We've spent months exploring Mexico and we have fallen in love with the diversity and beauty of this country which now offers travelers an even easier way to explore the most popular region amongst tourists: The Yucatán Peninsula via Tren Maya (Maya Train). Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip to the Yucatán Peninsula, the Maya Train is a major improvement for getting around the Peninsula . We'll take you through everything you need to know about Mexico's new train including its routes, costs, class options, how it compares to driving through the region, and our personal experience trying out the train for the first time.
The Tren Maya, or Maya Train, is a groundbreaking railway project that is already transforming travel across the Yucatán. Designed to promote tourism and economic development across the Yucatán, this train aims to connect key destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula, including archaeological sites, lush jungles, beautiful coastlines, as well as many lesser known spots in the region that tourists should visit, too. With over 950 miles of track planned, the Tren Maya will offer tourists like ourselves the chance to experience places a bit off the beaten path during their time in the Yucatán.
The Maya Train is designed to connect several key destinations across the Yucatán Peninsula, providing travelers with easy access to some of Mexico's most iconic attractions. While the full route is still under development, several sections are already open.
Currently, the Maya Train connects major cities and tourist hotspots such as Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Mérida. Each of these destinations is known for its unique charm and attractions, from pristine beaches to ancient Mayan ruins. The train route will eventually extend to additional locations, including Baclar, Palenque and Xpujil, providing even more opportunities for exploration.
Future plans for the Tren Maya include expanding the network to cover more of the Yucatán Peninsula, with stops at various points of interest along the way. This expansion will make it even easier for travelers to experience the diverse landscapes and cultural heritage of the region without the need for extensive planning or complicated logistics. Personally we're most excited about the Bacalar station being added in the very near future!
One of the great advantages of the Maya Train is its affordability, making it accessible to travelers from all walks of life. Ticket prices are designed to be competitive with other forms of transportation (such as Mexico's popular Ado bus line) ensuring that exploring Mexico's wonders is within reach for everyone.
The cost of a ticket on the Maya Train varies depending on factors such as class of service and distance traveled. Economy class offers a budget-friendly option for those looking to explore the region without breaking the bank. Premier class, on the other hand, provides a bit more comfort and amenities for travelers seeking a more space.
In addition to competitive pricing, the Maya Train also offers special deals for Mexican nationals (with ID) and an even more discounted rate for those who live along the Tren Maya route (also with official ID). Discounted rates are also available for students, teachers, seniors, and the disabled.
We paid ~$45 USD for one way tickets from Mérida to Cancún in October.
When planning your adventure on the Maya Train, you'll have two main choices for your travel experience—Premier Class and Economy Class. There are slight differences in the different options, but in our opinion, not too much.
Economy Class: Perfect for budget-conscious travelers, Economy Class provides a comfortable and affordable way to experience the Maya Train. Passengers can enjoy spacious seating, ample legroom, and access to essential amenities. It's a fantastic option for those who want to explore Mexico's beauty without splurging. The Economy Class cars have a 2-2 configuration, fold down tables (similar to on an airplane) and comfortable legroom, 110V electrical outlet as well as USB outlet.
Premier Class: For those seeking a bit more space, Premier Class offers an elevated level of comfort and service. The seats are slightly more plush and the dining options are a bit better, mainly by offering unlimited coffee and service so you don't have stand in line in the snack car, someone will take your oder and bring your snack to you.* The biggest difference between Economy Class and Premier Class is the seat configuration which in Premier Class is a 2-1 configuration which means you also get a slightly wider seat. If you're traveling solo on the train, this might be the better option if you want to be sure that you don't have to sit next to a stranger and fight for the arm rest.
*Food service is not included in the price of Premier tickets for rides less than 70 km. For rides 70-200 km, a snack combo is included. For rides 200-450 km long, a breakfast or lunch combo is included. On the longest routes of 450 km or longer a breakfast or lunch combo + snack combo will be provided.
In our opinion the Premier Class is not worth the extra cost. For our ride from Mérida to Cancún, the price for Premiere vs. Economy was almost double. For having a slightly more plush seat, it certainly wasn't worth that to us.
Granted, we didn't actually book a seat in Premier Class to try it out for ourselves, but we did walk through the Premier Class train car to see how it was different and truthfully it wasn't enough to justify the extra money. However, if you're traveling solo, it might be just so you have the option to book the single seat option and not sit next to a stranger.
For many like ourselves, at some point in time you'll likely be using the Maya Train to get to or from the Cancún airport. Thankfully the Tren Maya team knew this would be a popular itinerary for its passengers. There is a free bus shuttle from the Cancún Tren Maya station to the Cancún airport. Do note that while there is a free shuttle to the airport the route is not walkable so visitors will need to utilize the bus.
Also, keep in mind that Ubers are not allowed at the Cancún Maya Train station. Only taxis and the official airport shuttle buses are allowed. In our experience, the taxis were definitely trying to rip tourists off to go short distances as little as a mile or two were $500-700 MEX pesos which is ~$25-35 USD. Just keep that in mind and negotiate with them. We eventually got a guy to come down to $300 MEX pesos (~$15 USD) for a ride less than five minutes.
We've driven the Yucatán Peninsula a couple of times (Cancún to Tulum and Cancún to Mérida) now as well having now experienced the Maya Train so I feel like we can speak to this pretty knowledgeably.
Taking the Tren Maya offers a hassle-free and comfortable way to explore the region. With the train handling logistics, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery without worrying about navigation or fuel. The Maya Train also provides easy access to popular tourist destinations, making it a convenient option for travelers who want to maximize their time in Mexico. As a whole the Maya Train is slightly faster than driving, especially when you consider bathroom breaks and fuel stops.
On the other hand, driving offers the flexibility to explore off-the-beaten-path locations and create a personalized itinerary. If you enjoy the freedom to stop and explore at your own pace, renting a car may be the right choice for you. However, keep in mind that driving in unfamiliar territory and drivers in Mexico certainly drive more aggressively than drivers in the USA. Also note that Tren Maya has a limited schedule of 2-4 trains per day so if you're trying to get somewhere by a particular time (such as catching a flight) you'll need to plan accordingly.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your preferences and the type of experience you want to have. Whether you choose the convenience of the Maya Train or the independence of driving, an unforgettable adventure awaits.
The trains was more comfortable than driving. While the roads in the Yucatán are the nicest in Mexico, taking the Tren Maya vs. driving allows you to sit back and relax instead of staying focused on the roads. For our entire trip we enjoyed reading and watching movies downloaded on our devices rather than having to keep our eyes on the road.
The air conditioning on the trains was strong. Almost a little too strong, actually. Our train car was absolutely freezing and was by far the coldest on the entire train from what we could tell walking through the other cabin cars.
The train was a great way to take a nap between travels and adventures. If you're like us, you pack your travels with lots of adventures and sometimes it's nice to have a bit of downtime. The train is comfortable enough (and generally quiet enough) to catch a few zzz's between adventures. This is perfect for those who will be flying into Cancún and then hopping on the train a bit jet-lagged.
The wi-fi on the train was spotty at best. Honestly, I don't think I had the wi-fi work for more than 5 minutes the entire trip. That would have been fine but my Google Fi internationally cell coverage wasn't working either, even when our phones said they were picking up a cell signals. I don't know if it was the metal of the train car or what, but we really couldn't get any of our devices to work throughout the ride which was sort of a nice break to read on our Kindles and just catch up on podcasts.
Tren Maya offers limited train schedules. For us, we were taking the Maya Train from Mérida to Cancún to catch a flight back to the USA. Our flight from Cancún left at around 8:00 am on a Monday so we had to take a train into Cancún on Sunday then get a hotel near the airport since the Maya Train didn't offer a train arriving early enough for our flight. It's something to consider, especially if you're trying to keep to a strict budget. The taxi from the train station to the hotel + the night of the hotel added up.
Leaking air conditioner. I know this might sound a little petty, but it really was annoying. In our train car (I can't speak for the other cars), the air conditioning dripped the entire time. Unforutnately for some people, their seats were located directly beneath the dripping. I took a photo (see below) of the chairs so you could see that it wasn't just on the day we rode, it was clearly a regular occurance. So much so that there were ladies who would come through and mop the aisle about every 10 minutes. Note: Not every seat in our car had a seat under the dripping AC, it was about every 4th or 5th row.
Technically yes, there is wi-fi on board the Maya Train, but we really couldn't get it to work on our laptops or our cell phones the entire trip. I would highly recommend downloading any movies or music that you'd like to enjoy during the ride prior to boarding the train.
Tickets are available to book online one week before the ticket date. For example, if you want to catch the train on October 7th, tickets will be available for purchase on October 1st. Book online in advance if possible, but keep in mind that tickets can be purchased at the station before departure. Some of the more popular routes (such as Cancún to Tulum and Mérida to Chichén Itzá). If your intended route goes past any of these popular destinations you'll want to book as far in advance as possible.
There is a small snack cart on the train, but the snacks were really pretty minimal. They offered a few small packaged pastries and beverages, but really nothing to write home about. If you think you'll want to eat on the train, we highly recommend stopping at the convenience stores inside the train stations. For us at the Mérida station they had an OXXO and a few other options and we wish we had grabbed a few snacks before boarding.
If you're like us and you regularly travel internationally with a dog, you will want to note that the Tren Maya (Maya Train) does not accept any pets. The only animals allowed on the Maya Train are trained service and guide dogs as well as emotional support animals. All service and emotional support animals must provide proper documentation and must be up to date on all vaccines and be able to provide vaccine records at check-in.
When we took the Tren Maya we did not have our dog with us. If you are traveling with a pet, we'd recommend renting a car in Mexico or even taking an Ado bus (Ado allows small pets in cabin in a carrier but large animals must be checked in the cargo area which I wouldn't recommend).
Yes! The Tren Maya has wonderfully strong air conditioning which was great since the Yucatán Peninsula is almost always hot and severely humid! Keep in mind that it gets really cold in some of the train cars so bring a jacket.
I never could find if there was a limit to how many pieces of luggage one could bring onto the train, but we didn't have any problem bringing all of our bags onboard. Between the two of us we had (2) large checked luggage size duffle bags, (1) smaller carryon size duffle, and (2) decent size backpacks. There are specific dimensions that your bag must meet, but it appeared all general checked baggage was accepted. According to the Tren Maya website, each piece of luggage must not exceed the dimensions of 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm and must not exceed a weight of 25 kg.
The check-in process for the luggage was minimal at most. Other than scanning it through security when checking in, nobody ever once asked us about our bags. When we first boarded the train we dropped our bags at the front of our car in the luggage section across the bathroom. Our smaller bags (backpacks) easily fit in the overhead storage area above our seats.
Yes, the train does have bathrooms with toilets and sinks available. Keep in mind that the bathrooms aren't much larger than an airplane bathroom so guests with disabilities will likely need assistance to use the bathrooms. The bathroom cars are in the luggage cars which means that a wheelchair could be left outside the bathroom door in relative privacy since the bathroom isn't in the passenger car, but the situation still isn't ideal by any means.
The Tren Maya is poised to redefine travel in Mexico, offering a sustainable, convenient, and culturally enriching way to explore the Yucatán Peninsula. From the breathtaking landscapes and ancient ruins to the vibrant culture and warm hospitality, every moment on the Maya Train is an opportunity to create lasting memories.
For those eager to experience the magic of Mexico, the Tren Maya is more than just a mode of transportation—it's an invitation to immerse yourself in a world of wonder. Whether you're drawn to the archaeological treasures of the past or the vibrant energy of modern cities, the Maya Train offers a doorway to discovery.
Ready to embark on your adventure? Start planning your trip today and get ready to explore the incredible beauty of Mexico with the Tren Maya. Don't forget to check out exclusive deals and insider tips to make the most of your journey. Safe travels, and enjoy the ride!
