It was a joy to ride the rails and complete the whole route of the Maya Train in the process of writing this guide. And yes, I’m talking the whole enchilada, from top to bottm. From my state of Quintana Roo in the east, all the way across the Yucatán Peninsula and southern Mexico, crossing five states to Chiapas in the west. And back again, of course.
We saw everything from the golden city of Izamal to Bacalar’s Lagoon of Seven Colors. Add the stunning rainforests and ruins of Palenque and we explored a total of three Pueblos Mágicos. I got to scratch them off my Pueblos Mágicos scratch map, which is still the most fun way I’ve found to explore Mexico.
I love that the Maya Train has included stops to or nearby so many Pueblos Mágicos and given us a luxurious way to get there.
So, what do you need to know before you go? Here’s what I learned.
Get tickets early
Ticket lines can be quite long, so plan on getting to the station an hour early if you want a good seat. This will help because buying a ticket takes a while. It’s not as simple as buying a bus ticket, where you state your destination then pay: it took us nearly ten minutes to get two standard tickets.
The ticket office workers take down a lot of information, so have your email address and phone number ready. This will save time and, if you don’t speak Spanish, any miscommunication: we found that most of the time, ticket office workers didn’t speak any English. Don’t worry though, the station managers often do, so there’s usually someone nearby to help out in a pinch.
Alternatively, you can buy your tickets online on the Maya Train website or download the railroad’s app to get tickets before you go.
Check the timetable before you go
At many stations, the Maya Train leaves just once a day, so be sure to check the schedule before heading out.
If you’re leaving from a popular tourist destination like Bacalar, get tickets in the morning: they’re likely to sell out. There, the train only leaves once a day at 5 p.m. and it fills up fast. But the good news is that if you do miss the train, ADO buses leave about every half hour, so you won’t be stranded (but it’s much less fun).
Take the Maya Train bus
We started out adventure at Cancún airport, because a dear friend flew down from the United States to join me on this adventure. Here, a taxi tried charging us 500 pesos to go to the station. The railroad’s official bus arrived within ten minutes, and it was 35 pesos; less than US $2, so don’t risk getting scammed.
Luckily, along the rest of the route, on all of our stops, the taxis were lovely. If there is no shuttle, bus or other form of transport, don’t be concerned about being overcharged. There is a set price and a lot of stations have a taxi booth that will call for you and tell you the price up front.
It’s really safe
My friend was very impressed with the trip’s safety. Coming down from the United States and being used to some of the unfriendliness of the U.S. news cycle, she felt very safe. More than once, she mentioned the friendliness of the guards on the route.
It’s true. Each time we arrived at a station, National Guard (GN) agents were there along the platforms to greet us, always polite and smiling. When we left a station, they would often wave goodbye.
On the train itself, we noticed there were always a couple of GN agents traveling aboard, smiling when passing you in the aisles. The Maya Train feels like a very safe way to travel around southern Mexico.
The bathrooms are awesome
Compliments for public bathrooms are not something you hear every day. But the cleaners on the Maya Train do an amazing job.
The bathrooms even smelled good. If you’re like me, then you probably only use public bathrooms when you can’t hold it any longer. It’s not something I look forward to, ever. But the cleaners travel on the train with you and are constantly cleaning both the floors and the bathrooms.
It’s okay to take snacks
We traveled on the train for long periods. There’s a dining car with a great menu, but we always had a big breakfast off the train. Aboard, we just wanted snacky things, like when you go on a road trip.
So, we had our snacks but — oh no! — that produced a lot of crumbs. If you’re a snacker, you know what I’m talking about. Everything was okay: within five minutes of us finishing our snacks, the crumbs were swept away by the cleaners and our seats were back to being pristine.
The Maya Train is a smooth ride
If you get motion sickness, as my friend does, you’re in for a treat. We traveled for over ten hours on the train one day and she didn’t once need her Dramamine.
Best of all, I could sketch in my travel journal from place to place. Using a pen. Without mistakes or a rattling train causing boo-boos. That in itself, is amazing to me.
Overall, it was a fantastic trip on the Maya Train. I sincerely hope you take the chance to explore some of the Pueblos Mágicos and other sites along the route. It’s a wonderful way to get around Mexico.
Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with more than 500 articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over seven years now, she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.
Gracias. I had not even thought of taking a train trip, though I knew of the Maya Train. But now I will look for a place to connect. Looks like everything is in the south. But I am in estado Guanajuato…hmm may have to wait a while?
Maybe there are trains from Queretaro connecting at Merida….to all points south. Bon voyage….from Acapulco!
Yes, the Maya Train is only in the south. I don’t think it will every connect up with trains from other parts of Mexico. But I know you can get cheap flights on Vivo Aerobus to Cancun so you can still come down and enjoy the ride! Cheers, Bel.
Good information. Im working on a book project on the Maya and will be taking the Maya train to various destinations from Cancun and back over a two week period this August. I’ve been to this region a few times by car and looking forward to experiencing it by rail. Nice article.
I’m so happy it helped! And your book sounds fascinating, so please let us know when it’s out. Cheers, Bel.
Informative article and lovely photos. Thank you!
Thank you for your lovely words Barbara, I’m pleased you liked the article, it was a wonderful trip. Cheers, Bel.
How long did the author take for the whole trip? Did they stay at any of the stops for a couple a day or more? What’s the longest that the trip would take if you had to get back home quickly, but still wanted to ride the entire thing both ways?
Hi Jeffery, it took us 7 days. to do the entire route. Please look at the schedules from one place to another because in some places the train only arrives/departs once or twice a day. But basically, it’s up to you how long it takes, how many stops you wish to make, and we stayed two nights in Planeque, and two nights in Bacalar, plus one night in Izamal, Campeche, and Playa del Carmen. Cheers, Bel.
Nice to see a positive review. So much negativity about this awesome train. Mexico should be proud of this accomplishment not cast stones. Congratulations Maya Train and all the team that made it possible.
I’m with you Pat, it is a beautiful train, and although controversial it is built. So I choose to see the beauty and at least give it a chance. Cheers, Bel.
I don’t think the complaint is with the train itself. It’s the malfeasance of the gov that invested the dollars. It doesn’t break even and most likely won’t. So a luxury train and its passengers are subsidized by those that must ride a moto to work because they can’t afford a car. They are helping pay for tourists via the gas taxes they pay.
You don’t have any concept of infrastructure. Freeways don’t make money, city streets don’t make money, airports don’t make money but you’re oddly OK with that. Thankfully the folks that built it are professionals and understand the purpose of infrastructure.
Thank you Mexico News Daily for reporting on the Maya Train. Appreciate your work very much.
There is little to no information authored by the US press.
Thanks for your comment Eugene. It was a wonderful trip and the train is such a great way to see Southern Mexico! I’m so happy you enjoyed my article. Cheers, Bel.
Bel, Are you a railfan. I would love to take the trip that you just completed. I have only completed one short trip on the Maya Train (Tren Maya). The train is indeed beautiful and very clean. I live in Colorado but visit my daughter and her husband in Puerto Morelos frequently. We have visited many ruin sites and Pueblos Mágicos via car and air. I am pleased to hear that the train is busy and sometimes even full! I believe there is a connection from Planeque to the Trans-Oceanic rail route and then on to other passenger rail connections within Mexico. President Sheinbaum is very active in adding and supporting additional passenger rail routes. Soon it may be possible to travel from the US via Amtrak, connect to the Mexican rail network and travel within the country. Connections are being considered to Belize and Guatemala too! Many thanks for your informative article! Other rail routes I have traveled include Guadalajara to Tequila and a Private train from Arizona to Copper Canyon. We love Mexico and train travel!
Wow! You’re a rail guru, I do like train travel and loved travelling the length of Italy via train. Within Mexico, this trip riding the rails of the Maya Train is the first train travel I’ve done. You’ve inspired me to look for more! Thanks mate, Bel.
How much did your tren maya tickets cost? There’s been some confusion about whether permanent residents pay the international tourist rate, and the more affordable tickets are only for Mexican citizens.
I paid the full International Tourist rate. I think only Mexican citizens receive a discount, whereas Permanent Residents like us aren’t eligible. Ticket prices depend on how far you are going so I’d recommend downloading the app “Tren Maya Boletos” or looking on their website for an idea or price.
Did you stop or stay overnight at small lesser-known places, too? Were you able to get decent accommodations and transportation at such stops?
We stayed at a Izamal, Campeche, Palenque, Bacalar, and Playa del Carmen. So no tiny town stops, but I spoke to people and there are taxis or buses at every stop with a fixed price. As for accommodation, I have no idea about hotels at every single stop along the entire route, so you a quick Google search or on a site like Air=BnB, or Booking.com will quickly let you know. Cheers, Bel.
How do you map the published routes and rates to the map? It looks like the only way to hit all the stops without “doubling back” would be to leave from Palenque and making a big circle?
On the ticket site, it lists:
Mayan Train Route
Archaeological Route
Nature Reserves Route
Living Culture Route
What exactly are those? Some sort of “package” tour? or are they separate stops that are made that you could “mix and match” as you like?
Also, it appears that the restaurant and “sleeper” tarins are not in service?
Hi James, yes we did a big loop so we could see it all. The ‘route’s’ you are referring to are the different places of interest along the train route. For example: Archaeological Route shows all of the places of archaeological interest along the route so if that interests you, then you know which stops to get off at.
As for a package. I’m not sure. I planned our trip to stop at Pueblos Mágicos because that’s what I’m interested in. You can plan your trip however you like to see whatever you like for as long as you like. Just get on the site and look at the schedules for that day.
For example, I want to check out Valladolid. So if I search Playa del Carmen to Valladolid then it shows me the time, train number, how many stops etc. When I choose the train you enter the next screen and select your price, and can even choose your seat.
If you don’t want to do it through the site, then you can download the app to your phone, or buy tickets at teh station. Hope that helps.
Tren Maya – https://reservas.ventaboletostrenmaya.com.mx
I highly recommend joining the “The Mayan Train Mexico” (exactly that name) Facebook group for the latest information and folks’ experiences.
We took the train yesterday from Cancun Airport to Merida. The luggage took over an hour so we couldn’t make the bus–taxi guy offered a “discount” rate of MX$1,000; we said $500 and he was fine with that.
We are Permanent Residents in Yucatan and have INAPAM cards. We bought our deeply-discounted tickets online. At the station, those cards are all the gate agent needed to see. (There are many stories of local ticket agents requiring INE cards for any discounted rate (e.g., citizens only) but that has not been our experience in several trips always buying on their Website.)
That’s fantastic information David, thank you. Out of curiosity, did you show them your Permanent Residency card? or the INAPAM? I tried to purchase tickets with my Permanent Residency card and they wouldn’t allow it at the station so next time perhaps if I purchase online they will.
Thank you president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (who deserves all the credit) for this visionary project that has proved to be a wonderful project. I’m sure all the right wing Mexican zealots are furious and will always find something to complain about.
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Cheers, Bel.