Maya Train Hotel Destroys Jungle and Indigenous Lives

Calakmul, Mexico — In 2022, the government authorized the construction of a luxury hotel managed by the military within the core of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve as part of the Maya Train megaproject. The move has displaced thousands of Indigenous Maya people, stripped them of access to clean water, and jeopardized their livelihoods, sparking widespread condemnation from affected communities and environmental advocates.

Forced Displacement of Maya Communities

Thousands of Indigenous Maya residents were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in the heart of the Calakmul jungle. Nicolás Moreno, a Maya community member, stated, “As Indigenous people, they pushed us out—our rights were violated because we were here first, both in time and in legal terms.”

Originally designated as a protected Biosphere Reserve in 1989, the area’s status was altered in 2022 to permit the construction of the hotel, which is now a key component of the Maya Train project. Michel Duhart, a member of the advocacy group Sélvame del Tren, criticized the decision, saying, “They built a hotel where no human activity should ever have been allowed, out of respect for the sanctuary that is the Calakmul jungle. Instead of protecting it, they chose to exploit it.”

Water Crisis for Displaced Communities

Residents were promised access to water, but years later, many still lack this basic necessity. A hotel employee revealed, “Water has to be trucked in from Calakmul or nearby areas. Since the Maya Train construction began, we’ve suffered severe shortages because the water meant for our communities was diverted to the construction sites.”

Nicolás Moreno added, “They’re taking our water for themselves. Here, we barely have any—when it rains, we collect it. That’s our only source.”

Beekeeping Industry Under Threat

The construction has also endangered the region’s apiculture, a vital economic activity for Maya communities. Jerónima López, another Maya resident, warned, “The noise and vibrations from the construction have driven away bees. Near the train tracks is a bat cave, and we fear it could collapse from the constant tremors. Bats are crucial for pollination, which sustains our honey production—both for our consumption and for sale.”

Nicolás Moreno, who initially supported President López Obrador, expressed disillusionment: “I voted for him, but now I see the deception. I told Sheinbaum, ‘No more.’ The rights of our people have been trampled by this farce.”

The Maya Train project has left impoverished communities without water while threatening to destroy their primary means of survival.