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The Maya Train is nearing completion, and new details are emerging about its stop at one of Mexico’s most iconic tourist attractions.
New illustrations show wide green spaces and natural lighting throughout the Maya Train stop in Chichén Itzá.
The Chichén Itzá station will be over 130,000 square feet and will be one of the key stops in the Maya Train due to its key location in the heart of ancient Mayan civilization.
The Maya Train
The Maya Train is one of Mexico’s most ambitious infrastructure projects and a key initiative of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
#YaHayTrenMaya 🇲🇽 Desde la Estación Chichén Itzá, quienes viajen en el Tren Maya podrán visitar lugares tan mágicos como las Grutas de Sotuta o históricos como los templos y capillas virreinales de la región.
— Tren Maya (@TrenMayaMX) August 7, 2023
¿Te animas? #SúbeteAlTren 🚄 pic.twitter.com/zmZ2rfewBh
The train will connect Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo by high-speed train.
All in all, the project will build almost 1,000 total miles of train tracks.
This project hopes to increase tourism throughout the Yucatán peninsula by improving connectivity.
The Yucatán peninsula has many cities and cultural centers outside of Cancun, but these places can be difficult to access for tourists.
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That will all change soon once the Maya Train is complete.
Cancun Station
The Maya Train will have stops throughout the Yucatán, including in Cancun.
Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama recently shared details about the new Maya Train station in Cancun as well.
The state-of-the-art station recently received its first arrival.
The station will connect Cancun and Chichén Itzá. Chichén Itzá has long been a popular day trip from Cancun, but now access will be easier than ever.
Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is the most popular archaeological site in all of Mexico and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chichén Itzá’s monuments “are among the undisputed masterpieces of Mesoamerican architecture because of the beauty of their proportions, the refinement of their construction and the splendor of their sculpted decorations.”
The Pyramid of Kukulkán looms over Chichén Itzá and is the park’s most recognizable feature.
In addition, the Ball Court, where ancient Mayans once competed in the famous ball game, is an impressive spectacle.
Soon a new museum will open at Chichén Itzá to showcase Mayan artifacts discovered at the site, where archaeological activities continue to this day.
Controversy
The Train Maya has sparked controversy and passionate debates throughout Mexico and its neighboring countries.
Proponents of the project argue that it will be a boon for the country’s economy.
The southeastern part of Mexico, where the train is located, is traditionally the poorest region in the country.
Politicians in charge of the project hope that the economic gains from the train will help alleviate poverty in the region.
The tourism industry is excited about the project as well.
Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun are all major tourist destinations in their own right, but it can be difficult to travel between each city due to limited transportation.
In addition, many potential tourist hotspots will become accessible due to the train. Mérida, Bacalar, and Campeche are currently difficult to reach from Cancun, but are likely to benefit from the construction of the Maya Train.
However, others are worried about the potential side effects of the project.
Environmental activists are particularly concerned about the effects of the massive infrastructure project.
Construction has created massive deforestation despite promises that “not a single tree would be cut” for the train.
Groups like Cenotes Urbanos worry that local drinking water could be contaminated during or after construction.
The Great Maya Aquifer provides water for millions of people, but only centimeters separate it from construction in some areas.
The region is already struggling with water shortages.
Over the last 20 years, freshwater resources in the Yucatán peninsula have decreased by 59%.
According to experts, the region is 15 years from a serious water crisis.
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