply

    1. Hi Don, thank you so much for the compliments! The “archives” pages shows up if a URL is typed in wrong (etc.) so I’m not sure why it would be showing up for them. Is the link you shared on Facebook this one: https://www.mywanderlustylife.com/ado-bus-system-mexico/

      Sharing the link just like that should send them right to the article. Please let me know if you still have trouble and thank you for sharing!

      Reply

  22. Someone told me Platino is good for my elderly and frail, bed ridden or in a wheel chair.. dad. Yet looking at the picture.I can’t seehow they’d get him up the stairs and around the corner to lay down and have room to be toilettes if needed.
    Any info?
    Great and hilarious service you have made. Hope they know or paid you somehow.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kate – thank you so much!! I’d like to think they know too, but who knows. 🙂
      So I just went on the ADO live chat and asked about this. They said none of their buses are wheelchair accessible (even the Platino) and that the wheelchair must be folded and stowed in the storage area with the luggage. (They do have bathrooms though.)
      I wish I had better news. 🙁

      Reply

      1. Thank YOU for checking this!

        Reply

  23. You’re awesome, thanks for this post! It’s given me all the info that I need to get to Oaxaca from “DF” EXCEPT – can we take extra luggage if we pay for the privilege? Despite all attempts to be minimalist, hubby and I are traveling in Mexico for a year and after 10 months, our bags have spawned children. I’ll research this out one day soon (should be a breeze, right? ), but if you happen to know, that would be swell. Thanks again for the detailed information!!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Stacey! I don’t know off the top of my head but I’m almost sure you can do that! Head to the ADO site and ask them in the live chat – it won’t take but a couple minutes and I’m willing to bet you’ll get your answer. Also, a year in Mexico sounds so beautiful – have fun!

      Reply
      1. Stacey Marolf says:

        I thought I’d follow up! We just boarded the ADO gl bus and are about to leave for Oaxaca. I had done a live chat on the ADO site to determine whether taking extra luggage would be an issue, and what any additional cost would be. The answer was super cryptic; basically, that any cost would be determined by the individual bus station (I think that’s what was meant).

        At the TAPO station just now, a baggage handler was immediately available and friendly. He carted our luggage to the baggage check-in desk. After showing our tickets, our embarrassing amount of luggage (5 pieces) was quickly tagged and gone, and at no charge. It was the smoothest operation ever. We tipped the initial baggage handler, of course, but other than that, it was free. Didn’t even receive any side eye!

        Reply

        1. So good to know! Thanks for the follow up Stacey! I’m glad everything worked out. Maybe if the bus is packed and there’s very little room they would charge people? I bet it’s on a case-by-case basis? Anyway, have a great rest of your trip!

          Reply
  24. Renee Greenlee says:

    Hi Ashley! I’m loving ALL of your México posts. So helpful and funny! In reading this post on bus transportation, I’m wondering if you considered renting a car? Or was it worth all the hassle to go via bus? We rented a car to get to Tulum from Cancun a few years ago and it was mostly fine. This year, we’re planning to go from CDMX to Morelia and stop at a few places along the way. I like having independent transportation when traveling outside of a major city, but I’m considering the safety and logistics when traveling from CDMX to Morelia and surrounding areas. Any tips/advice on car rental?

    Reply

    1. Hi Renee! And thank you!
      No, I didn’t consider renting a car. When I make these kinds of trips in Europe I almost always rent a car because, like you, I love the independence and being able to stop at otherwise unknown places to explore. However, I was traveling with a friend who lived in Puebla at the time and she takes the ADO bus A LOT so I just went with her suggestion. Our trip was so quick that I think it would’ve been more hassle to rent a car. Plus, we were cliffside for a lot of the time so I just prefer to leave that to someone who knows the route LOL.

      Also, independent highway travel is not always the safest, depending on where you are. And I don’t know enough about rural Mexico to make that call myself. I’m sure it’s fine, but that would’ve just been another thing I’d have to research and I don’t always have the time for that. 🙂
      I’d say do your research and if you feel safe/confident, and the rental car process is easy enough, then go for it. Otherwise, the ADO bus (and some other companies) are seriously great for this kind of travel! And when I say ‘do your research’ – I mean talk to people who live near and travel that route often who would make great primary sources of information.
      I hope you have a great time! I can’t wait to make it back to Mexico. 🙂

      Reply

  25. Thank You, Thank You, Thank you!!!! GRACIAS!!! You just helped me SO much!!

    Reply

    1. You’re welcome!! So happy I could save someone the headache I went through, lol! Have fun in Mexico!

      Reply

  26. Eres un Angel! Thanks for this.

    Reply
  27. Bill Woods says:

    Just want to thank you so much for this informative post. I was pulling out what little hair I have left, until I found your fabulous blog post. It is a very detailed, accurate Life Saver !!! We got a much better deal (particularly with your discount tip) than we would have had we waited. Thanks much !!!

    Reply

  28. This actually made me laugh out loud. Also very useful – thank you for such a detailed article! I’m now about to attempt to buy a ticket!

    Reply

  29. This had me CTFU, loved it!!! I am an American who has been/lived all over the world (with andd without my kids, current ages 20 and 25) and this brought back memories of experiences in many languages! Having lived in MX for awhile I find it easier to just go to the bus station and buy a ticket for “soon-ish” then it is a lot less stress. (I never had an issue when I bought tickets online for my son y amigos though.) I recommend busbud.com for people buying tickets online, I have used my Paypal Debit as well as other American Debit and Credit Cards.

    Anyways, this article was such an entertaining read that I will now read more and subscribe. 🙂 Thanks, and may your travels always bring you joy.

    Reply

    1. Haha, thank you Kaarin! And thanks for the info – I’ll look into busbud for next time!

      Reply

    2. If I use busbud, do I still have to print the ticket? A portable printer is not yet on the list of things to bring on vacation. 🙂 Thank you!

      Reply

      1. Hi Diana – Personally I’ve never used Busbud, but my opinion when it comes to printing tickets: when it doubt, print it out! You can’t go wrong with a paper ticket. If you don’t have a printer yourself (I don’t either), there should be a place around you that will be able to print it. An Office store, your hotel lobby, etc. Hope that helps!

        Reply

        1. Thank you for your reply! I played around with the website, and it told me that I don’t have to print the ticket, I just have to show it on my phone. Well, at least that’s what they say.

          I did not end up in buying the ticket with them because they were not passing the savings on to me. They were charging me full ADO price + 80 peso commission. Confusing?

          Do you happen to know how soon I can buy the ticket from the bus station on the day of departure?

          Reply

          1. No, I’m not sure but I imagine it’s any time that day. Go to the ADO website and ask their live chat help (the live chat button is in the bottom right of the main page). They’re very responsive, English-speaking, and should be able to help you! Good Luck 🙂

          2. Thank you so much! I made a reservation yesterday using the app and I chose to pay at the counter. I even got a confirmation e-mail and everything. It told me to come 2 hours early to pay.

            I went there 2.5 hours early & surprise, no reservation! Haha, at least we were able to buy the tickets there in person.

          3. Oh. My. God. I’m shaking my head so hard. I don’t know why some things are so difficult when they don’t need to be! Well I’m glad it all worked out for you anyway, whew! Have a great time in Mexico!

  30. Sam & Sophie says:

    Great article Ashley!

    How far in advance can you book tickets with ADO? We are trying to organise our journey from Cancun to Holbox (via Chiquila) and it seems we cannot find tickets for a few weeks away.

    Any insight is greatly appreciated!

    Reply

    1. Hmm, I’m not sure and I suspect it’s different for different destinations. What I would do is go onto the ADO website and contact them through their live chat. I always get an answer and they respond quickly and in English. They should have an answer for you! Their live chat button is in the bottom righthand corner of the main page. Good luck!

      Reply
  32. Dan Nichols says:

    Wow! Awesome post!

    However, I found it much easier to just go to any ADO office and ask when the next bus is to where I want to go. If you’re in DF, its easy to pack yourself in the subway and get to the station, buy the tickets, and then come back on the day when you plan to go. You definitely should know some basic Spanish, though. If you don’t, just take the map with you and point to where you want to go.

    In any other pueblo, you just take a cab to ADO. Ask how much it costs to get to ADO, and ask two or three cabs before you trust the first one and take it, because there is a high probability that at least one of them will try to charge a lot more than it should.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Dan! I agree that going by the ADO station would be the best. And if I were in Mexico at the time I would’ve done that, LOL. Great tips!

      Reply

  33. I enjoyed your article. Informative, light-hearted and relevant. My husband and I are traveling to Cancun, and transferring to Merida (our intended destination) this fall.
    I have a question about the bus service and dogs. We are traveling with our 6 1/2 pound dog. She fits nicely in a dog carrier no bigger than a typical backpack. She doesn’t bark (Chinese Crested mix) Do you know what the policy is on transporting dogs on buses?

    Reply

    1. Thank you Sue!
      I reached out to ADO about traveling with small dogs and this is what they told me:
      ———————–
      To be able to travel with your pet you should consider the following:
      -The trip should not last more than 8 hours
      -It has to be a pet
      -You will have to go sedated (preferably)
      -It will travel in the trunk of the bus on a conveyor
      -The transfer will not have extra cost if the pet does not exceed the 25 kg allowed for each passenger

      We know that your pet is a loved one but out of respect for other passengers, you are not allowed to travel on the top of the bus.
      No snakes, spiders, birds, mice (of different species), or any other animal restricted by current ecological regulations may be transported.
      ———————–
      Ha, obviously this is not ideal as no pet owner I know would ever drug their dog and put it in the trunk with the suitcases. So, I would definitely reach out to them again and see what can be done. I mean, there’s got to be a better way, right!? Best of luck!

      Reply

  34. Nice post and very informative!

    I have an extra piece of advice regarding booking the advanced tickets. There’s an option to pay for the tickets at a physical location using cash. You basically go into a bank (Santander etc) within 24 hours of placing the order, pay in cash and they email you the tickets. Currently sat on the bus to Oaxaca having done just that 🙂 It appears this gets around the Mexican CC issue! Hope this helps others.

    Reply

    1. Thanks JH! That’s great advice! This is the first time I’m hearing about that. Does that option come up on the app or website?
      Have a great time in Oaxaca!

      Reply

      1. It is on the website and is the fourth option down on the payment page ‘Pago En Efectivo’ (Google Translates to Cash Payment).

        Thanks! Any particular recommendations? We can’t wait for the food!

        Reply

        1. Good to know, thank you!
          And YES – get the “huevos oaxaqueños” for breakfast.

          Reply
  35. Marci's Distinctive Photography says:

    Is it possible to have a Mexican friend buy you an advance ticket with his credit card?

    Reply

    1. Hi Marci! Yes that is possible but beware because they may do random checks if they think you’re not a local. My friend living in Mexico bought one for her friend and they asked her for ID and the cc the ticket was purchased with. When they realized she wasn’t that person, she had to buy a full-price ticket there on the spot. Just something to think about!

      Reply

  36. Great read and useful! Thanks!

    Reply
  37. jeany wilson says:

    How do you find the app on google play please..? & is it that you just reserve tickets as we don’t have mexican credit card then collect them In Merida. Good read by the way.
    Safe travels. : )

    Reply

    1. Thanks Jeany! Yes, you would just reserve them through the app and then collect them at the station. I see now that the android link no longer works so I’ve reached out to ADO. They tell me that the Android app is currently being updated so unfortunately there’s no way to download it right now (I told you this wasn’t going to be easy, lol). They say the update should be done in 24 hours but my advice would be to keep checking back or, in the meantime, find someone with an iPhone that you can reserve the tickets on. 🙂 Hope that helps!

      Reply

  38. Ashely –

    Thank you for your reply. Since there are 4 of us travelling I was keen to have our tickets in hand prior to our travel day. Therefore, we purchased our tickets through click bus using PayPal. We now have printed tickets in hand and look forward to our travel next weekend.

    Dave

    Reply

    1. Awesome! I hope y’all have a great time! Eat some Huevos Oaxaqueños for me!

      Reply

  39. Ashley –

    Great article!

    I will be travelling from Mexico City to Oaxaca by bus in 10 days (with 3 family members).

    1.) When buying your tickets through the ADO mobile app, do you have the choice of either a.) reserving a seat and subsequently paying for the ticket at the terminal, or b.) completing the purchase with your credit card at the same time you reserve the seat?

    2.) If you reserve the seat through the app and intend on paying at the terminal prior to boarding (scenario 1a above), must you print a voucher or can you show them a voucher on your phone (or can they look up the reservation on their reservation system)?

    3.) If you must complete the purchase (scenario 1b above) at the time of making the reservation, must you print the ticket(s) prior to arriving at the terminal (or is there a receipt/ticket that they can view on your phone . . . along the lines of a ticket in an Apple Wallet app?

    4.) Is it only necessary to get to the terminal 2 hours in advance of departure if you need to complete the purchase of the ticket at the terminal?

    Thanks, Dave

    Reply

    1. Thanks Dave!
      So here are my answers 🙂
      1) First of all, you can only pre-purchase your tickets if you possess a Mexican credit card. If you have a Mexican credit card, you can purchase your tickets ahead of time but will need to do so on the website. If you have an American cc (or other) you can only *reserve* your tickets (then pay at the terminal) and you MUST do so through the app.
      2) I can’t remember how this played out BUT I would hope they’d have a record of your transaction for themselves or that they will send you a confirmation. Obviously, I’d print out every single thing they sent me but also take screenshots of your phone just to be sure.
      3) If you have a Mexican credit card and are able to pre-purchase your tickets, they will send you a confirmation email with the tickets included. Print these out and use them to get on the bus. Again, this is only if you have a Mexican cc.
      4) Yes. They won’t allow boarding until about 10-15 minutes before the bus is scheduled to leave. But they do recommend that you get there earlier because it helps with loading the luggage onto the bus, etc.

      Hope that helps! Have a great trip!

      Reply

  40. So awesome! I live in Oaxaca and have traveled the ADO bus routes many times. I was laughing my ass of because, yes… I’m trying to book my ticket to CDMX or Mexico City DF right now! The website is still shit and I have to get on my bike and ride to the terminal to make sure I get it right. LOL. Nice job. I loved every second of this post.

    Reply

    1. Haha, thanks! That website needs so much help, LOL. At least you are within bike riding distance! I would’ve done the same if I was in the same country. 🙂

      Reply

  42. I just want to say that not only was this helpful – but a fun read. I was able to buy (not kidding) my bus tickets from Mexico City to Oaxaca using clickbus.mx It is a startup to allow foreigners to pre-buy bus tickets and they charge a fee to do it. I was able to get a discount off the fee but be aware the fee is high. I can tell that I bought the tickets because my seats are reserved on the ADO website so I confident it worked.
    Your explanation of the bus station and processes will be a life saver because I am traveling with my OCD family and I can keep everyone calm. BTW, I am also a blogger and Mediavine publisher. YOU are awesome.

    Reply

    1. Omg thank you Lisa! I’ve heard of Clickbus but haven’t looked into it for myself. And they can charge such a huge fee because buying the ADO tickets is so stressful! Lol I’m so happy I can help and I hope you and your family have the best time!

      Reply

      1. The fee is not so huge.
        And you can take advantage of the discounted “Compra Anticipada”-tickets. So it’s actually a very good service for everyone without a Mexican credit card.

        Reply

  43. Well written and informative article Ashley. Thank you!

    Wanted to advise of an ADO pricing experiment I just completed.

    I was going to purchase 2 first class tickets from Merida to Campeche using the ADO app. The only two time slots between and 10am and 3pm were at 10:30 and 2:30… only two. Two tickets for either departure totaled M$480 but I decided not to purchase them for pickup at the ticket office (alas… American credit card) as I wanted to price them at the terminal..

    Immediately walked to the ADO bus station. The ticket agent was very helpful, showing me departures about every 15 or thirty minutes throughout the day. Total cost for the same two first class tickets… M$262 … a 45 PERCENT SAVINGS with virtually unlimited departures.

    No ADO online for me if I can hoof it. to the station!

    Just wanted to share and hopefully save someone else so $$.

    Jack

    Reply

    1. Thank you Jack! That’s great to know–that if you’re already in the area, just try purchasing at the booth instead. Which is definitely something I would’ve done after about 3 hours of trying to figure the website out, haha! Thanks for the info!

      Reply

  44. Currently in Mexico City and I can’t tell you how pleased I am to have found your blog! I think you saved me from an aneurysm. Being British, I find the Mexican approach to organisation somewhat…troubling. I realise that this is my fault, incidentally, not theirs 🙂

    Just reserved a couple of tickets on the app for Oaxaca – was a far smoother process than it otherwise would have been. So thanks for taking the time to put it together! It is great to be entertained while being informed.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your comment Tim! You’ve made my day. I’m so glad I could help make your trip easier because, believe me, I was in your exact shoes, haha! Traveling is alllll about adapting. 🙂 Have fun during the rest of your time in Mexico!

      Reply

  45. I have been traveling ADO since October 2017.
    I don’t remember if you mentioned you have to be at the terminal or ticket office at least 2 hours before departure to pay for your tickets.

    There is a terminal in the town where I live but neither of the two departures and arrivals a day goes where I go. I have to leave from another city 15 to 45 min. from home depending on traffic. I reserve my tickets 2 weeks ahead of time to be sure I get seats about halfway back on the side opposite the driver’s side. There feels like a few millimeters more legroom. I take GL whenever I can unless the connection is tight and it’s a PASO run. Always book LOCAL if you can. It means the run originates from your origin. PASO means it is a through bus from somewhere else. Depending on all sorts of conditions, PASO buses can be 30 to 120 min. late.

    I check my bag when I can and only had a bag arrive later than me. I have always picked up my bag at bus side upon arrival. Getting the baggage into the terminal may take a while even for Platino which has its own lane and waiting room.

    As with everything else in Mexico, time is elastic. A bus that’s LOCAL might not start boarding till departure time and leave 10-15 min. late. Even so, it will arrive at its final destination almost on time to an hour late. I leave that much slack and more in my schedule just in case, 2 hours for connections.

    An important note. Veteran travelers carry toilet paper and maybe paper towels with them along with anti-bacterial gel. Restrooms may not have TP, towels or running water to wash your hands. After 3 hours or so the floor may be damp from water splashing from the bowl or people who miss it over roads that can be like a small boat going through a hurricane. Go to the restroom in the terminal even if you have to pay 5 or 6 pesos. Ado has free and pay restrooms. The pay restrooms have TP, hand dryers that really work and seats on the toilets. Free restrooms don’t have seats and may not have TP or towels. Restrooms in city bus terminals are usually more like free restrooms even if you have to pay.\

    Buen viaje!

    Reply

  46. Hi Ashley!
    Can i ask more about what ADO routes you ended up taking while traveling mexico? I’ve been here just two weeks, currently in Mexico City. I’m planning the next legs of my trip (I’m thinking: Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido, Guanjuato / San Miguel, Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita)

    Debating whether or not to fly from Mexico City to Oaxaca or bus—did you bus there? And where else after? Thx!

    Reply

    1. Hi Ali! Yay for Mexico City – it’s my favorite. 🙂 But yes, I took the ADO bus from Mexico City to Oaxaca and back. It was 7 hours there and 6 hours back (for whatever reason). On the way there I took the midnight bus so I slept the whole way and it was nice, then on the way back I took the 630 AM bus. It’s a pleasant trip – gorgeous scenery! Napped a little, watched some movies… not bad at all. Plus it’s only like $27 each way or something close to that. Taking the midnight bus was nice because I slept the whole time and basically that was my entire night so I didn’t feel like I wasted a whole day traveling or anything.
      Just last month I bussed from Mexico City to San Miguel and back but that was on Primera Plus since ADO doesn’t go north. I’m considering writing a post on my Primera Plus experience too. 🙂

      Reply

      1. I’ve taken Primera Plus many times in the past and rate it among the best for service and comfort.

        Reply
  47. Charlotte says:

    Thanks so much for this info. Spent most of yesterday trying to understand the ADO website. I’m not going to Mexico till December but was a bit anxious whether I could get buses when I want.
    I have downloaded the app and the nice ADO live chat said they don’t get the timetables till about 2 months before travel. So I can relax till October! And buses do run on 24 and 26 December.
    Phew! Thanks again.

    Reply

    1. Hi Charlotte! That’s a great piece of advice – about the release of the timetables, thanks for sharing! And good for you for planning so far ahead lol! Have fun on your trip!

      Reply

  48. I’m a mexican citizen, I live in México City (old DF now CDMX) and found your blog reeeaaaallly useful. Thank you for the kind words describing this amazing and chaotic City. To be honest I wasn’t able to find information about the ADO buses’ differences even tough I speak spanish as my native language. So thanks for the information, is now obvious that we could definetely improve in that area.

    Reply

    1. Hi Miriam! Your comment made my day! And made me laugh a little. I agree that it’s all quite confusing – at least I know now it’s not just me, haha! But I will say that the ADO buses are definitely worth the trouble. 🙂

      Reply

  49. Ashley, this post has been so helpful. I’ve just secured my vouchers for the tickets using the app. Question: I noticed on the app it says to bring your voucher to the ticket booth at least 2 hours before departure to purchase your tickets. Our flight gets in to Cancun at 10:13 AM, and the bus leaves at 12:25 PM. Depending on how long it takes to pick up luggage and get out of the airport, we may not make it to the ticket booth until 11:30 (or even later). Did you always get there 2 hours early when using vouchers? Should we be concerned that we may lose our seats? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Jeremy! From what I can tell in the terms & conditions, two hours before the departure they will open up those seats for purchase by others if you haven’t picked them up yourself. The good news is that you haven’t paid for them yet so you won’t lose any cash. Unless it’s a popular travel time, the seats may still be open when you get there but if I were you I’d come up with a backup plan–like taking the next available bus after that one? So basically: hope for the best, plan for the worst! I know that’s not much help lol.

      Reply

  50. Thank you, this was so helpful! I was travelling Oaxaca City to the DF and went down to the bus ticket place on 20 de Noviembre in Oaxaca the day before, where I was able to buy a discount ticket with my credit card. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks Amanda! That’s awesome, hope you’re loving Mexico! Do you have a Mexican or an American credit card?

      Reply
  51. Meryl lingard says:

    I have the iPhone app for ADO. I went through the process of trying two purchase two adults and two INAPAM, two of us have the card, even though we are not Mexican. I tried to use my American credit card, but it said try later. Is this a problem because of senior or visa? How many days in advance can you buy tickets. Hanks meryl

    Reply

    1. Hi Meryl! That’s so strange, but every time I tried to use my American card I got the same message, and ADO told me it was because I was only allowed to put “pay at terminal”. It might also be because they want to see the INAPAM cards before selling the discounted tickets? If I were you, I’d hop onto ADO’s live chat on the main page of their website and see if they could explain better. And I was able to buy my tickets a couple weeks in advance. I bet you can buy them even farther ahead of time but I haven’t really tested it. 🙂

      Reply

  52. We’re in Mexico for a couple of months and this post has been SO helpful, I’ve shared it with numerous other travellers!

    Tonight though I rocked up to the ADO station to buy an advance ticket and was charged the ‘compra anticipada’ price even though I’m clearly a gringa.

    Not sure if the ticket man was just being nice and breaching policy but I wanted to point out that it’s worth a try buying in person because I saved half the price.

    Thanks for writing all of this! This is my dream blog post and I couldn’t have done it better.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Sophie! Looks like you got lucky, good for you! I guess it *is* up to the ticket clerk to decide which rate you get. (And yeah, the rates aren’t even close!) I’m so happy you liked the post and were able to use it! Have fun in Mexico!

      Reply
  53. Rudy Quehl says:

    Excellent information, the best regarding the ADO bus system I have seen. I will be using them next week. I agree, this company is very good. North of Mexico City there is an equally good bus company, it is ETN. Thank you much for the info.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much Rudy! Thanks for the info about north of CDMX, I was literally just trying to figure that out. Perfect timing! Have a great trip next week!

      Reply

  54. This is so helpful! And explains why we were foiled every time we tried to buy a ticket so far. Thank you!!

    Reply

    1. Awesome, glad I could help! It is definitely (needlessly) tricky. Have a great trip!

      Reply

  55. Great information! We’ll be in Yucatan and Chiapas over Semana Santa so I want to reserve our bus tickets ahead since I’m worried they’ll sell out. And with the help you’ve provided it looks like I might actually be able to do that! Do you know if I can reserve 2 months in advance using the “pay at terminal” option? Will they really hold the unpaid reservations for that long?

    Reply

    1. Thanks Pam! I know how confusing it all is so I’m glad I could help! So I hopped on to the ADO live chat and asked them this. They told me that if the system allows it, then yes, you can reserve that far in advance. So I’m guessing if the app won’t allow you to do it, then it won’t. This is all they could tell me. So if I were you, I’d get on the chat and ask them again and see what kind of answer they give you to see if it lines up. Then reserve and hope for the best! 🙂

      Reply

  56. Legit, I was just asking myself this question for Oaxaca -> Puebla. Platino it is.

    Reply

    1. Fabulous choice! Let me know how you like it! The Platino wasn’t offered for my particular time but the GL was great enough–I’m interested to see how much better the Platino is.

      Reply

  57. Oh my goodness, your posts are so informative. I cant believe you made maps!! I struggled with some of these same issues when booking a bus from Bratislava to Budapest. And I ended up at the wrong bus station. It’s so intimidating to see online when you don’t know where anything is!!! I wish I’d seen an article like this then!

    Reply

    1. Ya know, if you want something done right–do it yourself! LOL
      After I figured it all out, using the ADO bus is super simple–it’s just that it’s all like inside knowledge haha. I imagine it’s like that a lot of places.

      Reply