ftrphb
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Tren Maya?
The tren Maya is up and running. Anyone know anything about it?
https://rutatrenmaya.com/
Any guide books available? Cycling? Camping? Best place to fly in and out of? I'm thinking December and January.
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Paulina
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https://sandystours.com/maya-train
Sandy’s Travels has a trip scheduled Nov. 19-25, 2025. I believe there are a couple of spaces still open. Tell her Paulina sent you, maybe she will
kick down a discount for me. lol.
P>*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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chippy
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We didn't use the tren when we were there in april but we did stay in 2 of the new hotels associated with the tren. We stayed at the hotel in Edzna
and Uxmal. They were offering really great deals then as they were brand new.
We flew into and out of Merida.
[Edited on 8-16-2025 by chippy]
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lencho
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Quote: Originally posted by chippy  | | We didn't use the tren when we were there in april but we did stay in 2 of the new hotels associated with the tren. We stayed at the hotel in Edzna
and Uxmal. They were offering really great deals then as they were brand new. |
How did you connect with those deals?
Is it true that those hotels are run by SEDENA (the army)?
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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chippy
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| Quote: Originally posted by lencho | | Quote: Originally posted by chippy | | We didn't use the tren when we were there in april but we did stay in 2 of the new hotels associated with the tren. We stayed at the hotel in Edzna
and Uxmal. They were offering really great deals then as they were brand new. |
How did you connect with those deals?
Is it true that those hotels are run by SEDENA (the army)? |
I got the deal thru booking.com. It was listed as Hotel Gafsacomm Edzna . I don't
think that gov. acronym did them any favors so they had great deals to create interest. It's currently listed as Hotel Mundo Maya Edzna.
Yes it is run by sedena. I didn't have to worry about my rental car at those hotels.
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lencho
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That whole idea of soldiers running hotels, is hard to wrap my head around (what do they know about the
hospitality industry), but I agree it's comforting from the security standpoint.
As is the the ubiquitous Guardia Nacional around the Tren Maya, which could be a juicy target for bad actors.
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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chippy
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| Quote: Originally posted by lencho | That whole idea of soldiers running hotels, is hard to wrap my head around (what do they know about the
hospitality industry), but I agree it's comforting from the security standpoint.
As is the the ubiquitous Guardia Nacional around the Tren Maya, which could be a juicy target for bad actors. |
I only saw a military presence outside of the hotel. The hotel staff was all locals.
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wilderone
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The Yucatan peninsula is one of my favorite places to visit - I camp, but since there are few established campgrounds, I mix with hotels. Never had a
reservation. And there are so many activities and destinations, experiencing the Maya Tren might just be one experience. I rent a car at the Cancun
airport and have a Plan A, with Plan Bs in case the situation looks dicey. I've "camped" in people's back yards, at a tourist limestone cave site, in
the jungle at an abandoned property. A quick online search states that tourists pay almost twice as much as locals for the train, and for me a trip
with all-train transportation would be expensive and not get you off the beaten path. Your trip will be fantastic no matter what. So maybe fly into
Cancun, take the train to Isamal, etc. ask questions along the way - taxi to various hotels once at your destination. Your itinerary will be dictated
by your interests and comfort level and how much time you have.
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lencho
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With today's derailment, I got to wondering about their safety record.
Per this article (Spanish), there have been three derailments this year, minor injuries. Not bad, but surprising for a new, modern technology rail
line.
Safer than:
the bus? Probably.
Gringo driving a rental car around on foreign roads? Definitely!
[Edited on 8-20-2025 by lencho]
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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wilderone
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Posts: 3881
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"Gringo driving a rental car around on foreign roads" They were mostly two lane, with little traffic. Except the main highway between Cancun and
Merida (major freeway, I avoided to the extent I only went to the Maya Museum and then left town), and the southern highway as far as Morelos. The
only thing I didn't like was that right turnoffs to certain destinations or towns, were marked very close to or AT the turnoff and people tailgate.
But the train route offers a lot of options. You could rent a car for a week in Cancun, turn it in and take the train to Palenque. Then take the bus
to San Cristobal - daytrips offered there; and there are airport shuttles to the airport at Tuxtla. The thing with the train is that you need to keep
their schedule - and personally I'd rather have the freedom of a car.
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