Maya Train Road Sparks Outcry Over Sacred Cenote Damage

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A newly constructed road linking Federal Highway 307, which runs from Cancún to Chetumal, with the Tulum-Cobá highway—connecting to Section 5 of the Maya Train—has been built over the Maya jungle and Sac Actún, one of the most significant underground river systems in the Yucatán Peninsula. Environmental activists have denounced the project, alleging that vegetation and trees were cleared without the required environmental impact authorization or land-use change permits mandated by Mexico’s General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (LGEEPA).

Activists File Complaint with Environmental Authorities

Activists and cave explorers José Urbina (known as Pepe Tiburón), Roberto Rojo, hydrologist Guillermo D. Christy, and lawyer Raúl Aldama called on federal authorities to "halt the devastation." They emphasized that the cleared jungle was in "perfect conservation condition," included protected species, and that the construction has damaged invaluable systems like Sac Actún, which holds paleontological, archaeological, geological, and biological significance.

The issue, highlighted on social media by members of the collective Sélvame del Tren, was formally reported to Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa). Citizens submitted georeferenced images and aerial photographs showing the road crossing the Maya Train tracks toward the Tulum-Cobá highway.

"The jungle is a victim of the greed of those who only see value in natural resources when they can sell them. These lands don’t belong to them—they belong to everyone," the activists stated.

The complaint targets Mexico’s Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) and the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena). It urges Profepa’s head, Mariana Boy, to inspect the damage and verify whether permits were issued. If not, the agencies could face legal consequences under Mexican environmental law.

Concerns Over Water Stress and Urban Expansion

Activists warned that the road’s construction was not part of any urban development plan and was built directly over Sac Actún, the region’s most critical aquifer. They fear the project will spur real estate developments, gas stations, convenience stores, and illegal land invasions, further straining the already fragile water supply.

"We’re already starting to extract salty water in some areas. We’re heading straight toward water stress," said D’Christy.

Roberto Rojo added, "We will pay dearly if we keep destroying the remaining 5% of this ecosystem and annihilating the nature that sustains us."

Activists Highlight Risk to Sacred Cenotes

In a message posted from a cenote within the Sac Actún system, one activist underscored the cultural and ecological stakes:

"This cenote, one of the most beautiful for cave diving, is part of an extraordinary underground river system now at risk because a group of people decided to build a road over it. A sacred place, a heritage of humanity in danger because some only see value in dismantling the jungle and selling it to the highest bidder."

The activists called for preventive measures and sustainable alternatives to ensure the region’s environmental health. Authorities have yet to respond publicly to the allegations.