Southeast Mexico is brimming with archeological sites, biodiversity, and Pueblos Mágicos known for their rich cultural heritage. Many visitors barely make a dent in the region’s offerings, though, by flying to Cancún and heading straight for the beach, perhaps booking an excursion or two to Chichen Itza or Tulum, but generally not venturing further.
El Tren Maya (the Mayan Train), a new $20-billion rail route connecting dozens of must-see sights across the Yucatán peninsula, is trying to change that by expanding tourism throughout the region and bolstering the economy in some of Mexico’s less developed states.
The railway, which partially opened in December and is scheduled to be fully operational in February 2024, has not been without controversy. Here’s everything travelers should know about Mexico’s newest, much-talked-about mega-train.
The promise of Tren Maya
When complete, Tren Maya’s 42 trains will stop at 34 stations throughout southeast Mexico, covering 904 miles (1,455km), and traversing five states: Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatán. The route is broken down into seven sections that are being launched in stages, as only one-third of the track is even partially complete, per the AP.
Half of section two, and the entirety of sections three and four opened on December 15 for the inaugural run, which began in San Francisco de Campeche and terminated in Cancún, traveling through Yucatán. The remainder of section two and section one, which continues north through Tabasco and finishes at Palenque in Chiapas, is scheduled to open on December 31, President López Obrador said at a press conference earlier this month. This leaves section five from Cancún to Tulum, section six from Tulum to Bacalar, and section seven from Bacalar to Escárcega in Campeche to open in 2024.
Section five of the route, which covers the 75 miles (120 km) between Cancún and Tulum, has struggled with construction delays due to environmental hazards, given the landscape includes a number of fragile ecosystems like cenotes and underground rivers. The government’s proposed solution is to build a viaduct that would elevate 60% of the track to avoid disrupting the land below.
