The Mayan Train 

7´06´´

Berlin, 2023

The Mayan Train, presented as a modern infrastructure project to boost tourism and economic growth in southern Mexico, is linked to severe environmental and social consequences. Despite claims of sustainability, studies show it will accelerate deforestation, degrade protected natural areas, and destroy ancient geological and archaeological sites. Indigenous Mayan communities, whose land is being affected, continue to resist, facing inadequate consultations and violent repression.

German company Deutsche Bahn, acting as a “shadow operator,” played a discreet but significant role in the project, while the Mexican army is set to oversee its administration near the militarized southern border. Beyond tourism, the project aligns with broader geopolitical interests, including migration control between Mexico and Guatemala. 

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology has changed archaeological research by allowing scientists to map hidden structures beneath dense vegetation. In the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala, researchers used LiDAR to reveal vast, interconnected ancient cities. Historically, cartography has been deeply intertwined with colonialism, serving as a tool for empire-building, resource extraction, and territorial control. Colonial powers used maps not just for navigation but to claim and divide lands. While LiDAR offers a new form of mapping that reveals forgotten histories, it also raises ethical concerns—how these discoveries are interpreted and who benefits from them remains a critical issue.