Things to
Do in Campeche City
Campeche Tours
 Campeche
City is a beautiful destination where you will experience unspoiled
traditional Mexican hospitality. Known as the "Hidden Treasure
of the Yucatan", Campeche blends Spanish influences with the history
and culture of the Mayan people. This gives visitors an intriguing look
at colonial Mexican architecture and Mayan traditions.
Today the city of 250,000 has been carefully restored and its historic
downtown is ideal for exploring with its historic hotels, museums, architectural
character, churches and forts. The 3 mile long malecon
along the Gulf coast highlights a beautiful avenue lined with palm trees,
gardens and monuments. This colonial Mexican city blends the old
with the new as you will find many modern buildings and stores mixed
in with colonial architecture and lots of Campeche sightseeing options.
Historic Center (Main
Plaza)
Campeche City Tour
The historic center of Campeche is full of beautiful colors and lovely
architecture. It was built for the people of the community, but was
used by the town elite such as Spanish royalty and political authorities
for parties and ceremonies.
Today the Campeche historic center is used as the main business center
as well as for cultural and tourist activities. The former City
Hall was recently restored and now serves as Campeche's Library.
Los Portales, is another structure with beautifully arched passageways
and now home to restaurants and shops.
The Main Plaza is a great starting point to walk around Campeche or check out
the Campeche City tour which offers day or night tours of the city with
transportation and tour guide. The tours run Tuesday-Sunday and last
approximately four hours visiting San Jose fort, the Cathedral, San Francisco
and San Roman churches, the historic downtown and the famous "Puerta de Tierra"
(Land Gate). For more information please see
Campeche City Tours.
 Campeche
Trolley: In the Main Square tourists can buy tickets and take a guided tour of the
city. The trolley holds 40 passengers
and departs from the Main Plaza. The
guided tour visits the Historic Center as well the boardwalk and the
neighborhoods of San Francisco and San Roman. Sometimes the tour is
given by a bilingual guide, but even if you don't understand Spanish, it's a great way to see the city and its beautiful charm.
 Cathedral
Located in the Main Square, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception is one of the most beautiful attraction
in the center. It's one of the oldest
churches on the Yucatan Peninsula and was constructed between
1540 and 1705.
 Land
Gate (Puerta de Tierra)
The Land Gate was the original entrance to Campeche and visitors can observe how the
forts and walls protected the city. You can
take a tour on top of the stone walls offering a nice view of the city.
Below is a museum with pictures, letters, guns and ammunition of the
period and the pirates that once visited the city.
Sound and Light Show: Each Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday evening at 8:30 visitors can go back in time with a show of lights,
music and drama. The 30-minute show tells of the romance and tragedy of the
Indians, pirates and Spaniards.
 Musical
Fountains
Located next to the Library in the World Patrimony Park, each evening
at 7, 8 and 9pm one can enjoy a water fountain show synchronized with
music and lights.
Casa #6 (House 6)
Located in the Main Square is Casa 6. A fully-furnished replica of a
typical colonial style house. The entrance is free and has a restaurant
and a bookstore and is also used as a Campeche information center.
Fort San Jose
Located to the north of the city, Fort San Jose el Alto is one of two
forts built to protect the city, complete with cannons and rifle slits.
The fort is also home to the Ships and Weapons Museum displaying colonial
weapons and boats and items traded during the pirate era. From
here you may take in a beautiful view of the city. Tuesdays -
Sundays.
Fort San Miguel
 Located
2.5 kms southwest of town, this 18th-century fort includes a moat and
a drawbridge. General Santa Ana captured it when he attacked Campeche
City in 1842. Inside is Campeche's archaeological museum, also known
as the Mayan Culture Museum.
San Miguel's fort still has its moat, lifting
bridge, towers and cannons. It contains ceramics, jade masks found
in the archaeological zone of Calakmul, as well as rooms depicting Mayan
astrology. Learn some history of the heroes that
fought against the pirates in the constant attempts to invade Campeche
and take over its wealth.
Tuesdays - Sundays.
 Boardwalk
(Malecon)
Inaugurated in 2000, this 3.5 km road along the waterfront is a beautiful
place for families to spend time together, to see the sunset and enjoy
the tranquility of the Gulf of Mexico. There are driving roads as well
as biking and walking lanes and areas to sit and view the Bay of Campeche.
The sunsets from here are amazing. Bring your camera!
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