ftrphb
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Tren Maya, Merida?
I just bought a ticket for Merida. I want to check the Tren Maya. Anybody know anything about these things? looking for some advice.
[Edited on 1-27-2026 by ftrphb]
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BajaNomad
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Thread Split
1-28-2026 at 09:29 AM |
cupcake
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I have been to all those ancient sites (and so many more), but I traveled using public buses, collectivos, and walking.
https://rutatrenmaya.com/
I love ancient sites and never tire of them. I realize many people don't have the same level of interest.
Campeche is my favorite large town in the Yucatan, and Edzna is the major ancient site in that area. You will probably enjoy Merida. See Chichen Itza
if possible. Ek' Balam is a major site in that area as well. Uxmal is one of the most impressive sites in the Merida area and one of my favorite in
the Yucatan; it doesn't see the same crowds as does Chichen Itza. There are many small but excellent ruin sites in the Xpujil area. Most people enjoy
Tulum. Palenque is one of the great sites and there is an excellent museum nearby. Calakmul is a great site, but some find it a bit of a slog to
reach.
I also love cenotes. They are magical.
Post any site or area specific questions you might have here on this thread and I will answer them if I can. Have a great trip!
[Edited on 1-29-2026 by cupcake]
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surabi
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Not on the Mayan trail, this one is on the west coast.
"The Altavista Petroglyph Complex in Nayarit, Mexico, near the coastal town of Chacala, features hundreds of ancient rock carvings created by the
indigenous Tecoxquin people. Situated in the mountains, this sacred site contains roughly 2,000 petroglyphs—including spirals, human figures, and
geometric designs—that remain largely mysterious in meaning.
Key Details About the Altavista Petroglyphs:
Location: Located near the village of Chacala, south of Compostela Municipality, Nayarit, Mexico.
Origin: Created by the Tecoxquin indigenous group.
Site Significance: The site, locally known as "La Pila del Rey" (The King's Basin), contains around 2,000 glyphs.
Motifs: Carvings include spirals, donut-shaped holes, human figures (like the "Shaman"), and symbols representing cardinal points.
Cultural Importance: The area is still considered sacred by the Huichol Indians, who use it for ceremonies.
Access: It is accessible via walking trails in the mountains, often guided by local inhabitants.
(Note regarding "Access" above: What is stated there (from Google) is not accurate. It isn't nearly as remote as they make it sound. In fact, you can
drive there, although the secondary roads in, which are just small dirt roads between farms and orchards, can be impassable in rainy season.
Otherwise, you just turn off the main highway (200) towards the town of Alta Vista, go about a kilometer, then there is a turnoff to the site. I've
walked in from the highway, it takes maybe 45 minutes. And while the walk isn't flat, it certainly isn't what I would call a mountainous walk. Nor do
you need a guide. But it isn't well-marked, so you have to know how to get there, as it is still used by the Huichols as a sacred site- they don't
want hoards of tourists traipsing through. There are signs throughout the site with info about the known history of the place.There's a caretaker at
the site who you should tip. At least that's how it was the last time I was there, which was several years ago. Maybe they charge admission now.)
[Edited on 1-30-2026 by surabi]
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cupcake
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Quote: Originally posted by lencho  |
How did you get there?
Unfortunately (in my opinion), the Tren Maya is opening up that region and the Cancún hordes now can take the train to their luxury hotel at something like 12 km from the ruins.
There goes the neighborhood.  |
I took a taxi from Xpujil, had it wait at Calakmul while I spent hours seeing the site, then return me to Xpujil. This was circa 2018, the cost was
possibly $100 US equivalent, I can't remember.
On the way back to Xpujil, I paid extra to make a stop at the Balamku site. The "exquisite, ornate stucco frieze" at that site was closed at that
time, so I saw the rest of the site and went back to see the frieze the next year.
I am a low budget traveler, staying in the least expensive hotel rooms I can find. But, I don't skimp on costs to reach sites. I would feel like I
would be cheating myself if I did.
At the time, there was a taxi stand in the center of tiny Xpujil. I stayed about 10 days in Xpujil on that trip, seeing every ruin site in the greater
area that I knew of. In addition to taking taxis to the sites, you could catch collectivos. What I would normally do is take a taxi to the site, cut
the taxi loose, see the site to my hearts content, walk out to the highway and wait for a collectivo coming by for the trip back to Xpujil. This
worked very well for me.
From Xpujil, the farthest day trip to the east was to the Kohunlich site, which is fantastic. On the same day I took a taxi to the sites of Kinichna
and Dzibanche, in the same area, which are well worth seeing.
Many other sites to see from Xpujil, some you can walk to from town.
Also from Xpujil, I paid to be taken to sites in the Rio Bec area on a "fast bike" which I believe is a quadrunner. These are more remote sites.
Due south of Escarcega is the site of El Tigre, which sees little tourist traffic, but it is an impressive site. I reached that site via taxi from a
hotel room in the town of Candalaria.
In Xpujil I have stayed at the Hotel Victoria for 200 pesos and also the Hotel Gran Garra Jaguar for 250 pesos. Both were good (by my standards). I
don't know if either place is still there or what their rates might be now.
[Edited on 1-30-2026 by cupcake]
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chippy
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I would ditch the train idea and get a rentacar in Merida,then the Mayan world is your oyster.
I did that last April and it was great!
[Edited on 1-30-2026 by chippy]
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cupcake
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| Quote: Originally posted by lencho |
I was in Valladolid last year and folks there told me there was a huge infusion of personnel and resources during construction, with prices not
returning to pre-boom levels after the crews left.
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Valladolid was a very nice town to spend some days in when I was last there, just before the start of the Covid Pandemic. I had a very good room at
the Sol Colonial for 180 pesos. Of the cenotes I saw in and around town, I particularly enjoyed Cenote Samula, where I had a lovely swim.
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ftrphb
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I'm at the airport waiting for my flight. Anybody have a link to the best website with a good map of the Mayan ruins? I've been to one in Mexico, one
in Belize, and four in Guatemala. One has a lunar observatory. The Mayan spent 988 years studying the moon and how it affects our lives. My Yucatan
map only s he shows a few of them.
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cupcake
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https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1UClKr61MZ3Th2W-eyh...
The above linked map is good, and it is interactive (you can zoom in and out, and move around the Yucatan). It doesn't have everything, but I doubt
there is a single map that will. Enlarge an area to bring out more detail for a specific location. You can screen save what you want, then save it via
Paint and either use the saved map area on a tablet or print it out. Samples below (click for larger image).
[Edited on 2-1-2026 by cupcake]
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cupcake
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cupcake
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ftrphb
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I'll look at these maps tomorrow.in a minute I'll be sleeping on the airport floor.
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cupcake
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Sleeping on the airport floor is an often occurrence for me over the years. Outbound flight departures have often been delayed, sometimes for many
hours. Arrivals are often in the wee hours of the morning before the public transportation starts running. Airport floors, if you find a good place,
can be quite comfortable.
[Edited on 2-2-2026 by cupcake]
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ftrphb
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If you find a good place. I found a small area of carpet downstairs at the end of the hall near my gate, and, 20 feet from the mens room. I would
not want to wonder around Guadalajara in the middle of the night. I'm in Merida now.
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wilderone
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Probably too late, but I'd rent a car, get off-the-beaten path. Merida is too big a city for me - only went to the Maya Museum and then on to Axe,
Valladolid - great hostel there - so many places. Including Calakmul - camped in the jungle there hoping to see early morning monkeys and jaguars -
ha - my imagination. What I hear about Tren Maya is that it's expensive, and then of course, you need to meet their time schedule. I think if you're
going from Pt A to Pt B, then a travel option, but SO MANY places to stop and explore. Have a wonderful time. WIWT
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