TULUM, Mexico – Tulum, the picturesque coastal town on the Yucatán Peninsula, known for its azure waters, ancient Mayan ruins, and vibrant culture, is experiencing a shift in its transportation landscape. The general manager of Mobility ADO Group in Quintana Roo, Julio García Flores, recently disclosed that the ongoing construction of the highly-anticipated Tren Maya has caused minor disruptions in travel times for routes originating in the capital city of Chetumal heading towards the northern region and even the state of Yucatán.
This development has necessitated some schedule adjustments, but it’s important to clarify that these changes are temporary. Once the railway project concludes, bus services will return to their regular schedules without any hitches.
“We estimate an additional thirty minutes of travel time for our buses heading north within the state or to the city of Mérida in Yucatán, especially during the morning hours when there’s increased traffic from construction trucks and trailers on the roads. Fortunately, the impact has been minimal, and passengers have been understanding of this situation, which is entirely beyond our control. There were also some delays due to construction work at the entrance to Cancún in the past, but those have reduced,” García Flores explained.
He further noted that during the summer vacation period, the demand for trips from the state capital’s terminal increased by approximately 80%. They were transporting around 10,000 passengers daily on more than 100 daily routes departing from Chetumal. This figure may even rise further during the winter season, setting the stage for a successful year-end.
The same holds true for the Cancún-Belize route, which they resumed in July with two daily operations. García Flores emphasized that their goal is to recover the four daily routes they had before the pandemic. To achieve this, they plan to intensify promotional efforts to attract more passengers and stimulate tourism exchange between the two destinations.
“We are reclaiming the route we had before the pandemic. The itinerary covers Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Chetumal, and the city of Belize, commencing on July 24th. Our focus now is to reintroduce it to the public so that those looking to explore San Pedro Island, for instance, can do so through our services. There is also significant interest from Belizeans in reaching Cancún, so we’re working to boost demand. With time, we hope to revert to the four daily routes we had before the pandemic,” he stated.
Finally, García Flores affirmed that the construction of a terminal in Bacalar, with an investment exceeding 30 million pesos, remains on track. This project is essential to cater to the growing tourism in the Magic Town of Bacalar.
