Southeast Mexican trains

I am currently planning a trip to the southeast of Mexico this summer, hoping to take in the recently reopened lines from:

• Salina Cruz to Coatzacoalcos (Tren Interoceanico, line Z - the one with the exported HSTs )
• Coatzacoalcos to Palenque (line FA)
• Palenque to Cancún via Mérida or Tulum (Tren Maya)

The Palenque to Cancún section seems to be easy enough to reach via Cancún or Mérida airports, but I'm struggling to find any good options for reaching the southern end of the Tren Interoceanico in Salina Cruz. It seems that the nearest airport is Ixtepec (IZT) but I can't seem to find any commercial flights that actually operate there.

Otherwise the next nearest airports appear to be Huatulco (HUX) 2.5 hours away with a handful of domestic flights, or Oaxaca (OAX) or Tuxtla Gutiérrez (TGZ) 5 hours away with a wide selection of domestic flights or a small choice of international flights.

Any advice on this would be much appreciated - has anyone travelled on any of these lines since their recent reopening? Does anyone have timetables for the lines or a better idea of how to reach Salina Cruz, short of a multi-hour coach journey from HUX, OAX or TGZ, or doubling back to/from Coatzacoalcos, which is near to Minatitlán (MTT) airport? I also suspect I might not have enough time to do both routes from Palenque to Cancún, so does anyone know if one is notably more scenic or worthwhile doing than the other?

Thanks in advance!

Brilliant, and I hope you have a good time!

I can't help you directly, I have only been on a tourist "Tequila Express" from Guadalajara, but my husband is Mexican and bilingual so if you end up needing language/translation help I'm sure he'd be happy to assist. His place of birth ("Oaxaca") on his British passport contrasts somewhat with mine ("Hazel Grove").

Of the 3, Palenque to Coatzacoalcos is probably the least scenic. Mexico is full of very high quality bus services far superior to those in the UK so don't be put off a long bus journey. If you want to see some of Mexico besides the trains then the ruins of Palenque and the nearby waterfalls at agua azul are popular.

jfollows said:

Brilliant, and I hope you have a good time!

I can't help you directly, I have only been on a tourist "Tequila Express" from Guadalajara, but my husband is Mexican and bilingual so if you end up needing language/translation help I'm sure he'd be happy to assist. His place of birth ("Oaxaca") on his British passport contrasts somewhat with mine ("Hazel Grove").

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Thank you, that's very kind! My Spanish is passable but it doesn't extend to Mexican turns of phrase (e.g. I had to look up boletos = tickets).

I'd be interested in his view of safety in this part of Mexico, as a former local.The advice from both the UK FCDO and US Department of State seems to agree that whilst there are some states which are higher-risk, those in the southeast that one would pass through on this journey (Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo) are not amongst them.

Only the city of Salina Cruz is noted as higher risk, and only by the US DoS at that (so I wouldn't be travelling against FCDO advice).

Alfonso said:

Of the 3, Palenque to Coatzacoalcos is probably the least scenic. Mexico is full of very high quality bus services far superior to those in the UK so don't be put off a long bus journey. If you want to see some of Mexico besides the trains then the ruins of Palenque and the nearby waterfalls at agua azul are popular.

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Thanks. I probably have one "spare" day that I can spend in a city en-route - I'm taking it as given that the frequencies will dictate 1 day per "line". So perhaps a day in Palenque would be worthwhile.

I have seen that there is a very extensive bus network, with some decent frequencies on key routes. That being said, the thought of a multi-hour bus journey before a series of flights home isn't massively attractive!

Watershed said:

Thank you, that's very kind! My Spanish is passable but it doesn't extend to Mexican turns of phrase (e.g. I had to look up boletos = tickets).

I'd be interested in his view of safety in this part of Mexico, as a former local.The advice from both the UK FCDO and US Department of State seems to agree that whilst there are some states which are higher-risk, those in the southeast that one would pass through on this journey (Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo) are not amongst them.

Only the city of Salina Cruz is noted as higher risk, and only by the US DoS at that (so I wouldn't be travelling against FCDO advice).


Thanks. I probably have one "spare" day that I can spend in a city en-route - I'm taking it as given that the frequencies will dictate 1 day per "line". So perhaps a day in Palenque would be worthwhile.

I have seen that there is a very extensive bus network, with some decent frequencies on key routes. That being said, the thought of a multi-hour bus journey before a series of flights home isn't massively attractive!

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Palenque itself is little more than a village but it is the jumping off point for the ruins and day/half day tours to the waterfalls. San Cristobal is an attractive colonial town but several hours on the bus winding through mountainous jungle from palenque. Its scenic, but Mexico, even just southern Mexico, is big! Re safety, tourists very rarely come to serious harm although there are the same opportunist theft etc as everywhere. Buses sometimes get held up but again this is rare

Salina cruz to huatulco is only 2.5 hours on the bus, so flying gin to cancan and out of huatulco via Mexico City could work nicely

Quite some time ago since I was last time in MX, but then-and I assume it still has, a very, very extensive long-distance BUS (coach for many Brits) system that reaches to about any town of minor importance. At that time it was very simple: go to estacion/terminal de autobuses, look at all the signboards and find an operator and buy ticket/billete for next dep. Capital=DF MX has/d connections to about anywhere, other very long trips may require a connection-and buy new ticket. Those with more recent exp. may know of sites/updates.
BTW-As is about the case in all spanish/portuguese speaking countries south of that USA (which once had a famous Greyhound working same way, but that is not so much anymore and runs as green FLIXbus).
And for those new to come trenes: DO wait till there is definite report they do run reliably-such projects always tend to come in use much later as once hoped for/promised. But in general as so often seat61 will have the info too.

Watershed said:

I'd be interested in his view of safety in this part of Mexico, as a former local.The advice from both the UK FCDO and US Department of State seems to agree that whilst there are some states which are higher-risk, those in the southeast that one would pass through on this journey (Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo) are not amongst them.

Only the city of Salina Cruz is noted as higher risk, and only by the US DoS at that (so I wouldn't be travelling against FCDO advice).

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Omar's mum was on the train Los Angeles - Tucson, she used to live in the latter and still has family there, and she asked her family, and between them all they came up with

"It's a great idea that he's decided to visit our country!

Although I am not familiar with the trains you mention, I do know that he can travel via those states safely.

I have a friend that lives in Villahermosa, Tabasco, and my cousin lives in Cancun"

They often go to Tulum and environs, and they speak of how beautiful it is."

Generally:

1. don't flash your tech around (i.e., be discreet if you have a big ol' camera or expensive phone on you.)

2. same for expensive jewellery (say watches).

3. don't drink the tap water

4. get a Mexican Spanish dictionary/phrasebook, like "Lonely planet Mexican Spanish" for example https://amzn.eu/d/0aD29yD

5. try the food!

6. be aware that the police are corrupt and may ask for a bribe (but it's rare they try it with a tourist).

7. any Spanish you can speak will be helpful, as the locals are usually very friendly

And have fun!

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jfollows said:

Omar's mum was on the train Los Angeles - Tucson, she used to live in the latter and still has family there, and she asked her family, and between them all they came up with

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Thanks - much appreciated!