Campeche Mexico: Photos, Activities, Hotel Rates and Reservations

Campeche Travel Guide

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Things to Do in Campeche City 

Campeche Tours


Campeche MexicoCampeche 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.

 

campeche land gateLand 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.

 

campeche casa 6

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!

 

 

 HOTELS

   Campeche Hotel

   Merida Hotel

   Cancun Hotel

   Chichen Itza Hotel

  

 

 

 

 CAMPECHE TOURS

   Edzna Ruins Tour  

   Campeche City Tour

   Chenes Route

   Calakmul & Balamku

 

 YUCATAN SITES

   Valladolid

   Chichen Itza

 

 MORE CAMPECHE

   Hotel + Flight

   Campeche City

   Calakmul Biosphere

   Ciudad del Carmen

   Escarcega

   Arriving

   Campeche Nightlife

   Restaurants 

   

 POPULAR TOURS

   Chichen Itza  

   Tulum & Xel-Ha

   Xcaret Tours

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