Hola fellow Playa del Carmen (‘Playa’) lovers! With tourism up due to lessening of Covid, things have been very busy! It’s projected 2023 will be a record-breaking year with 33 million visitors to visit Quintana Roo state (home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and places in between.) Wow! Bienvenidos (welcome) everyone!
Over the past few years Playa has seen some changes and upcoming dramatic changes such as the addition of the long awaited Mayan Train. So while you enjoy a coffee or a margarita depending on where you are, here’s a little catch up on all those changes!
GET ON BOARD! MAYAN TRAIN OPENING DECEMBER 1, 2023
Despite set-backs and protests from environmentalists, Mexico’s flagship train project that started in 2018 will come to fruition in December 2023. It is reported the train, with state-of-the-art technology, will be one of the best in the world.
This massive undertaking will stretch over a whopping 1500 kilometers of railway which will choo-choo through six states (Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo) offering stunning scenery & linking ancient sites, sunny beaches, and bustling cities. It will carry up to 8,000 passengers daily & connect with 7 nearby airports, and 26 archeological zones. (Personally I prefer the private airport transfer we offer for those staying at our properties. Our long term drivers are safe, professional & courteous who will zip you to your destination in no time. And it avoids the hauling of luggage or price of cabs to get to your rental. We do not benefit from the transportation; all monies go directly to our drivers.)
However for longer arduous drives to Merida or Bacalar I will enjoy hopping on and enjoying some great chow & margaritas for the journey while lapping up the landscapes!
The Mayan Train will have three types of trains:
- Xiinbal (walking): standard regular service train that will allow passengers to enjoy a journey with large panoramic windows.
- Janal (eating): a restaurant car, with a design inspired by the work of engineer and architect Luis Barragán; it has comfortable spaces designed to enjoy regional cuisine.
- P’atal (staying): train for long distances, with comfortable cabins, day and night, that will make the trips a unique experience.
Passengers will enjoy the wonderful landscapes of exotic flora and fauna through its panoramic windows. The spacious and comfortable railway cars will offer air conditioning, safety windows, environmentally safe toilets, high quality audio systems and various safety enhancements. For tourists traveling to long-distance areas it will have rooms for overnight stays. It offers 300 passenger capacity per car. Thirty-one of the 42 railcars will be used for passenger service, eight for tourist purposes, and three for long-distance travel.
And let’s not forget Mexico’s renowned culinary scene which will be front and center on the Mayan Train experience and will offer a specialized car that will function as an exclusive restaurant, offering travelers a unique culinary experience. Cool!
Passengers can look forward to yummy classics like tacos, guacamole, or ceviche, as well as a range of exotic refreshing drinks. They will also be offer several international food choices, especially as over 70% of all future passengers will be from North America.
In addition, this innovative restaurant-car will have a spacious & upscale ambience with tables designed for couples and groups of four, as well as for people with mobility challenges thus guaranteeing that all passengers can enjoy a delicious meal in a comfortable and accessible environment. The dining car will have an industrial-style kitchen capable of serving up to 140 passengers. In addition, all trains will offer cafeteria service for those looking for lighter options or who wish to enjoy a good coffee during their journey.
Visitors flying into the popular Cancun International Airport will be able to access the train right from the airport, as an electric mini bus which will make getting to the Maya Train from Cancun Airport a breeze. Train service is scheduled to start daily at 6:00 a.m. and end in the evening between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., except the Cancun-Tulum service, which will be extended until 11:00 p.m. The train will offer varying rates for tourists and local residents as well as seniors. However, prices have not been announced. As we know more, we will let you know! All aboard!
SARGASSUM (SEAWEED) UPDATES FOR SUMMER OF 2023
We in the tourism industry in the Mexican Caribbean dread the warmer summer months due to the potential influx of sargassum, which is as hard to predict as finding an oyster with a perfect pearl! However, 2023 proved to be one of the lowest sargassum levels to date since 2014. The government has gone to get lengths to put in new sargassum barriers in place this year & the Navy & local boats were assigned to collect the sargassum out at sea and hired crews to clean the beaches when necessary. It sure paid off.
Nothing is ever a guarantee with Mother Nature, and we hope that she’ll be as kind in 2024!
5TH AVENUE | AVENIDA QUINTA ‘MAKEOVER’
“Playa” underwent avenue & street makeovers during 2020 where they widened 5th avenue and added extra trees for cosmetic purposes and to offer more shade to tourists. In 2023 the area continues to get ‘prettied up’. Not only have they recently painted the cobblestone on 5th Avenue red, they have installed over 60 new benches allowing people a place to rest and enjoy the riveting people-watching! They have also added 30 new planters to enhance the 5th Avenue experience and added extra trash cans to keep the place looking spiffy.
CITY-WIDE BIKE RENTALS
If you’re an avid biker, Playa del Carmen has a greaet city-wide bike-sharing system. BiciPlaya has bike stands all over town now, making it super easy to rent a bike and explore the area. Even if you’re a tourist, you can still use the bikes by downloading the app and registering for just M$98 ($4.80) per day.
A well-know bike path is along 10th avenue which runs parallel to the beach which will take you from Avenida CTB to Parque Fundadores. Beware that many pedestrians don’t always realize the path is for bikers so you’ve got to keep an eye out for them & don’t be shy to honk your bike horn to give them a warning!
EXOCTIC ANIMAL EXPLOITATION CLOSED ON 5TH AVENUE
Another welcome change is the exotic animals exploited on 5th Avenue between Calle 12 & 14th has been closed. Thanks to growing awareness, the government finally shut them down and not a minute too soon. It was a lovely relief to see during my visit this past March that this illegal business has been closed. The animals have often been tranquilized to keep them calm so tourists can get that perfect ‘Instagram’ photo. Some animals have even had their claws and teeth removed so they don’t hurt the tourists. We are pleased to see the the end of exploitation of those precious animals on 5th Avenue who belong in the wild or in a rescue sanctuary.
NEW GROCERY STORE!
I don’t know what it is about a new grocery store that makes me so happy but it does! I love grocery shopping in Mexico! This upscale new store called Chedaraui located on 10th Avenue & 34th street (Calle) is a welcome addition to the grocery scene in the area. Especially since Walmart is always packed, there are never enough cashiers open & you’ll often find picked over or empty shelves.
This new store offers marble tiled floors, a wider selection of alcohol, especially wine which is housed in a beautiful glass enclosure.
And as for food, upon entering the store you’ll be met by an area offering international cheese and gourmet deli meats etc. I haven’t had a chance to tour the store but if it’s anything like it’s sister store in Puerto Morelos you will be blown away. Extra wide aisles, very clean, beautiful fruit & vegetable displays, a sushi counter, a cafe with self-serve wine by the glass, and a great selection of upscale takeout.
Next visit to Playa, make a pit stop here & see what this amazing store has to offer! Chedraui located on Avenue 10th & Calle 34.
Well amigos, that’s it for the 2023 updates for now! We look forward to you booking a stay with us so we can show you our fabul-icious rentals, service and amenities!
Contact us today at playagal@yourbestgetaway.com for any questions or quotes for a stay with us.
“PLAYA” Gal (a very satisfied client working to promote Playa Beach Getaways.)
Sally is a happily married mom of 3, residing in Canada and is a frequent traveler to the Riviera Maya MX. She is an aficionado on ‘everything Playa del Carmen’ and writes with joy and passion about the area. Sally has completed online courses to act as a certified travel agent for the Riviera Maya MX. She is also a witty blog contributor to Work & Family Foundation Canada, and NAVUT (offering professionals new to Ottawa the inside scoop!) Sally has also been awarded Blogger of the Week, and nominated as Blog Treasure Hunt of the Month on TravelBlog.Org which enjoys over half a million bloggers world-wide.