Alright, so I got this idea in my head, “train to Cancun”. Sounded like a bit of an adventure, something different than just hopping on a plane like everyone else. I’d heard whispers about a new train line down there, the Tren Maya, and thought, why not give it a shot?
Figuring Things Out
First step, obviously, was hitting the internet. Let me tell you, finding clear info wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. Spent a good chunk of time digging around. Some sites said one thing, others said something else. Schedules seemed kinda hazy, and figuring out the exact stations near Cancun, the ones that actually worked for tourists, took some effort. It wasn’t like booking a flight, that’s for sure. It felt a bit like putting pieces of a puzzle together from different places.
I finally landed on a plan. Decided to start my train journey from a bit further down the line, thinking I’d get more of the experience that way. Booked a ticket for a specific segment that folks online said was actually running reliably. Didn’t want to risk getting stuck somewhere halfway.
Getting Started
Packed my bags – kept it simple, just a sturdy backpack. Headed off to the station on the day. The station itself was pretty straightforward, nothing too fancy. Got my ticket checked, found my platform. There was a bit of waiting around, watching other people, trying to guess where they were headed.
The Ride Itself
Finally got on board. The train was newer, which was nice. Clean enough. Found my seat and settled in for the ride. The journey itself? Well, it was interesting. You definitely see a different side of the country compared to flying or sticking to the highways.
- Views: Saw a lot of green out the window, patches of jungle, small towns flashing by. That part was pretty cool, felt a bit more connected to the place.
- The Actual Ride: It wasn’t super smooth the whole way. A bit bumpy here and there, but nothing terrible. Just, you know, train travel.
- The People: Mostly locals using it to get around, plus a few other curious travelers like me.
The main thing, though, is that this train didn’t exactly pull up right onto the beach strip in Cancun. That was clear from the planning stage. It got me to the Cancun area, but dropped me off at a station kinda on the edge of things. From there, it was time for the next step.
The Final Stretch
Got off the train, grabbed my bag. Looked around. Okay, now to get to the actual place I was staying. Had to figure out the local transport situation from the station. Ended up grabbing a taxi like most folks. Bit of a negotiation on the price, standard stuff. Then it was the usual drive through traffic to get to the hotel zone.
So, Was It Worth It?
Looking back, the “train to Cancun” idea was more like “train towards Cancun”. It wasn’t the seamless journey maybe I’d romanticized. It took more planning, more steps than just flying in. But, you know what? It was an experience. I saw parts of the landscape I wouldn’t have otherwise. It felt a bit more grounded, less like just being teleported from one tourist bubble to another.
Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the time I have. But I did it once. I took the train. And now I know exactly what that involves, not just what the brochures might say. Sometimes you just gotta try things yourself.
