Mexico is one of the world’s most mind-bogglingly diverse countries. Not only is it huge: it’s also home to everything from idyllic beach resorts and dense tropical jungle to towering mountain ranges and the ruins of ancient civilisations.
And soon visiting all that stuff is about to become a heck of a lot easier. A new train network called Tren Maya, which has been three years in the making and is made up of seven sections, connects legendary Mayan sites with beachside resorts, providing a new way of navigating Mexico’s many, many different attractions.
The first bit of the Tren Maya network runs from Palenque (known for its Mayan sites) to the Yucatán capital of Mérida, more Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá and the world-famous beaches of Cancun.
The railway partially opened in December, and is scheduled to be completely operational by February. The project features three different kids of carriages, provided by transport giant Alstom. ‘Xiinbaal’ carriages will be fitted with huge panoramic windows; ‘Janal’ coaches will be the restaurant cars; and ‘P'atal’ cars will be a bit more comfy and luxurious, designed for long-distance daytime and overnight travel.
The network covers a whopping 1,525 kilometres and provides a variety of rail links throughout the Mexican states of Chiapas, Campeche, Tabasco, Yucatán and Quintana Roo. Other sections link up the Palenque-Cancun route with coastal spots Bacalar and Playa del Carmen and Mayan sites at Tulum and Xpujil.
While this is some really exciting news, the project is not without its controversies. The government initially promised not to cut down a single tree in the building of all these new railroads but – perhaps unsurprisingly – that’s not been the case. They’ve since admitted to the felling of 3.4 million trees, but environmental campaigners estimate it could be as many as 9 million.
Damage to some remarkably fragile ecosystems like underground rivers, and the fact that the services are catered almost exclusively to tourists, has also attracted criticism throughout the development.
But Mexico’s popularity as a holiday destination doesn’t look to be slowing, and rail travel is one of the most effective ways to become a more sustainable tourist. You can find out more on the official website here – if you love both Mexico and train travel as much as us, there’s plenty to be excited about.
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