The Maya Train (Tren Maya in Spanish) is a new way to explore southeast Mexico, which makes new destinations accessible to international tourists. This is a great way to experience Maya and Olmec culture, enjoy Caribbean beaches, and eat delicious regional food — all while seeing breathtaking scenery.
What Is the Maya Train?
At the end of 2023, the first section of the Maya Train opened for operation. Now, there are seven sections consisting of 20 stations in five states, spanning for a total of 965.6 miles. You need to purchase a ticket for each stop you make. Prices range from $10 USD to $300 USD, depending on the distance.
Stops to Consider Taking
To make the most of the Maya Train, it’s important to know what you’ll find at each of the stations to decide where to go. Some of the most popular stations for international tourists include the following.
Cancun
It’s easy to reach the Maya Train by flying into Cancun and then taking the free shuttle from the airport to the train station. Then, you can reach any of the stops along the route (although some may require taking two separate trains).
You may like to include time to visit Cancun at the start or end of your trip. It is the most famous tourist destination in the country for its white sand beaches and clear waters. It tends to be most popular among young people for the active nightlife, but it’s a good option for all ages if you want to stay at a resort or eat at tourist-friendly restaurants.
Puerto Morelos
From Cancun, you can either head west or south. If you choose south, the nearest stop is Puerto Morelos. This is a good alternative to Cancun if you want beaches and prefer to avoid the crowds. From the station, it’s just a 15-minute bus ride to downtown and the fantastic beaches, which have a protected coral reef that’s ideal for snorkeling.
Valladolid
If you instead decide to head west, one great option is Valladolid. This is inland, but it still offers plenty of opportunities to spend time in the water because this is where you’ll find the cenotes. These are natural sinkholes made due to limestone bedrock collapsing and creating deep caverns filled with groundwater. Downtown Valladolid is also a fun place to explore. It has several significant churches and cathedrals as well as colonial architecture.
Tulum Airport
Another way to reach the Maya Train is to fly into Tulum Airport. This is a new airport that only opened in 2024, but it already receives several flights from the U.S. — from Charlotte, Dallas, and Miami. From the airport, you can reach Tulum Airport station by taking a bus for $35 MXN.
Tulum
It’s important to note that Tulum station is different from Tulum Airport station. The former is where you want to go if you want to reach Tulum itself. From the train station, there is free transportation to Jaguar National Park, which is a great place to experience wildlife like tropical birds and, of course, jaguars. The highlight of Tulum, though is the archeological zone, where the ruins are on the coast overlooking the Caribbean Sea, offering some great photo opportunities.
Chetumal
Yet another option to reach the Maya Train is to fly into Chetumal Airport. However, most of the flights are from other destinations within Mexico. It may make more sense to fly into another airport and just come here by train.
There’s a huge amount to see in Chetumal, including the Museum of Maya Culture, Chetumal Zoo, and a manatee sanctuary. There is also another archeological site as well as a few natural reserves. The most significant is Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, which contains seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs.
Merida
One of the most attractive cities on the Maya Train is Merida. It is known for being one of the safest cities in the country, which makes it extra appealing to tourists. As well as being packed with colonial architecture, you’ll find more cenotes and many markets where you can pick up local products from Yucatan.
Bacalar
Bacalar is another inland destination with opportunities to spend time in the water — this time because the city sits on the edge of a lagoon, called the Lake of the Seven Colors. It also has one of the deepest cenotes in the region, which has a maximum depth of 295 feet. Another highlight of the town is a fortress called Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar, which was built in 1733 to protect the town from pirates patrolling the Caribbean coastline.
Chichen Itza
One of the most famous archeological zones in the area is Chichen Itza. Built in the 12th century in what was the capital city of the Mayas, it had as many as 50,000 inhabitants at its peak. The archeological zone consists of several structures, many of which are in pyramid form. The best time to visit is during the two equinoxes, when the shadow of the serpent Kukulkan descends to fertilize the land and jade spots on the red jaguar shine.
Palenque
The only train station in Chiapas is Palenque. Most of the stations on the Maya Train are on a loop, with the exception of Segment 1. Palenque is the farthest station from the loop.
Although it may be a long journey to reach Palenque, it’s worthwhile doing because the station is just a few minutes from the impressive archeological site, which dates back to around 400 to 900 CE. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. The site is well preserved because it is hidden in the jungle, where it has been untouched for centuries. In addition, it is a place of beautiful nature, including several impressive waterfalls and lagoons.
Escarcega
The station that links the loop of the Maya Train to Segment 1 is Escarcega. It is important because this is the point where the Maya civilization begins in Mexico. It is also the second largest city in the state of Campeche. Most people who live here work in agriculture, fishing, and farming, but the city is beginning to attract tourist with the inauguration of the train.
The main site to visit in Escarcega is Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, which is on the border with Guatemala. Containing a large area of undisturbed rainforest, 86 species of mammals live here, including five of the six large cats that are native to Mexico. Many of the species of both fauna and floral are endangered, threatened, and under protection.
Boca del Cerro
There are only two stations in the state of Tabasco, one of which is Boca del Cerro. This is famous for its bridge of the same name, which is best viewed from a boat along the Usumacinta River. Other things to do around this stop include exploring the surrounding nature or taking a visit to Pomoná archeological site.
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