Cancun’s Maya Train Slashes Prices 30% And Adds More Departures

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If you have been holding off on riding the highly publicized Maya Train (Tren Maya) during your Mexican Caribbean vacation because of the confusing pricing tiers or the steep “foreigner fee,” we have some incredible news for your travel budget.

The Tren Maya just announced a massive pricing overhaul that went into effect in late April 2026.

Not only did they completely scrap the controversial higher rate for international tourists, but they also slashed overall fares by up to 30% and added a ton of new daily departures.

If taking a scenic, high-speed rail ride through the jungle to ancient ruins or colonial cities is on your bucket list, there has literally never been a better—or cheaper—time to climb aboard.

Here is a breakdown of the new pricing, the added routes, and how it compares to the traditional bus network.

The “Foreigner Tax” Is Officially Gone!

Since the train launched, international tourists had to pay a premium ticket price that was significantly higher than the rate for Mexican nationals. It was a major point of friction for budget-conscious American and European travelers.

That system is officially history.

The train’s new pricing overhaul consolidates the old, separate national and international rates into a single, straightforward “Turista México” tier. For international visitors, this new unified rate represents a massive savings of up to 30% compared to the old foreigner fare!

There are also two other tiers: a Local rate (for residents of the five states along the route) and a Special rate (for seniors, students, and people with disabilities), both of which saw a 20% price drop.

The New Route Pricing Breakdown

So, what does it actually cost to ride the train now? Here is a quick look at the new Turista prices for some of the most popular routes out of Cancun and Mérida:

• Cancun to Chichén Itzá: $351 MXN (about $18.00 USD) for a 1.5-hour ride to the iconic ruins.
• Mérida to Cancun: $547 MXN (about $27.00 USD) for a comfortable 3.5-hour journey across the peninsula.
• Mérida to Campeche: $339 MXN (about $17.00 USD) to reach the walled coastal city in just 2.3 hours.
• Cancun to Palenque: $1,169 MXN (about $58.00 USD) for the epic, full-day scenic adventure down south.

Train vs. ADO Bus: The Ultimate Showdown

For decades, the ADO luxury bus network was the undisputed king of transportation in the Yucatan Peninsula. So, how does the newly discounted train stack up against the classic bus?

It is incredibly competitive. Currently, an ADO bus ticket between Mérida and Cancun ranges anywhere from $501 to $920 MXN, depending on the level of service you book.

With the new train fare sitting pretty at $547 MXN, the Tren Maya is now right on par with—and in some cases significantly cheaper than—the bus. Plus, you get the added luxury of getting up to stretch your legs, hitting the café car, and avoiding highway traffic entirely.

More Departures = Ultimate Flexibility

A cheaper ticket doesn’t mean much if the train only leaves once a day at the crack of dawn. Thankfully, the Tren Maya is seriously ramping up its schedule.

The massive network now runs 20 daily services across its 965-mile route, with plans to expand to 32 daily runs by the end of 2026. If you are taking the wildly popular Mérida to Cancun route, you now have six daily departures to choose from:

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

How To Snag Your Tickets

With over 2.3 million passengers having already ridden the train since its launch, and a massive 41% jump in international ticket sales this year, these new low prices mean seats are going to sell out faster than ever.

To lock in your journey, skip the lines at the station and book directly through the official reservation portal (reservas.ventaboletostrenmaya.com.mx). You can also download the official Tren Maya mobile app (available on iOS and Android) to check real-time schedules, compare routes, and grab your tickets in advance.