Campeche Travel Guide
The colonial walls and bastions of Campeche. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Campeche pairs two UNESCO sites: the walled colonial port of San Francisco de Campeche, built against pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries, and Calakmul, the great Maya city deep in the jungle near the Guatemala border.
The capital's pastel walls, bastions and ramparts are among the best-preserved colonial fortifications in the Americas. Calakmul's Structure II rises about 55 metres above the forest canopy, one of the tallest Maya pyramids.
Destinations in Campeche
CalakmulThe jungle Maya capital: climb Structure II above the canopy. UNESCO-listed.
Walled city of CampecheUNESCO-listed walls, bastions and pastel streets of the pirate-era port.
EdznaThe nearer Maya site south of the city, with its five-level acropolis.
Hover a state to explore it. Click a city pin to open its guide.
Top Cities & towns in Campeche
Regional food
- Pan de cazon: the layered shark-and-tortilla casserole
- Coconut shrimp along the malecon
Getting there
Campeche (CPE) takes domestic flights; ADO buses link it with Merida (2.5 hours) and Palenque. Calakmul needs a long day trip or overnight from Xpujil, about 5 hours from the capital.