Tag: Mayan

These Are The 5 Amazing Mayan Ruins You Can Visit From Cancun By Train This Winter

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In case you weren’t aware of this already, a new scenic train will be launching from Cancun in time for winter, linking the bustling Caribbean city to other tourist hotspots in the wider Yucatan Peninsula that were previously inaccessible by public transport.

Other than enjoying easier connections to smaller resort towns, such as Playa Del Carmen and Puerto Morelos, and even off-path gems like Chetumal and Bacalar, visitors will be able to visit some of the most impressive Mayan ruins in Mexico with minimal hassle.

Starting December 1, basing yourself in Cancun, you will have access to these 5 ancient archaeological sites:

Chichen Itza

The number one tourist attraction in all of Mexico, Chichen Itza will have its very own Maya Train station, helping visitors staying in Cancun or any other coastal spot in the Mayan Riviera get there without paying hefty prices for private guided tours.

Best known for its landmark El Castillo, a step pyramid that’s a symbol of Mexico, Chichen Itza was once one of the most affluent cities of the pre-Columbian period, with architectural feats that reflect Itza’s multiculturalism, as it was home to numerous ethnic groups within the Mayan branch.

Exploring the archaeological site, you will find well-preserved temples, such as the Templo de los Guerreros, the Great Ball Court, where the Mayans practiced their famous ballgame, and the Tzompantli, the eerily-titled Skull Platform.

Chichen Viejo

On the same Maya Train stop, a short six-minute walk from the main archeological complex of Chichen Itza, lies a group of lesser-known ruins that, up until this year, had not been open for visitation: the equally fascinating Chichen Viejo.

Though they form part of the same Mayan settlement, both Itza and Viejo are treated as different attractions as the latter effectively served as a residential area for the elites at the time, offering an insight into the lives of affluent Mayans and their customs.

Around the North Plaza, tourists can now see up close the exposed remains of five cremated human bodies linked to the noble Cupul family, civic buildings dating back to 878 AD, and many more mind-blowing structures they previously were not allowed to access.

Izamal

The next stop on the Maya Train after Chichen Itza, Izamal is a small Yucatanese town that’s attained Instagram fame for its vibrant yellow townscape. Beneath its charming cobbled streets and colonial aesthetic, however, lies an often-forgotten past that is just as rich.

Before it was seized by the Spaniards, Izamal was an important Mayan city where the third (or fourth, depending on sources) largest pyramid in Mesoamerica was built. Today, this very same pyramid is the most striking Mayan monument in Izamal.

Sadly, a majority of the pre-Columbian buildings are now ruins, scattered around Old Town Izamal, but it’s precisely this contrast between far more ancient, indigenous heritage and the territory that was lost or ‘conquered’ by the Spanish.

Nuevo Xcan

The closest one to Cancun, only a single stop away on the Cancun-Izamal line, Nuevo Xcan is a different type of Mayan heritage site, as it is neither a necropolis nor a vast uninhabited city slowly being reclaimed by nature: it is a natural site.

A protected reserve, Nuevo Xcan encompasses a series of flooded underground chambers, or cenotes, that the Mayans perceived as sacred. Back then, sacrificial offerings were held in the turquoise-colored waters, as well as major ceremonies.

After all, the ancient civilization reportedly believed that cenotes were the gateway to the Underworld. As scary as that may sound, the caves now only host tourists hoping to go for a dip at the end of an arduous trail, as well as History enthusiasts keen on deciphering the Mayan mindset.

Tulum

Though it is most commonly associated with luxurious resorts and wild jungle raves, Tulum can also make for an incredible cultural destination, especially for those interested in the Mayan World, as it comprises a walled city established as early as the 6th century AD.

The archaeological complex in Tulum is distinguished for its near-perfect state of preservation, as it is one of the last cities to have been built by the Mayans ahead of the arrival of European settlers, and it was abandoned much later.

A postcard view, the Castillo sits atop a cliff overlooking the bright-blue Caribbean Sea is an iconic scene of the Mexican Caribbean, and even prior to the launch of the Maya Train, it attracted millions of tourists every month.

Learn more about the Maya Train, including how much tickets will cost here.

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November 3, 2023
This Mayan Ruin South Of Cancun Will Open To The Public For The First Time Ever

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Mayan ruins are a big part of the reason why Mexico is so popular as a tourist destination, particularly among History enthusiasts.

Belonging to the wider Mayan World, it is home to over 200 archaeological zones, where some of the most impressive structures of the ancient civilization, including the world-famous step pyramids and the ball courts, can still be seen.

While open-air museums like Chichen Itza and the Tulum ruins are well-known to the wider public, one of Mexico’s priceless Mayan treasures had remained sealed off for decades as excavations and conservation efforts were underway, though that is changing soon.

A Mayan ruin with restricted access is opening for visitors for the first time, and if you’re planning a trip to Cancun for 2024, you could be among the first to explore it:

The Legendary Ichkabal Is Opening To The Public For The First Time In History

After a decade since it was first announced as Mexico’s next protected archaeological site, the unexplored Mayan city of Ichkabal will host its first foreign visitors.

As revealed by Diego Prieto, Director General of the country’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), renovation works in the ruins will be finished soon, allowing it to welcome tourists as early as summer 2024.

In his own words, ‘the Federation’s instruction is that the opening of the archaeological zone of Ichkabal be in August 2024, so they with the ejidatarios to reach an agreement‘.

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The ruins are only a two-and-a-half hour drive South of Cancun, towards the trendy resort town of Bacalar, and its opening coincides with the launch of the Mayan Train later this year.

From December 2023, travelers based in Cancun will be able to hop on an affordable scenic train to Bacalar, the major town nearest to the ruins in question, and the gateway to the seven-colored Lake Bacalar, a popular alternative to the Tulum coast this summer.

From the planned Maya Train station in Bacalar, the drive to Ichkabal will take less than 25 minutes.

Why Is Ichkabal Important?

Ichkabal was once one of the most important urban centers in pre-Columbian America.

Settled by the Mayans as early as 400 B.C., it stood among an elite group of cities on the Mayan trade route, due to its privileged location, in close proximity to the Central American isthmus, offering easy links to all of the major Mayan hubs beyond the Yucatan Peninsula.

Although it was a secondary power and not as relevant a cultural center as the likes of Chichen Itza – currently one of Mexico’s best preserved ancient cities – or Tikal, in Northern Guatemala, Ichkabal was able to flourish as a key trading hub in the pre-classic era.

Much like Chichen Itza, its more famous sister city-state, it consisted of several temples and sacrificial sites built as a means to bring the Mayans closer to their deities, wide avenues flanked by stone houses and public buildings, and ball courts and other entertainment areas.

It was inhabited until the early 16th century, when the natives were pushed out or exterminated following the Spanish Conquest, and the city fell into abandonment.

As the ‘Hispanicization’ of Mexico took place, and the native Mexicans eventually assimilated into Hispanic culture, Ichkabal’s existence was all but forgotten as the construction of post-colonial settlements advanced, and nature slowly reclaimed it.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that a renewed interest in Ichkabal was noted, particularly following the rise of tourism in the Mexican Caribbean, leading historians and archaeologists to intensify their efforts in restoring the lost city to its former glory.

What Are The Rules For Visiting Ichkabal?

At this point, we do not yet know how much it will cost to visit the ruins or whether there are additional rules visitors must familiarize themselves with not to be on the wrong side of the law.

Recently, a number of tourists have been penalized, or issued fines, for climbing Mayan structures in Chichen Itza and other protected ancient reserves in Mexico.

Some of the pyramids in the Aztec city of Teotihuacan, close to Mexico City, are now also off-limits to climbers.

Regarding Ichkabal’s state of preservation and whether its temples are accessible and safe to enter, we will only know more once the site is formally open and the visitation rules are available for consultation.

While Ichkabal is not open, you can still explore countless other Mayan ruins accessible to visitors within driving distance of Cancun. Learn more about them here.

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June 17, 2023
Mexico Government Confirms Mayan Train Will Launch From Cancun In 2023

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The Mexican Government has confirmed this week its ambitious Mayan Train project will be going ahead as planned, with a final launch date set for 2023. Despite some major setbacks recently, including the temporary suspension of construction in key sections, Cancun will soon be connected by rail to numerous other hotspots in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Marred by controversy since it was first presented, the scenic train risked never leaving the drawing board. From triggering the ire of hoteliers, who strongly opposed the installation of train tracks close to their beach front, to being delayed a number of times following strict environmental reviews, it seemed unlikely it would open anytime soon… Until now.

Starting next year, tourists will be able to travel the Riviera Maya extensively, including inland sites that were once largely inaccessible:

A Quick Recap: What Is The Mayan Train?

The Mayan Train, or Tren Maya in Spanish, is a 948 mile long intercity train that has been in the works for a number of years. It is Mexico’s boldest attempt yet to ease travel across its sparsely populated Yucatan Peninsula, which comprises three of Mexico’s most popular states: the eponymous Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche.

While highways in Mexico offer access to a number of cities and destinations off the beaten path, the country has never invested heavily in railway infrastructure, like its North American counterparts, until recently. Although its main goal is boosting tourism in less-visited areas, the Tren Maya will also massively improve connectivity for locals.

Planned Route Of The Mayan Train, Yucatan Peninsula, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Beginning in Palenque, in the non-Yucatan state of Chiapas, it will travel northeast-bound towards Cancun, encircling the whole historical peninsula. On its East Coast route, the train will call at Chetumal, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos, offering easy access to all the main tourist destinations in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

On the Peninsula’s North and West Coast, visitors will be able to travel by rail to Nuevo Xcan, Valladolid, the famous pre-Columbian city of Chichen Itza, Izamal, the historical Merida, home to Mexico’s oldest cathedral, and San Francisco de Campeche. In the Southern line, destinations include Boca del Cerro, El Triunfo, Escarcega, Xpujil and Bacalar.

What Has The President Actually Said?

Regardless of the battle being fought in court against environmentalists, who are urging the Government not to move forward with the so-called fifth section of the train, citing irreversible damage to archaeological sites, Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Orador has at last confirmed the Mayan Train will leave its Cancun terminal ‘by 2023’.

During a press conference, Obrador reaffirmed that launching the train is ‘an affair of the State’, and ensured it be fully operational next year, though he didn’t specify a date. Besides reiterating his full commitment to the project, the President hit back at protesters, effectively accusing them of pursuing their own agenda and calling them ‘corrupt’.

What Is The Status Of The Mayan Train?

Even though Obrador’s statements are reassuring, and he seems adamant the remaining tracks will be laid in time for a launch next year, a settlement to the ongoing legal dispute is yet to be reached. Earlier this year, a Yucatan judge ruled that no more tracks should be laid on the fifth section until further environmental evaluations are carried out.

This stretch is perhaps one of the most important on the rail map, as it connects Tulum, famous for its Mayan ruins, to the paradise beaches of Playa del Carmen, running for roughly 37 miles. Additionally, until the section is completed, Cancun is virtually cut off from the Southern Riviera Maya, as all trains bound for Chetumal will call at Tulum.

One of the authorities behind the venture, Fonatur, Mexico’s National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism, released a new report asserting that progress has in fact been made in laying tracks. Namely, 4 of the 7 sections have had advancements, but due to pending environmental and archaeological reviews, the Tulum-Playa del Carmen stretch is not among them.

On July 3, during his tour of the construction sites, Obrador visited the Merida-Cancun route, or section number four, starting in Izamal and terminating at Cancun International Airport. This route runs for 159 miles and, as claimed by Obrador, is 50% complete. Interestingly, this is the first time the President has ever offered an update as precise as this.

Train Ridership Is Increasing As Air Travel Turns Chaotic

As air travel descends into chaos, following reports of staffing constraints at airports, more and more travelers are turning to alternative transportation as a means to avoid being affected by the increasingly common flight delays. Train travel is one such alternative, with ridership in parts of America now up 25% compared to last year’s figures.

After two years of being placed on hold, Amtrak’s cross-border service to Canada relaunched last month, bringing back international train travel between the United States and its Northern neighbor. Over in Europe, Germany launched a seasonal train pass, allowing passengers to travel to various destinations within the country for only 9 euros.

The irresistible offer, in place during summer, is the German Government’s bid to ease air traffic congestion and promote sustainable travel. Once a thing of the past, sleeper trains are making a comeback of their own as well, as slow/solo travel trends peak. You get our point: while airlines do not get their act together, it seems no one is in a rush to fly anywhere.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Mexico is keen on investing on its own rail infrastructure. More Tren Maya updates can be found on the Mexican Government’s website and at our partners’ The Cancun Sun, another Off Path Enterprises production specialized in Cancun/ Riviera Maya news.

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July 10, 2022