Know Before You Go: Traveling the Tren Maya Route

The Tren Maya route covers a 966-mile (1,554-kilometer) loop with seven separate sections, making it the dedicated Yucatan Peninsula train—aka it's the only one. It connects five different Mexican states, including Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo by rail, stretching all the way from Palenque to Cancun.

Along the way, there are 20 total Tren Maya stations and 14 stops, including major tourism hubs such as Playa del Carmen as well as smaller and lesser-known towns such as the “Yellow City” of Izamal or Bacalar, home to an aquamarine natural lagoon.

Part of the Tren Maya’s appeal is that it connects lots of major attractions in the Yucatan Peninsula with ease, removing the need to navigate complex local bus schedules. As you travel the route, you have the opportunity to stop at top destinations such as Cancun, Tulum, and Chichen Itza as well as more off-the-beaten-path destinations the railway has now brought within reach.

Maya archaeological sites that you can now visit via train include Calakmul and Uxmal. You can also take a private tour of Izamal, head to Valladolid and its nearby cenotes, or hop off at Cancun to enjoy a boat ride to islands including Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, or Isla Holbox.

Because the Tren Maya is still fairly new, the schedule is subject to change and varies from route to route. Most trains operate daily between 8am and 8pm, so riding the railway might not be ideal if you’re joining a same-day sunrise tour or want to experience Yucatan nightlife.

However, the trains do run year-round—just keep in mind that, generally, the best time to visit the Yucatan Peninsula is between December and April during the dry season. To avoid the crowds, or if you want to book something seasonal such as swimming with whale sharks off the coast of Isla Holbox, try to plan a trip in September.

To ride the Tren Maya, you can buy tickets for your specific route and date online, through the app, or at a railway station. The most challenging part about using this form of public transportation is that the train stations are often located far outside of city centers.

In towns such as Puerto Morelos, Tulum, and Merida, you may need to book separate transfers to reach the station. With that in mind, be sure to arrive 15–30 minutes before departure so that you have enough time to go through the ticket check and make your way to the platform.

The cost of your Tren Maya ticket depends on your nationality, the day of travel, the route you’re traveling, which class you want to travel in, and how far in advance you book your tickets. You can expect to pay a few dollars for the cheapest rides from one stop to the next.

However, the train from Palenque to Chichen Itza costs around US$130 and a Palenque to Cancun train could cost more than US$200, which is why other forms of transportation may be more affordable. For accurate and updated prices, check your route on the Tren Maya website or app.

Although the Tren Maya may not be able to accommodate people with all different types of disabilities, both the Tren Maya stations and the train cars themselves are accessible for passengers with mobility issues who use wheelchairs. The bathrooms on board are also spacious enough to accommodate wheelchair users.

Just keep in mind that many attractions in the area are not wheelchair accessible, as many of the archaeological sites have uneven paths and most cenotes are only reachable via stairs. To ensure that you can participate in a group excursion, perhaps look for a wheelchair accessible tour instead.

One of the biggest things to consider is that many of the Tren Maya stations are located on the outskirts of the off-the-beaten-path destinations they serve, so for the smoothest experience possible you may want to book transportation to and from the station and your actual destination in advance.

Secondly, to easily access the Maya Train itinerary and buy tickets, it’s a good idea to download the aforementioned Tren Maya app. Make sure to reserve your seats ahead of time, as you'll benefit from a hefty discount for booking tickets 2–4 weeks in advance.

• When was the Tren Maya built? Construction of the Tren Maya infrastructure began in 2020, though the train wasn’t operational until the end of 2024.

• What was the controversy about the Tren Maya? During construction, the project garnered some controversy for its impact on the environment and local Indigenous communities, though other parties have praised the train’s potential for redirecting tourism away from overtouristed areas to smaller towns.

• Is the Tren Maya worth it? If you’re looking for a comfortable way to see the Yucatan Peninsula and admire its scenery, the Tren Maya can be a great option. If you’re just traveling from one town to the next or have less flexibility with your schedule, there may be more efficient and cost-effective modes of transportation.

• Is taking the Tren Maya faster than other forms of transportation? For long distances, the Maya train can be faster or about the same as driving. For shorter distances, that’s not necessarily the case because of the station locations and limited schedule.