Mexico City Bus Stations

If you're planning to travel in Mexico by bus, there are some things to be aware of, especially if you are starting in the country's capital. Being such a large metropolis, Mexico City has four main bus terminals located in different areas of the city. Each serves a different geographic region of Mexico (although there is some overlap), so you should check in advance which terminal has buses departing to your destination.

Before the system of four bus terminals was initiated in the 1970s by the government Secretary of Communication and Transportation, each bus company had its own terminal. It was decided to create these terminals corresponding to the cardinal directions to help ease traffic congestion within the city.

Terminal Central del Norte

The Northern Bus Terminal: This station primarily serves the northern area of Mexico, as well as locations along the border of the United States. Some of the destinations served by this terminal include Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Pachuca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz. If you're planning a day trip to the ruins at Teotihuacan, you can get a bus here (take one that says "Piramides").

Metro Station: Autobuses del Norte, Line 5 (yellow)
Website: centraldelnorte.com

Terminal Central Sur "Tasqueña"

Southern Bus Terminal: This is the smallest of the city's four bus stations. Here you'll find buses departing to destinations in southern Mexico such as: Acapulco, Cuernavaca, Cancun, Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tepoztlan, Veracruz.

Metro Station: Tasqueña, Line 2 (blue), and Line 1 (pink)
Website: Teminal Central Sur

Terminal de Oriente "TAPO"

Eastern Bus Terminal: TAPO stands for "Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros del Oriente," but everyone refers to it as "La Tapo". Nine bus companies operate out of this terminal, including Estrella Roja, ADO, and AU. You'll find buses departing to the south and Gulf area, including the following destinations: Campeche, Chiapas, Puebla, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tlaxcala, Tabasco, Veracruz, Yucatan. 

Metro Station: San Lazaro, Line 1 (pink) and Line 8 (green)
Website: La Tapo

Terminal Centro Poniente

Western Bus Terminal Destinations: Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Queretaro, State of Mexico, Sinaloa, Sonora
Metro Station: Observatorio, Line 1 (pink)
Website: centralponiente.com.mx

Transportation to and from Bus Terminals:

Most bus terminals have authorized taxi service, so instead of hailing a cab on the street, if you arrive at one of these terminals and would like to take a taxi, you should be sure to use the official service for added safety. If you don't have a lot of luggage, another option is to take the metro. Just be aware that large baggage is not allowed on the Mexico City metro.