To get the deal, buy a one-way economy ticket at a physical location, and they’ll give you the return trip for free. The promotion covers the entire Maya Train route, but you can only get it at Tren Maya ticket offices in the 34 stations or authorized sales points — not online.
Ticket prices and schedules
Prices vary depending on where you’re going and whether you’re a local resident or tourist.
Mérida to Campeche
- Locals: 323 pesos (residents of states along the route)
- Domestic tourists: 484 pesos
- Departures: 12:19 p.m. and 7:29 p.m.
- Travel time: 2 hours 8 minutes to 2 hours 23 minutes (includes five stops)
- Prices: 323 pesos for locals (people living in any of the states along the route). The fare for domestic tourists is 484 pesos.
For comparison, ADO bus tickets for the same route cost 197-360 pesos.
Mérida to Cancún Airport
- Prices: 521 pesos for locals, 781 pesos for tourists
- Departures: 7:00 a.m., 9:18 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 1:05 p.m., 3:20 p.m., and 4:22 p.m.
- Travel time: 3 hours 14 minutes to 3 hours 36 minutes (includes six stops)
ADO buses charge 346-522 pesos for Mérida to Cancún, train tickets to the airport cost 954 pesos and leave only once a day, at 6:15 p.m..
Ridership numbers
The Tren Maya hit its millionth passenger milestone on April 7, 2025. The lucky rider was Wilbert Tomás Barbosa López, a 70-something Mérida resident traveling to several Campeche stations. Recent figures show some growth. Ticket sales in April 2025 were up 171% compared to April 2024, according to Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez.
Financial reality
The Tren Maya is bleeding money. In its first year, it lost over 2.5 billion pesos, bringing in only 275 million pesos from passengers and souvenir sales. Operating expenses hit 2.837 billion pesos, meaning the train only covered about 10% of its costs.
Why do foreign residents pay tourist rates?
One aspect of the pricing structure has sparked considerable debate among the expat community: foreign residents pay the same fares as international tourists, regardless of how long they’ve called Mexico home.
The Tren Maya operates on a straightforward but controversial three-tier pricing model based on per-kilometer rates:
Local residents — those living in the five states the train passes through (Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Chiapas, Tabasco, and Campeche) with official Mexican identification (INE) — enjoy the most affordable rate at 2.32 pesos per kilometer.
Mexican nationals from other parts of the country pay a moderate rate of 2.90 pesos per kilometer when traveling as domestic tourists.
International visitors – and this is where it gets interesting for expats – are charged 4.35 pesos per kilometer, nearly double the local rate.
The financial impact is significant. Take the popular Cancún Airport to Mérida route: local residents pay 489 pesos, while foreign residents and international tourists are charged 977.50 pesos – essentially double the price for the exact same journey and service.
More than just higher fares
The pricing disparity extends beyond base ticket costs. Senior citizen discounts, which might seem like a natural benefit for the many foreign retirees living in Mexico, are exclusively available to those with Mexican identification cards and official senior citizen credentials (INAPAM). Foreign residents, regardless of age, cannot access these reduced rates.
The irony isn’t lost on expats who contribute to local economies, pay Mexican taxes, and consider themselves part of the fabric of their adopted communities, yet are priced out of what was supposed to be an accessible regional transportation option.
It’s a sobering reminder that residency and citizenship, even in one’s adopted home, can carry very different privileges.
https://yucatanmagazine.com/tren-maya-tickets-free-offer/
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