Update on how the Train Maya project is coming

If you’ve been to the Riviera Maya area for a while or stay online, you’ll know how to do salt-earning infrastructure projects. That is, you will be able to believe it when it is built. The plans come and go, and many do not come to an end. So when the Train Maya project was first announced, which was later stopped and delayed, you might be critical in thinking that it may not happen. But the Mayan Train is under construction and moving forward. It is now affecting travel and we wanted to let you know how things are going.

What is the Train Maya project?

The Mayan Train (as it is called in Spanish) is a 1500 km tourist train that would connect the popular beaches of the Riviera Maya with cities, archeological sites and many tourist destinations on the Yucatan Peninsula and beyond. The train will create a circular route through the states of Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco and Chiapas. There will be 15 or 16 stations along the route. The project was proposed to bring jobs, development, infrastructure and attract tourism to the Yucatan Peninsula and nearby states. The Mayan train will cost about $ 6 million and is estimated to take 4 years to build. Although sections of the route can be opened when finished. For more information on the Mayan train, check out our article here.

How the Train Maya project now affects transport

As the train will more or less follow the existing highways, there are some interruptions in transportation time. Below are some of the routes affected now.

Travel between Cancún and Platja del Carme

Parts of Highway 307 between Playa del Carmen and Cancun have been under construction. This has led to poor traffic backups, as this is the only road running up and down the state. Since there may be delays, here is some great advice for you. If you are going to Cancun or going to Cancun airport, check the weather between google maps destinations. It is close to real-time results. You can see if there are any delays and if you plan to leave the airport early. Of course, if you book a reputable private transfer, they will monitor traffic and try to mitigate delays with an earlier departure at the airport.

Traveling between the Rivera Maya and Valladolid or Chichen Itza

If you are driving between Cancun or Playa del Carmen on the toll road 180 towards Valladolid, you may have some small delays. The divided road that crosses much of the peninsula is practically rebuilt from scratch. The road moves to one side and turns it into a four-lane road with a concrete separator. The south side of the highway will be transformed into the side of the train. For more information on driving between Playa Del Carmen and Chichén Itzá, check out our article here.

As we speak, sections of the road are being converted. This creates several stretches where the road is a lane in each direction. This can slow down the speed limit traffic from 110 km / h to 80 km / h. You can expect the trip between Cancun or Playa to Valladolid to take another 10-15 minutes. It’s actually not that bad because it breaks a very boring stretch of road with a view to construction.

How the Mayan train now affects real estate and development

Typically, with any major infrastructure project, it has an impact on the real estate market. Places that connect more easily increase in value and the tourism business change creates new winners and is looser. How does it affect the Mayan train now? Here are some examples.

On the Riviera Maya

In general, everyone between Cancun and Tulum was waiting for the train and no new areas are really opening up. The final decisions on where the stations will be located have not yet been announced. We believe this will have a minimal impact on places like Cancun and Playa del Carmen. In smaller cities like Puerto Morelos, property close to the train station will be more valuable. Smaller cities have more travelers going to larger cities.

Properties close to transport centers will be better oriented to the apartments for the premises. Having access to work in other parts of the Riviera Maya by a fast and affordable train will make these areas more attractive. In Platja del Carme, the train will pass by road 307. The warehouses are proposed in the immediate area of ​​the façade station. The degree of planning in this area will make the difference between just a stop with taxis and vans waiting or a new neighborhood center that will underestimate some local development. The area west of Highway 307 in Platja is already more industrial and has high voltage cables running through it, so we don’t expect this area to benefit greatly from the new development.

Promotions in Bacalar

Bacalar is the top winner in terms of the Mayan Train. Bacalar has been a small village that was a getaway place for the rich people of Chetumal and for the few tourists who passed by. It has been growing in popularity among many Quintana Roo residents and garnishing a new high-end tourism that wants a quiet place with a bit of luxury.

Part of the reason Bacalar has not grown so much is the proximity to transportation. There is an international airport in Chetumal, but this airport is only important for a domestic connection and there are no real international flights connecting it with the towns they would visit. Bacalar is approximately a 4-hour drive from Cancun Airport. Distance is the biggest obstacle that really prevents it. With a fast train connection, boring driving will take place and people can get refreshed.

Having the Mayan train around the area means you can take tourism from the popular Riviera Maya area and take national tourism from Campeche, Tabasco and Chiapas. It is also planned to open a large Mayan archaeological site near Bacalar that will draw more attention to the area.

Bacalar has some pretty interesting news underway now. Bacalar is a kind of nearby Tulum with a focus on nature and eco chic design. If you are thinking of investing in this area, Sebastian is a good person to contact. He is a real estate agent who has his finger on the pulse of new projects in the area. Below is your email. It’s a good idea to include your phone number and the best time to contact you by email for a better response time.

In Valladolid, Yucatan

The last five years have been very good in Valladolid in terms of tourism. Valladolid is in the literal vantage point of the roads in the center of the Yucatan Peninsula. All routes from the Riviera Maya to Chichen Itza pass through Valladolid or the area. This has only created a bustling city center when all buses run. There has also been a boom in new hotels and restaurants. Most of this has been due to growth and the people who plan to invest in the area.

In addition to the next Mayan Train that will pass through Valladolid, Xcaret has built a new park in this area that will open soon. When Xcaret bought land years ago for the project, real estate prices soared in the city center. Most homeowners were speculative and raised prices to almost absurd levels, mostly out of the reach of the average buyer.

Since prices have been high for a few years in Valladolid, there is only room to grow here and some opportunity. For most people who want to buy and renovate a house or building, you need to look more than ever at the center and be prepared to wait for the neighborhood to develop around you in the future. Valladolid has been on more expat lists of places to visit and live on the peninsula.

For larger investors, there is still the opportunity to shop near the train station area, the 180 non-toll road to Piste and the Valladolid ring road. These areas have a lot of traffic and can be good commercial locations.

Izamal Yucatan

The city of Izamal has been a sleepy city waiting to have its moment in the sun. It is charming, has a lot of colonial charm, is a magical village and has interesting Mayan remains in the city. Izamal is about to make the most of the Mayan train. Izamal is far enough away from the Riviera Maya to visit it better with one night.

Izamal is a small town. Much of the center is bought and not sold. But, just from our center, there are many properties with good value and that can be bought for future investments. This can be a good place to buy a home or a future business.

Thank you for reading our article on the new Maya Train project and how this can affect the development of the area. We love to keep you informed of local issues and look forward to providing you with more articles soon.