The Maya Train, also known as El Tren Maya in Spanish, is a proposed railway project in Mexico that aims to connect major maya destinations and archaeological sites in the southeastern region of the country, including the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo.
The Maya Train represents one of the most important projects in Mexico’s recent history. The first stage of the construction of the Maya Train was inaugurated on December 16, 2023 with a route between Palenque and Cancún. The total construction of the Maya train will end on February 29, 2024.
Maya Train Destinations
Throughout the Maya Train destinations and its 34 stations you can discover the great treasures that this region keeps; visit a large number of archaeological sites, historic cities, magical towns, natural reserves, ecological parks, cenotes, rivers and waterfalls.
Maya Train Project
Maya Train project was announced in 2018 by the Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and named after the ancient Maya civilization, whose ruins and cultural heritage sites are major tourist attractions in the region.
The proposed Maya Train line would cover a distance of around 1,554 kilometers (930 miles) and would pass through some of the most biodiverse regions of the country, including several protected natural areas, and major tourist destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Palenque, as well as several smaller towns and villages.
Construction of the Maya Train began in 2020 and is expected to be completed by 2024. The project is being funded by the Mexican government and private investors, and it is estimated to cost around 120 billion Mexican pesos (about 6 billion USD).
Maya Train is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the region, including increased tourism, job creation, and infrastructure development. It is also intended to promote sustainable tourism and environmental conservation by offering visitors access to eco-tourism activities and cultural experiences.
Maya Train Mexico
The Maya Train in Mexico is a Tourism Project made to experience a wide range of beautiful sights and attractions, combining history, adventure, nature, and relaxation to cater to different interests and preferences. The region offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, adventure, and relaxation, making it a popular destination for travelers from around the world.
What you will find when you embark on the adventure of exploring the Mexican southeast:
- One of the seven modern wonders of the world
- Sites listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites
- Towns considered magical by the Mexican government
- Endless archaeological zones and sacred sites of the Mayan civilization
- Cities fused between antiquity, colonial times (Spanish) and modernity
- Endless underground rivers and cenotes hidden in the jungle filled with fresh water offering opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and even diving
- Two seas, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean with its numerous natural reserves along them
- Natural reserves, flora and fauna protection zones, sanctuaries, mangroves, springs, waterfalls, lagoons, islands, caves, and the largest river in Mexico, the Usumacinta.
- Museums, churches, forts, monuments and countless historical sites
- Walled cities for protection from pirates
- Places where you can practice kayaking, paddle tennis, diving and snorkeling, as well as hiking and all types of ecotourism
- Communities that preserve Mayan customs, clothing, and languages.
- Food, food and more typical and unique food of the region
- Of course, beaches, beaches and more beaches with crystal clear turquoise water, powder white sands and coral reserves
Maya Train Stations
The Maya Train route has a total of 34 stations along its route.
The Maya Train has three types of trains whose names correspond to three verbs in Mayan:
Xinbal (walking): is the standard train model, designed to provide service on a regular basis, being the transport with the greatest circulation. It has double seats, space for suitcases and bicycles among other things.
Janal (eat): This model has a restaurant and cafeteria.
P’atal (stay): train designed for long distances, it has cabins for traveling both day and night.
When traveling on the Maya Train you can stay at the Mayan Train Hotels near the archaeological zones of Palenque, Edzná, Chichén Itzá, Nuevo Uxmal, Tulum and Calakmul. The hotels have the services of a pool, spa, temazcal, gym, bar, cafeteria and restaurants.
Maya Train Route Map
The modern, comfortable and aerodynamic Maya Train will travel 1,554 km of landscapes over a territory full of history, natural exuberance, ancestral traditions and living cultures that have passed through time and have spread across 5 States of extraordinary cultural wealth.
Palenque Station
The Palenque station, state of Chiapas, is the starting point to immerse yourself in the ancient Mayan Civilization. The archaeological zone of Palenque was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the main Mayan sites that exerted its influence on other settlements in the Usumacinta River basin. It was the seat of a powerful dynasty to which King Pakal belonged. It had its greatest peak between the years 615 and 783 AD.
Boca del Cerro and Tenosique Stations
In the Boca del Cerro station, state of Tabasco, is the Pomoná Archaeological Zone. Pomoná was an agricultural emporium that reached its peak between 600 and 900 AD.
The Tenosique station, state of Tabasco, is suitable for adventure tourism, it offers streams and lagoons, caving, caves and grottoes with unique views.
El Triunfo and Candelaria Stations
El Triunfo station, in the state of Tabasco, offers archaeological sites, waterfalls, sailing in mangroves and exploring caves and canyons.
The Candelaria station, in the state of Campeche, offers archaeological zones, springs and tropical jungle.
Escarcega and Carrillo Puerto-Champotón Stations
The Escárcega station, state of Campeche, is considered the heart of the Mayan Train. At this point are the routes to the south, north and east of the Yucatan Peninsula.
The Carrillo Puerto Champotón station, state of Campeche, is located between mangroves and the Champotón River bed. It brings the traveler closer to the beaches, haciendas and buildings with pirate stories.
Edzna Station
The Edzná station, state of Campeche, offers an archaeological zone with portraits of Mayan kings and queens and beautiful buildings of Chenes-style architecture. Edzná means “House of the Itzaes” of Chontal origin of the so-called Itzaes established on the site. The city was created in a fertile valley with a complex system of canals, drinking water and irrigation reservoirs. They dominated the surrounding towns between 400 and 1000 AD.
San Francisco de Campeche and Tenabo Stations
The San Francisco de Campeche station, state of Campeche, offers beautiful colonial buildings and walls that protected pirates in the past.
The Tenabo station, state of Campeche, offers vestiges of ancient Mayan cities, traditional dances, dairy farms and delicious dishes.
Hecelchakán and Calkiní Stations
The Hecelchakán station, state of Campeche, located in a town founded since the 16th century where the Franciscans left their legacy in the Convent and Temple of San Francisco de Asís, built with stones extracted from pre-Hispanic sites.
The Calkiní station, in the state of Campeche, brings you closer to a quiet town with a lively culture with buildings of baroque architecture from the 17th century.
Maxcanú and Umán Stations
The Maxcanú station, Yucatán state, takes you to the impressive Puuc Route, a theme park and an enigmatic grotto. Maxcanú offers a rural appearance, among fields of corn and habanero chili.
The Umán station, Yucatán state, takes you to a Magical Town, natural areas and beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico. Umán is the starting point to see mangroves, natural channels and many birds.
Teya Mérida and Tixkokob Stations
The Teya Mérida station, state of Yucatán, takes you to the Yucatecan capital of Mérida, which combines modernity with a rich historical past. Mérida is the economic and cultural center of southeastern Mexico.
The Tixkokob station, in the state of Yucatán, takes you to the hayfield area of Yucatán to see churches, cenotes and pre-Hispanic cities. The town of Tixkokob was founded in the 16th century as an encomienda, with more than 500 indigenous people, for the Montejo family.
Izamal Station
The Teya Mérida station, state of Yucatán, takes you to a Magical Town known as the City of Three Cultures due to the syncretism between the Mayan, the Spanish and the contemporary. Izamal enchants with its yellow and white facades, its colonial architecture, its ceremonial centers and its people.
Chichén Itza Station
The Chichén Itza station, Yucatán state, takes you to one of the most important cities in pre-Hispanic Mexico; Chichén Itza, declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Chichén Itzá means “Mouth of the Well of the Itzaes”, in reference to the Sacred Cenote.
Valladolid, Nuevo Xcan and Leona Vicario Stations
The Valladolid station, state of Yucatán, takes you to a Magical Town full of cenotes, colonial images and archaeological zones.
The Nuevo Xcan station, state of Quintana Roo, takes you to a town in the middle of the jungle, islands and protected natural areas.
The Leona Vicario station, in the state of Quintana Roo, takes you to a picturesque town where Mayan traditions and customs are preserved and the women dress in huipils with multicolored flowers.
Cancun Station
The Cancún station, state of Quintana Roo, takes you to the largest station of all, connecting the Mayan Train traveler to one of the most important beach destinations in Mexico. It connects with the International Airport, with magical towns, protected natural areas and many archaeological zones.
Puerto Morelos Station
The Puerto Morelos station, state of Quintana Roo, takes you to a fascinating marine world to explore and a Cenote Route of great beauty. Puerto Morelos is the most important port on the coast of Quintana Roo, and is home to a fishing village. The Main Plaza is surrounded by hotels, restaurants and craft shops, and a few steps away is the emblematic Leaning Lighthouse.
Playa del Carmen Station
At the Playa del Carmen station, in the state of Quintana Roo, architecture in the shape of seascapes awaits you. Playa del Carmen is the destination for theme parks, coral reefs and interesting archaeological sites. The heart of the Riviera Maya offers a cosmopolitan town that concentrates its tourist offer on Fifth Avenue, a 5 km pedestrian street that you can explore on foot or by bicycle.
Tulum and Tulum-Aeropuerto Stations
At the Tulum and Tulum Airport stations, in the state of Quintana Roo, they take you to the charms of the Caribbean Sea that coexist with ancient Mayan cities and communities that provide hospitality and wisdom. Tulum was known by the Mayan name of Zamá. Its location on the shores of the Caribbean Sea allowed it to exploit marine resources and access and control maritime trade routes.
Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Limones-Chacchoben Stations
The Felipe Carrillo Puerto station, in the state of Quintana Roo, takes you to a city that was the center of indigenous rebellion in the 19th century during the Caste War.
The Limones station, in the state of Quintana Roo, is the stop to find the most impressive coral richness in Mexico, explore the Mahahual and visit Noh Bec, the home of centuries-old mahoganies and more than a hundred species of fine woods.
Bacalar Station
The Bacalar station, in the state of Quintana Roo, takes you to an old pirate town, now converted into a Magical Town. The town founded by the Spanish in the 16th century with the name of Villa de Salamanca was the scene of the Caste War, of clashes between the Mayans and the Spanish, and devastated by pirates.
Chetumal-Aeropuerto and Nicolás Bravo-Kohunlich Stations
The Chetumal-Airport station, state of Quintana Roo, takes you to the capital of Quintana Roo, making way for you to walk among museums, a bay full of surprises, a manatee sanctuary and a coral treasure.
The Nicolás Bravo-Kohunlich station, state of Quintana Roo, located in the middle of exuberant nature and with the presence of saraguatos and toucans, is one of the most studied sites in southern Quintana Roo.
Xpujil, Calakmul and Centenario Stations
The Xpujil station, state of Campeche, takes you to see the spectacular Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Calakmul station, Campeche state, takes you to the most important city in the Mayan lowlands, between 250 and 700 BC.
The Centenario station, state of Campeche, connects with lagoons and archaeological remains in a rural environment and an atmosphere full of calm.
