Mayan Train, the Mexican megaproject to boost tourism

Currently in execution, the Mayan Train is considered one of the most innovative projects, since it will provide connectivity and quality services to national and international users, in addition to stimulating tourism and distributing benefits even in the five states that make up the Mayan Zone of Mexico. . The proposal of 62 routes will contribute to the diversification of the region’s tourism product, as it integrates 18 indigenous paradises, 28 rural communities, 14 magical towns, 46 archaeological sites and 6 world heritage sites, through a comprehensive tourism offer.

It will consist of almost 1,500 kilometers of railway tracks for the transport of tourists, common passengers and cargo through the Yucatan Peninsula, and will pass through the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roowhere it will be possible to visit some of the most iconic sites in terms of nature and cultural tourism: Mérida, Cancún, Chetumal, Campeche and Palenque.

The connectivity of its 19 stations will allow tourists to visit any of the entities of the railway route, with the opportunity to choose a trip and stay according to their motivations, such as cultural or nature tourism, or complement their activities after a trip. of business. It can be traveled in any direction, and the 62 options of tours of one and up to three nights will give visitors the opportunity to experience the Mayan region like never before.

the tour

It will start at the Cancun airport, the main distribution center for visitors to the Mayan Train. From there, tourists can reach the Puerto Morelos station, where the Ruta de los Cenotes opens as a great opportunity to experience the adventure of underground rivers; as well as snorkeling in the area of ​​the National Reef Park, with a great diversity of marine fauna and flora.

Later, the Playa del Carmen station It is the ideal place to visit another of the jewels of the Mexican Caribbean: Cozumel, with its natural park Chankanaab and the lagoon of the same name, home to more than 60 species of tropical fish, corals and crustaceans; in addition to visiting the Cozumel Reef National Park.

In the spa and magical town of Tulum, visitors will have the opportunity to visit one of the most important archaeological sites in Quintana Roo and the only one facing the sea, while the perfect complement is a visit to the Sian Ka’an biosphere; reserve that is also a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO. Likewise, the Felipe Carrillo Puerto station is the heart of the history of the Caste War.

Living with the Mayan community and learning about their way of life and ancestral traditions is the experience offered by Ki’ichpam K’aax and a visit to Tihosuco, one of the oldest towns in Quintana Roo. For the station and magical town of Bacalar, the highlight is the fort of San Felipe and the route of its one hundred murals, which will allow the traveler to discover the natural wonders through a tour of the Siete Colores lagoon, a tour that is complemented for the beach, sea and sun experience in Mahahual.

Chetumal station, capital of Quintana Roo, is discovered through a tour of its monuments and gastronomy; the sculptural corridor is perfect to start and continue through the Río Hondo canal and the archaeological zones of Dzibanché and Kinichná. The richness of the Mayan world and the exuberance of nature come together in the archaeological zone of Calakmul, declared a cultural and natural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, which can be enjoyed at the Xpujil station.

To enter the imposing Lacandona jungle and discover one of the natural heritage of humanity, you can get to the station and magical town of Palenque. Its impressive archaeological zone, the Agua Azul waterfalls and the Misol-Ha waterfalls are mandatory stops. A visit to the magical town of Tapijulapa, in Tabasco, is its best complement. The Boca del Cerro station is where the Upper Usumacinta River ends and the Ciénaga de Centla begins. Admiring this beauty from the Usumacinta bridge is a unique experience. This is the best season to get to know the Lacandon culture of Chiapas. The inhabitants of Naha and Top Che will guide the visitor through nature, their culture and ancient worldview.

The archaeological zone of Moral-Reforma and the ecological reserve of Las Cascadas are the protagonists of the El Triunfo station. From here you can reach the magical town of Palizada, located in the state of Campeche. The inhabitants of Zacil-Ha Isla de Pajaros will receive tourists at the Escárcega station, to take them by canoe through the Laguna de Terminos and the magical town of Isla Aguada.

For stories of ships, seas and pirates, San Francisco de Campeche station is to visit. Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where this cultural adventure begins and is combined with the archaeological site of Edzná and its 25 square kilometers (16 square miles) of religious and residential buildings. Mérida also has its station. The stately city, with its Paseo Montejo and its historic center; the Puuc Route, with its five archaeological zones that include the Uxmal jewel; as well as the new magical town of Maní, where the visitor will have the opportunity to taste the best Poc-Chuc dish.

The magical town of Izamal or City of Three Cultures is also part of the tour., which was painted ocher yellow to maintain eternal light, as well as its convent of San Antonio de Padua, from the 16th century; Hacienda and archaeological zone of Aké are the unmissable points that tourists can visit when getting off the Mayan Train at this terminal. Chichen Itza, an archaeological zone, a World Heritage Site, of which the Kukulkan pyramid is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world, will be a mandatory part of the tour. The Yokdzonot cenote and the Balankanché caves are just two of the main attractions for visitors.

The next point is in the magical town of Valladolid, a strategic place to visit the archaeological zone of Ek Balam, Río Lagartos and the Sac Aua and Xcanché cenotes, as well as the city itself and its historic center. That is almost the end of the circuit. On the Nuevo-Xcan station the visitor can marvel at the island of the Passion and the island of the Birds, prelude to Holbox, as well as the archaeological zone of Cobá and the indigenous paradises of Ta’akbil-Ja and El Corchal.

The route closes with the Cancun Hotel Zone stationwhere visitors can visit the magical town of Isla Mujeres, with its Mundaca hacienda, a 19th-century treasure, its El Garrafón reef park, and Isla Blanca, where the Chacmuchuch Uch lagoon is located.

Cost of tickets

The Mayan Train is a social project, designed to benefit the towns and communities of the five states through which it passes. It is intended to be a widely used means of transportation that connects the urban centers and rural areas of the region.

There are no defined rates yet.but it is guaranteed to have differentiated prices for tourists, nationals and foreigners, and a preferential price for the local population.

For local transportation, the price will be competitive with current local and regional transportation and services.

What will the Mayan Train look like?

The interiors of the Mayan Train will be at the same level as trains like those in Europe, as can be seen in the images presented at a press conference. Fonatur presented the winning project corresponding to the consortium led by Bombardier, Alstom, Gami and Construcciones Urales, companies responsible for manufacturing 42 trains at the Ciudad Sahagún plant, Hidalgo.

The use of dual diesel-electric locomotives is contemplated. This is the international standard for modern trains. These can even use biodiesel. American, Canadian, European and Asian railways mainly use this model.

It will reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h for passengers and 120 km/h for cargo.

advances

The first stone of its construction was laid on December 16, 2018, and the project is expected to be completed in 2024. The train is intended to offer three types of services: mass, tourist and commercial transport.

The commitment of the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (Fonatur) is to have the first section of the project running by 2023.

Depending on the site MexicanistRegarding the route that the train will follow, 95% of the line will pass through the existing rights of way. This means that this transport will pass through land that is already prepared for roads and railways. This infrastructure project will have different phases of construction. The first phase consisted of the repair of the railways that go from Palenque to Valladolid in 2019. The construction of Selva and Caribe II began in 2020.

Observations

The Mexican Center for Environmental Law of Mexico points out several points regarding the impact that the Mayan Train would cause, among them:

• Deforestation of 2,500 hectares of humid and dry forests.
• Social conflicts over land ownership: 53% of the Mayan Train route is on communal land.
• Impacts on protected natural areas.
• Loss of habitat, fragmentation, running over and blocking the passage of fauna.
• Noise generation that can particularly affect the orientation of bats.
• Water shortage in the Calakmul area.
• Pressure on the archaeological zone of Calakmul due to an increase in visitors, from 40,000 (currently) to 3 million (expected).
• The communities of Calakmul do not have a waste collection service. There is a risk of crisis due to the accumulation of waste.

Other chosen source: www.trenmaya.gob.mx