Are you thinking about traveling from Playa del Carmen to Mérida? The Playa del Carmen Tren Maya station has finally become a little easier to use.
A new connecting bus now runs between the station and the ADO Alterna terminal on Avenida 20. It costs $55 pesos each way, meets arriving trains and leaves downtown 40 minutes before scheduled departures.
That is useful information. It does not necessarily make the train the best way to travel.
I have never been an enthusiastic supporter of the Tren Maya for any number of reasons. I also have a hard time overlooking the inconvenient location of the Playa station, in an area where I would not recommend visitors wander around looking for transportation.
The shuttle addresses that problem. Now we can move on to the more practical question: Does taking the train actually make sense?
To find out, let’s plan a realistic trip for two people with permanent residency who live in Playa del Carmen, own a reasonably fuel-efficient car and want to spend a few days in Mérida.
The Cost Of Taking The Tren Maya
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The current one-way “México” tourist-class fare between Playa del Carmen and Mérida is $639 pesos per person. This newer fare replaced the more expensive national and international pricing on selected routes.
Foreign permanent residents can use the México fare, but they still do not receive the lower local fare available to qualifying residents of Quintana Roo, Yucatán and the other states along the route. A permanent resident card by itself is not accepted as proof for the local discount.
For our couple, the train tickets would cost:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Two tickets from Playa to Mérida | $1,278 |
| Two tickets from Mérida to Playa | $1,278 |
| IE-TRAM transfers in Mérida | $180 |
| Estimated total | $2,736 pesos |
The IE-TRAM connects the Mérida-Teya station with La Plancha and other central stops. The regular station fare is approximately $45 pesos per person in each direction, although lower fares may be available with a Va y Ven transportation card.
Our couple could drive to the Playa station and leave the car in the station parking lot, which has generally been free or available for a nominal charge. The parking is outdoors and largely unshaded, however, and the operator does not assume responsibility for damage or loss.
If they would rather use the new shuttle from downtown Playa, add another $220 pesos for two people traveling round-trip. That brings the train total to approximately $2,956 pesos.
The current Tren Maya fare guide lists the Mérida-Playa del Carmen México fare at $639 pesos each way. Prices and promotions can change, so this calculation should be checked against the booking system before traveling.
The Cost Of Driving
Playa del Carmen and Mérida are approximately 290 kilometers apart by road. The fastest route uses the toll highway through El Tintal and Valladolid.
As of April 2026, the complete toll-road journey costs approximately $742 pesos each way for a standard passenger vehicle. That is $1,484 pesos in tolls for the round trip. Yes, the tolls cost more than the gasoline in some cars.
For this calculation, I’m using a vehicle that averages 14 kilometers per liter and regular gasoline at $24.50 pesos per liter.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Round-trip tolls | $1,484 |
| Approximately 41.5 liters of gasoline | $1,015 |
| Estimated total | $2,499 pesos |
That makes driving approximately $237 pesos less expensive than taking the train and using the IE-TRAM.
The calculation changes with the vehicle. A small car that gets excellent mileage makes driving the clear winner. A larger SUV averaging 10 kilometers per liter would use approximately $1,421 pesos in gasoline, bringing the driving total to about $2,905 pesos. In that case, the train would be slightly cheaper.
In other words, the price difference is not dramatic. The train and toll-road options land in roughly the same neighborhood for two people.
A solo traveler would save money on the train because the cost of driving cannot be divided. Add a third or fourth passenger, however, and the car quickly becomes the less expensive option.
The Larger Difference Is Time
The direct train from Playa del Carmen to Mérida currently leaves at 7:10 PM. Because Mérida is one hour behind Quintana Roo, it arrives at approximately 10:34 PM local time after about four hours and 24 minutes onboard.
Passengers then need to collect their luggage, board the IE-TRAM and travel another 25 to 40 minutes into the city. Realistically, they may not reach their hotel until close to midnight.
The direct return service leaves Mérida-Teya at 7:00 AM and reaches Playa at approximately 12:35 PM. That requires leaving central Mérida early enough to reach the outlying station and complete the boarding process.
The train schedule therefore consumes the evening at the beginning of the trip and most of the morning on the way home.
Driving from Playa to central Mérida normally takes around three to three and a quarter hours on the toll road, depending on traffic and stops. You leave when you want, arrive directly at your hotel and have the car available throughout the visit.
| Tren Maya | Driving | |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate round-trip cost for two | $2,736 | $2,499 |
| Travel time each way | About 5½ to 6 hours door-to-door | About 3 to 3¼ hours |
| Departure options | One practical direct departure | Whenever you choose |
| Transportation in Mérida | IE-TRAM, taxi, Uber or bus | Your own vehicle |
| Driving required | Only to the Playa station | Approx. 580 km round-trip |
The train does have one obvious advantage: nobody has to drive. You can read, work, nap, get up and walk around or buy something from the café car. The highway to Mérida is not especially scenic, and those three hours behind the wheel are still three hours behind the wheel.
Mérida can also be difficult to drive in if you aren’t comfortable with its one-way streets, limited Centro parking and seemingly endless grid of numbered calles. Having a car is useful for visiting places outside the city, but it can become an inconvenience if you plan to spend the entire trip walking around Centro.
We ususally, find a secure lot, park the car and Uber where ever we want to go within the city.
What If You Don’t Have A Car?
This is where the new Playa shuttle matters most.
Someone staying near downtown Playa can now leave from ADO Alterna, pay $55 pesos and be taken directly to the train station. Returning passengers have a waiting bus instead of facing an uncertain taxi situation in an isolated part of the city.
For a visitor without a vehicle, the train has become a far more realistic option. It may also be more comfortable than spending several hours on an ADO bus.
But each transfer must be included in the comparison. The Playa shuttle adds $110 pesos per person to a round trip. The Mérida transfer adds another $90 pesos. Your $1,278 round-trip train ticket has now become a journey costing approximately $1,478 per person before any taxis at the hotel end.
ADO still deserves a look. Its terminals are in the centers of both Playa del Carmen and Mérida, it offers more departure times and it eliminates the station transfers. The train may be more pleasant once you are sitting onboard, but the train ride is only one part of the trip.
So, Which One Would I Choose?
For this particular couple, I would drive.
The financial difference is small, but driving saves several hours in each direction, avoids two station transfers and leaves the couple with a vehicle in Mérida. More importantly, they control when they leave.
The train would make more sense for one person traveling alone, someone who dislikes highway driving or a couple planning to remain entirely in central Mérida. It could also be worth taking simply to experience the train, provided the limited schedule fits the trip.
The new shuttle makes the Playa del Carmen station easier to use. That is a genuine improvement. It does not solve the limited direct schedule, the outlying Mérida station or the fact that foreign permanent residents still cannot access the lower local fare with their residency cards alone.
For two permanent residents with a car in the driveway, the Tren Maya and driving cost almost the same. The real choice is between spending more time traveling or spending more time behind the wheel.
*Fares, schedules, fuel prices and tolls used in this comparison are current as of July 2026 and may change.
