Maya Train Tourism Mexico: Why Tour Operators Aren’t Using It (Yet)

When Mexico’s Maya Train completed its full loop around the Yucatán Peninsula, it was hailed as a potentially transformational tourism and transport network — connecting Quintana Roo, Campeche, Yucatán, Tabasco, and Chiapas like never before. Yet, one year after full operation, most international tour operators still aren’t building it into their itineraries — and the data helps explain why. 

Why Maya Train Tourism in Mexico Hasn’t Been Adopted by Tour Operators

The Maya Train covers 1,554 kilometers with 34 stations, designed to link major cities, archaeological sites, and emerging destinations around the peninsula. 

Ridership data tells an uneven story:

• In its first year, the Maya Train carried just over 1 million passengers total, far below the government’s goal of 3 million annually. 

• Only about 5.5% of passengers in the early years were foreign tourists, leaving wide gaps of untapped international demand. 

• Daily passenger numbers early on were just a fraction (3–5%) of government targets. 

• The project has struggled financially, with fare revenue covering only a small part of operating costs; freight services — not yet launched — are expected to be key to future profitability. 

Yet there are positive signals. Ridership has grown by 74% year-over-year, with over 1.35 million passengers transported after the train became fully operational. 

Tren Maya on its route. Photo by Josue Navarro

Why Tour Operators Haven’t Embraced the Maya Train Yet

1. Low Awareness vs Familiar Transport Options

Tour operators have decades of familiarity with highway bus companies like ADO or private transfers — predictable, easy to book, and well-integrated with attraction entrances and hotel check-in points. Train stations, in contrast, are often outside town centers, requiring extra transfer logistics for clients, taxis, or shuttle services. 

2. Limited Connectivity to Key Sites

Although the Maya Train connects major cities, direct access to popular archaeological or natural attractions is not always straightforward. Operators are built around door-to-door logistics: after the train arrives, clients still need transfers to ruin sites, cenotes, reserves, or jungle lodges.

3. Schedule and Ticketing Challenges

Unlike established buses with frequent schedules and reliable online booking systems, the Maya Train’s ticketing system and operational schedules have been reported as more difficult to navigate internationally, with limited booking options and occasional website issues. 

4. Perceived Cost and Value for Clients

Train tickets are affordable, but when additional taxis, shuttles, or multi-modality routes are factored in, operators often find road transport cheaper and more efficient for group tours — especially those with tight itineraries where time is money. 

How Tour Operators Can Use the Maya Train — Real Itinerary Ideas

Even with slow early adoption, the Maya Train offers unique opportunities:

1. Slow Travel Cultural Routes

Craft experiences that allow travelers to enjoy the journey as part of the tour — riding through jungle, coastal plains, and cultural heartlands on scenic train segments.

2. Strategic Stopovers

Combine train travel with major destinations like Mérida, Palenque, Campeche, Valladolid, and Cancún — then include transfers to non-mass-market attractions like Calakmul or Bacalar.

3. Premium Experience Bundles

Offer packages that include Maya Train tickets, private shuttles from the station to remote sites, boutique eco-lodges, and curated local experiences — appealing to travelers willing to spend more for convenience and authenticity.

4. Multi-Center Itineraries

Instead of point-to-point bus transfers, position the Maya Train as the backbone of 7–12 day tours exploring:

• Playa del Carmen → Tulum → Bacalar → Calakmul

• Palenque → Campeche → Yucatán interior

Because stations span across southeastern Mexico, you can create loops that avoid repeated long road transfers — a big plus for travelers who don’t want to sit in a van.

Travel Time Comparisons (Train vs Bus)

Here’s a simplified look at travel times from a common origin — Playa del Carmen — to highlight potential benefits:

Route	Maya Train	Standard Bus
Playa del Carmen → Cancún Airport	~40–50 min	~60+ min
Playa del Carmen → Mérida	~3.5–4.5 hrs	~4–5.5 hrs
Playa del Carmen → Bacalar	~4.5–6 hrs	~5–6.5 hrs
Playa del Carmen → Palenque	~9–11 hrs	~10–13 hrs

The Maya Train can be competitive — especially for longer distances when road conditions or traffic add unpredictability.

Pros & Cons Chart: Maya Train for Tour Operators

Pros	Cons
Scenic, comfortable travel with panoramic views	Stations are often outside town centers, requiring extra transfers
Environmentally friendlier than road transport	Ridership still below targets; fewer international users
Opportunity to build new, differentiating itineraries	Schedule & ticketing are unfamiliar to many operators
Competitive for long distances vs bus travel	The train doesn’t directly serve many attractions
Can be part of premium, experiential packages	Freight services (needed to achieve profitability) are not operational until later years

Final Thought: The Missing Link in Maya Train Tourism Adoption

The Maya Train has survived its first year with growing ridership and significant media attention, but true adoption by the travel industry will require innovation, education, and creative itinerary design. 

Tour operators who invest in understanding its schedule, integrate last-mile logistics, and build compelling route narratives around it stand to be early movers — setting themselves apart with fresh product lines that feel modern, sustainable, and deeply Mexican.

Sources & Further Reading

• Mexico News Daily — Maya Train first anniversary performance analysis

• Tren Maya — Official project and route information

• Regional tourism reports on Yucatán and Chiapas connectivity