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VISITING Campeche

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CAMPECHE

Campeche is a fascinating place! It’s a state on the southeastern coast of Mexico, known for its rich history and beautiful coastline. The capital city, also called Campeche, is notable for its well-preserved colonial architecture and historic fortifications, which reflect its past as a significant port city during the Spanish colonial period. The city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Campeche is home to a range of natural attractions, including mangroves, beaches, and the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, which is a major archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage site itself. The reserve features ancient Mayan ruins set in a vast tropical rainforest.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT CAMPECHE

Campeche has an area of 22,365 square miles.  It is one of Mexico’s least populous states, with a population is 836,866 people.  Its largest city is also its capital—San Francisco de Campeche.  Oil production accounts for more than half of the state’s economy.  The industry boomed in the seventies when oil was discovered in the Gulf in the shallow waters of the state.  Mining and other industry are also important to Campeche.  In some sections of the state where the land is amenable, agriculture and raising livestock are also important to some communities.

Color rainy street in Campeche
Color rainy street in Campeche

 

HISTORIC CENTER

  • Campeche’s Historic Walls: The city’s colonial-era fortifications are among its most striking features. Walk along the walls and explore the bastions and gates.
  • Cathedral of Campeche: A beautiful example of colonial-era architecture, this cathedral is a focal point in the city’s main square.
  • Museo de la Arquitectura Maya: Located in a historic building, this museum provides insights into Maya architecture and the region’s history.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

  • Calakmul: One of the largest and most important Maya cities, it’s located in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. The site features impressive pyramids and is surrounded by dense jungle.
  • Edzná: Another significant Maya archaeological site, known for its well-preserved structures including the impressive Temple of the Five Floors.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

  • Campeche Beaches: Enjoy the coastal areas like Playa Bonita and Playa de la Concha for relaxation and water activities.
  • Biosphere Reserves: Besides Calakmul, there are other natural areas like the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, known for its birdwatching opportunities, especially flamingos.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

  • Traditional Festivals: Campeche hosts various festivals and cultural events throughout the year, such as the Carnival of Campeche and the Festival of the Maya Culture.
  • Local Cuisine: Don’t miss trying local specialties like pan de cazon (a type of layered fish casserole) and other regional dishes.

DAY TRIPS AND ADVENTURES

  • Island Visits: Explore nearby islands like Isla de Jaina, which has both natural beauty and archaeological significance.
  • Cenotes and Natural Springs: Discover the cenotes, or natural sinkholes, in the region for swimming and exploring.

Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient ruins, enjoying natural beauty, or immersing yourself in local culture, Campeche has a rich array of experiences to offer.

 

 

GEOGRAPHY AND LANSCAPE

While much of Campeche’s lands are flat, there are a series of rolling hills in the south known as the Sierra Alta.  Moreover, the state is home to various types of rainforests as well as savannahs and mangrove wetlands near the coast.  The landscape boasts cedar trees, mahogany, and palms, to name a few.  Wildlife that makes their home in Campeche include ocelot, wild boar, puma, jaguar, rattlesnakes, coral snakes, iguana, toucans, and many other species.  Campeche’s surface water is mostly contained in the southern part of the state, where estuaries are present.  The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico are known for their populations of crab, sea bass, and small sharks.  With its beautifully lush rain forests, it isn’t surprising that the state celebrates three main areas of protected lands.  These lands are favorite destinations for eco-tourists who visit to hike, photograph or simply enjoy the flora and fauna of the Yucatan.

Nohochna (big house) close up at Edzna Campeche
Nohochna (big house) close up at Edzna Campeche
San Jose Fort Campeche (Mexico)
San Jose Fort Campeche (Mexico)

HISTORY OF CAMPECHE

Before its name was Hispanicized, the indigenous people of the region referred to Campeche as the “place of snakes and ticks.”  After arriving from Guatemala, the Mayans became the first people to dominate Campeche.  While the Mayan civilization eventually collapsed, individual Mayan people mixed with other tribes like the Chontal.  The Spanish arrived in 1517; however, their conquest did not take place in earnest until nearly two decades later.  Campeche was not formally recognized as a city until 1774, yet it had been a port town founded by Spanish Conquistadors in 1540.  The capital endured a tumultuous history due mainly to pirate attacks; pirates and buccaneers much frequented the waters of the state of Campeche.  This city still enjoyed great wealth until other ports on the peninsula began to usurp Campeche’s business in the nineteenth century.  After the War of Independence, friction arose between the cities of Campeche and Merida over the division of the peninsula as well as over other political differences; Merida proposed conservative positions while the more liberal Campeche declined.  These differences erupted into violence over time, particularly after the Mexican Constitution of 1857.  Most of these differences were not ironed out until Campeche wrote its constitution after the Mexican Revolution in 1917.   Recently, the state has been known for its oil business; it has also been a destination for refugees fleeing Guatemala.

Sea front of Campeche Mexico
Sea front of Campeche Mexico

 

FOOD IN CAMPECHE

Corn has been at the heart of the region’s cuisine since Mayan times.  Seafood, beans, vegetables, and tropical fruits are also stapled elements of the state’s gastronomy.  Some of the most popular dishes in Campeche include empanadas, beans and pork, shark tacos, and tamales.  Many of the traditional meals throughout the state are seasoned with oregano, achiote, and habanero chili peppers.

SAN FRANCISCO DE CAMPECHE

Founded atop a pre-existing Mayan settlement, Campeche has a long history yet is one of the most elusive of the colonial cities.  It’s the city’s mystery that attracts many visitors.  Because of its immense architectural heritage, the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The city is famous for its many intact fortifying walls built centuries ago to guard against pirate attacks—not always successfully, however.  From its architecture to its cultural venues like its City Museum, Campeche is a must-see destination when visiting the state or the Yucatan Peninsula.

OTHER AND THINGS TO DO AND SEE

Calakmul:  Nestled deep within the jungles of the Peten Basin, this Mayan archaeological site less than thirty miles from the Guatemalan border.  As a major power center, Calakmul is a substantial site important to the study of Mayan history and culture.

Carved stelae and stone walls at the ancient Mayan ruins of Calakmul


Stairway of the Great Pyramid of Calakmul
Stairway of the Great Pyramid of Calakmul

Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion:  The main site of the capital’s Plaza Principal, this cathedral and its Baroque façade is among the most recognizable features of the capital.

Night shot from Cathedral de la Concepcion in Campeche
Night shot from Cathedral de la Concepcion in Campeche

Museo de la Arquitectura Maya: This capital museum is one of the most revered in the state.  Its steles and other Mayan relics are meticulously preserved and popular among tourists to the state.

Rio Bec: This collection of some seventy small archaeological sites is located within the range of Xpujil.  Since it is impossible to reach the area during the rainy season, excavations have been slower-going than at other areas adding to the sites’ mysterious allure.

Jardín Botánico Xmuch Haltún: This famed botanical garden is a must-see attraction of the capital city. It’s especially noted for its displays of endemic species.

CAMPECHE

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