You Can Now Take An $18 Train From Cancun To These 3 Incredible Destinations

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It’s been a minute since the Maya Train launched, but if you’ve been holding off on booking your rail adventure across the Yucatan Peninsula, probably because those scammy ‘tourist prices’ were too high, we’ve got excellent news for you.

Blame it on the lower-than-usual ridership, or simply Quintana Roo’s newfound interest in boosting the Maya Train as a product, but they’re now scrapping the gringo fees altogether and relaunching the service with far cheaper fares.

Yep, no more paying 30% more than locals to ride the exact same train simply because you carry a U.S. passport on you, and on top of that, there will be lots more daily departures from now on.

Starting directly from Cancun Airport, there are now 3 incredible Mexican Caribbean destinations you can visit from only $18, which we’ll get to shortly. First, let’s have a look at what’s changed:

A Lowkey Relaunch

Instead of multiple ticketing tiers and having foreigners fork out more money than they should because apparently that used to be the policy south of the border, the Maya Train now has a single unified train fare for visitors.

It’s called Turista México, and it basically means savings of up to 30% compared to the original ‘foreigner fare’. It applies to everyone, including Mexicans who don’t live in any of the five states serviced along the route.

Part of the reason why the Maya Train didn’t quite take off the way developers initially thought it would was the high prices for short-distance routes and the limited schedule.

Even though the AC-powered, Europe-style train is miles better than those decades-old ADO shuttles, it didn’t stand a chance against the most popular mode of transport in the Yucatan Peninsula, especially with the sliced bus fares and the multiple daily departures.

An ADO bus ticket between Cancun and Merida ranges from MXN$501 to MXN$920 (US$29–$53), depending on how early you book, and the level of service.

Quick intermission to remind you that, before you fly abroad this season, be it Mexico or elsewhere, you should make sure you’re up to date with any travel alerts that may be in place at your destination on the Travel Advisories page.

Here’s The New Maya Train Timetable

The old Maya Train fare for foreigners on this particular route could reach upwards of MXN$1,300 in peak season ($73.94), and given the fact that there were usually only one or two trains running per day, getting an ADO was a no-brainer.

Now the new train fare for Merida-bound passengers starts at a much more acceptable $547 MXN ($27), pretty much matching the bus. Hopping off at an early stop, it could cost you as little as $18.

As for the revamped timetables, the Maya Train now has 20 daily services across its 965-mile network, and it’s expected to add an additional 12 (totalling 32) by the end of the year. On the Cancun–Merida line, arguably the most popular one, there will now be 6 daily trains operating.

Here’s the updated schedule from Cancun to Merida:

• 7:00 AM
• 9:18 AM
• 10:45 AM
• 1:05 PM
• 3:20 PM
• 4:22 PM

Now, if you’re wondering where exactly you can go from Cancun now that tickets are dirt-cheap, here’s 3 of the most sought-after destinations:

Top 3 Destinations To Visit From Cancun With The New Cheaper Maya Train

Chichén Itzá

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá is now a short 1.5-hour ride by train from Cancun, and with tickets averaging MXN$351 (the cheapest rate on the Merida line at only US$18), there’s no excuse to miss it this time around.

The sprawling archaeological zone is famous for its soaring step pyramid, the ancient Temple of Kukulcan, one of the best-preserved and most important Mayan structures to have survived into modern times.

There are also Mayan ball courts, ceremonial altars, and palatial buildings that were once off-limits to commoners like us. You’re welcome to explore the site in depth, as long as you’re respectful, do not trespass no-go zones, nor attempt to climb pyramids where not permitted.

Merida

The cultural capital of the Yucatan Peninsula, Merida is a feasible 3.5-hour, $27 train hop west of Cancun, and it’s that much-needed infusion of culture and Old World charm in your otherwise-uneventful poolside brunch-binging, all-inclusive vacay.

No judgement, we’ve all been here, but if you’re craving something a little more than just margaritas and seaviews, Merida offers stone-built churches, some of the oldest to ever stand in the American continent, cobbled streets that look like Europe, and vibrant street markets that have yet to give in to the fast-spreading dollarization of the Mexican Caribbean.

Plus, it just happens to be one of the safest cities in the whole of Mexico. According to the U.S. State Department, it’s currently at Level 1, a status it shares with traditionally low-risk destinations like Switzerland and Iceland.

We know, crazy, right? None of the usual gang mess, corrupt law enforcers, or pickpocket action. Our Safety Index currently ranks Merida at a highly safe 85/100!

San Francisco de Campeche

A little more offbeat than Merida, yet similar in vibe, San Francisco de Campeche stands out for its nearly-intact colonial core, with stone-paved streets, ornate churches, and traditional cantinas galore, and imposing city walls.

It’s only 2-ish hours to get there from Merida, and tickets cost around $17 (from Cancun, it’s significantly more expensive).

Campeche is one of only 2 cities in the Americas to still have retained its colonial fortifications practically untouched, with the other one being Quebec City, up in Canada.

Parts of the Campeche Walls, formerly used to ward off pirates and other assailants, are now open for visitors, like Puerta de Tierra, which you can climb for epic coastal views, and a couple of bastions: Baluarte de la Soledad (now hosting a museum), and Baluarte de San Carlos (a terrace viewpoint).

Which one of these epic 3 Mexican Caribbean spots are you going for? Take this quiz to find your perfect match!

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.