‘Trunnel’ of Puerto Morelos: Gateway to the Tren Maya
There are moments in travel where the destination fades into the background, and the journey itself grabs you by the shoulders and demands your full attention. We had another one of those moments recently in Puerto Morelos, Mexico.
We were on our way to catch the Tren Maya, eager to experience the new rail system that connects the Yucatan Peninsula. The anticipation was high, as it always is when trying out a new mode of transport, but we weren't expecting the drive to the station to be anything other than a road—asphalt, painted lines, maybe some traffic.
We were on our way to catch the Tren Maya, eager to experience the new rail system that connects the Yucatan Peninsula. The anticipation was high, as it always is when trying out a new mode of transport, but we weren't expecting the drive to the station to be anything other than a road—asphalt, painted lines, maybe some traffic.
As our taxi wound its way deeper into the jungle, the harsh tropical sun suddenly vanished. We looked ahead and realized we weren't just driving past nature; we were driving through it.
The trees on either side of the road had grown so tall and wild that they reached out to one another, interlocking their branches to form a perfect, natural cathedral. It was a "Trunnel"—a tree tunnel. The light filtered through the canopy in soft, dappled patches, turning the world a vibrant, breathing green. It felt less like a road to a train station and more like a portal to another world.
The trees on either side of the road had grown so tall and wild that they reached out to one another, interlocking their branches to form a perfect, natural cathedral. It was a "Trunnel"—a tree tunnel. The light filtered through the canopy in soft, dappled patches, turning the world a vibrant, breathing green. It felt less like a road to a train station and more like a portal to another world.
"Stop, please!"
We couldn't help ourselves. We asked the taxi driver to pull over immediately. There was a genuine sense of concern that if we didn't capture this, our memory might fail us later—that we might forget just how overwhelming the green was. The driver, kind and likely used to tourists marveling at his beautiful country, obliged with a smile.
Sitting there in the car in the middle of the road, the silence of the jungle was heavy and comforting. This photo captures that fleeting moment where modern infrastructure bows down to the relentless growth of the jungle.
We couldn't help ourselves. We asked the taxi driver to pull over immediately. There was a genuine sense of concern that if we didn't capture this, our memory might fail us later—that we might forget just how overwhelming the green was. The driver, kind and likely used to tourists marveling at his beautiful country, obliged with a smile.
Sitting there in the car in the middle of the road, the silence of the jungle was heavy and comforting. This photo captures that fleeting moment where modern infrastructure bows down to the relentless growth of the jungle.
It was a beautiful reminder for us, and hopefully for you, to keep your eyes open even during the "transit" parts of your trip. It’s easy to bury your head in your phone, checking tickets or schedules, but sometimes the most glorious thing isn't the ancient ruin or the white sand beach you're heading toward.
Sometimes, it's just a quiet, covered road in Puerto Morelos, whispering that beauty is everywhere if you're willing to ask the driver to stop.
Sometimes, it's just a quiet, covered road in Puerto Morelos, whispering that beauty is everywhere if you're willing to ask the driver to stop.
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