Mexico’s New Maya Train Could Help You Explore New Parts of the Yucatán Peninsula

Mexico is planning a railway that would make it easier for tourists to navigate the Yucatán Peninsula, with stops in Tulum, Cancún, and Chichen Itza.

A newly proposed extension to the “Maya Train” was discussed by Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador earlier this week, according to Associated Press.

Construction on the project is expected to start in 2019, with completion within four years. Once operational, the train will connect 12 stations along more than 930 miles of track. The total cost is likely to be between $6 billion and $8 billion — more than double previous cost estimates.

The route would encourage visitors to get off the beaten path along the coast, and explore untapped nature reserves further inland. The rail will start in Cancún and travel south through Quintana Roo, with a stop in Tulum. The train would also stop in Campeche, an area known for its colonial architecture and finish in Palenque, Chiapas.

“We are going to support tourism in this region of the country, but there will be equity; so that the tourists who come to Cancun, to Playa del Carmen, can easily explore the Mundo Maya in the southern regions,” Obrador said, according to The Yucatán Times.

Mexican politicians have been talking about building the rail line since 2012. But in 2015, the project was cancelled due to a lack of funds.