tour mexico campeche

THE 10 BEST Campeche Tours & Excursions

Campeche tours.

• Walking Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Private Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Multi-day Tours
• Photography Tours
• Beer Tastings & Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Calakmul Ancient Maya City Tour - From Campeche

2. Calakmul Ancient Maya City Tour From Xpujil

3. Visit to the Archaeological Zone of Edzná and the Ex Hacienda Uayamón

4. Half Day Horseback Riding Adventure with Cenotes in the Jungle

5. Historical Afternoon Tour in the City of Campeche

6. Edzná, the house of the Itzaes

7. Full Day Excursion to Calakmul and Balamkú From Campeche

8. Private Tour to Campeche city from Merida by Yucatan Concierge

9. Campeche: Highlights, Museums and Downtown Tour

10. Edzná in Colectivo, a Voyage Through History with a Local Guide

11. 2-Hour The best of San Francisco de Campeche Private Walking Tour

12. Half Day Private Tour of Campeche, the Walled City

13. Snorkeling Combo 3 x 1 Lagoon Cenote Reef with Tulum Temples

14. Private Half Day Tour to Tulum Temples and Downtown Shopping

15. Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more)

16. Half Day Tour to the Mayan Ruins of Becán Campeche

17. Chichen-Itza Basic, Sacreed cenote, lunch and valladolid

18. Explore Campeche in 5 days

19. Tour to Calakmul and Balamkú. From Campeche

20. Historical Day Tour in the City of Campeche

21. Visit The Walled City of Campeche: City Highlights + Museums + a Workshop

22. Adventure in Calakmul departing from Campeche

23. Camino Real-artisan, Culinary And Arqueological Tour

24. Cultural Tour of Kankí and Becal with Hecelchakán and Pomuch

25. Getting to know the cultural heritage of Campeche on a walking tour

26. Observation and Photography of Mexican Birds

27. Campeche Airport Transfer to Hotels in Campeche

28. Full Day Private Tour in Campeche Becal and Edzná

29. Cozumel Adventure

30. Expedición a Calakmul saliendo desde Mérida- 3 días y 2 noches

What travelers are saying.

APRIL SALE:   Discover and book at   up to 60% off!

Campeche Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Campeche. We've got 59 adventures going to Campeche, starting from just 4 days in length, and the longest tour is 22 days. The most popular month to go is November, which has the largest number of tour departures.

59 Campeche tour packages with 175 reviews

• In-depth Cultural
• Coach / Bus

Wonders of the Maya

This review is on behalf of my dad who went on the tour- I am a Senior Citizen from India travelling alone, who joined ‘Wonders of Maya’, from 14 to 21 August 2023, from Cancun. The trip was well organised and professionally managed, with a personal touch. It was informative and the pace catered to the convenience of all. The transport was comfortable and so was the stay at different places. The guide Juan Carlos Ordonez went out of the way to make everyone happy, throughout the tour.He had the ability of explaining the nuances of the Mayan Culture, with his own sense of humour. I must specially mention about the young driver (another Carlos) Carlos Hernandez, who was good at the wheels and equally polite & helpful. Right from the time I contacted the office in Cancun, Ms. Armando provided all the possible support at every stage, till I finally left Cancun Airport. In short, it was a memorable and pleasant trip. Do keep up the good work. I strongly recommend the Tourradar, to anyone planning to see ‘the Wonders of Maya’. Dr. ISRAEL K. MANI.

Best of Chiapas and Yucatan

I loved this tour; it was a great mix of natural beauty and historical sites. The tour of the indigenous area was fantastic and done with sensitivity. The hotels were very good and in good locations with breakfast provided. On the one day we needed to leave very early, the breakfast stop was very good. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and the pick-ups were punctual. There were a number of guides and drivers, however it was well co-ordinated. There is a lot of driving, very windy roads through mountainous areas in Chiapas, however the scenery was fabulous.

• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year

Mayan Adventure

Very good. The bus and driver and the men who told us everything. The hotels was very close to the center

Classic Mexico Adventure

Excellent trip during the pandemic. Would be more enjoyable when we don’t have to wear masks everywhere

The Mystical Mayan Trail: A Trip Through Mexico's Vibrant Culture and Natural Beauty

Die Route und die Dauer der Tour durch das schöne Chiapas war für uns perfekt. Die Abwechslung von Natur und Kultur war optimal. Die Hotels waren bis auf eine Ausnahme (Palenque) gut, das Frühstück überall sehr gut. Der Comfort des Minibusses war ausbaufähig. Bei größerer Körpergröße gibt es eigentlich nur einen Sitzplatz, der in Frage kommt, der insbesondere auf längeren und kurvigen Strecken ungemütlich ist. Die Tourguides und Fahrer waren allesamt äußerst kompetent und freundlich. Insbesondere Hector und Francisco, die uns über mehrere Tage begleitet haben, haben die Reise zu etwas besonderem gemacht. Auch, weil sie uns bei gesundheitlichen Problemen beratschlagt haben. Am Ende der Reise konnten wir uns in Valladolid (statt Cancun) absetzen lassen, was unsere Weiterreise erleichtert hat.

Mayan Route

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Yucatan Peninsula Adventure (including Bacalar)

Unforgettable Mexico ( 16 days )

The Mariachi route ( 17 days )

8 Days Customized Mexico Cancun Holiday, Daily Start

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Mexico Differently

Beautiful country and interesting sites. However I would have liked to have a bit more time to see them. Some placed were very rushed and in particular Mexico City. I also enjoyed the food and all guides were great. Overall a good experience. Thanks

Magic South-East

Mexico - Mexico Southern Adventure

Highlights of Mexico

Excellent tour and guide. The accommodations on a couple of occasions were lackluster. Maybe an option (additional fee) for premium accommodations on a tour like this could be possible.

Mexico Southern Adventure - 8 Days

The tour was good overall, but just be aware that this tour is a series of independent contractors. Some just do transfers, some guide you through important sites and some do both. Your with different guides and passengers throughout the trip. The itinerary is "subject to change" and it does change, not usually in a good way. The many vouchers you receive after you pay dictate the final itinerary. For example: the transfer to Campeche that "includes a brief city tour" ended up being just a transfer with a driver that didn't speak English with no city tour. The "included lunch" on day one wasn't included. Things like that. Not a big deal, but just be aware. On the positive side, the hotels were great. They were all centrally located and of good quality, so that was nice.

What people love about Campeche Tours

An excellent tour to appreciate and learn about the Mayan civilisation. Very happy to have done this. Miguel is a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide with a good sense of humour. We felt very safe in the hands of our driver, Edgar. All of the hotels were decent and centrally located. We had a minor issue with the airport transfer to the hotel as we didn’t see anyone holding out a sign with our name. The assistance contact number provided by Destination Services was useless, no one answered when we called. Luckily we had the number of the guide, he helped us find the right guy in the busy Cancun airport!

Generally very interesting, quite well organized, hotels decent (by general Latin American standards), and food good. Guides a mixed bag - some barely speak, others are a wealth of info. All kept us safe though, which is most important in this area. One guide unfortunately made an offhand racist comment towards the end of his tour, which unfortunately colored our whole perception of his commentary. I spoke with him about this and he did not apologize, but agreed to rethink his opinion. I've traveled to over 60 countries and unfortunately this is just something you encounter every now and then. In general I recommend the tour.

The tour was interesting, well balanced, so that it was possible to also independently enjoy each and every city we stayed at. The only thing I disliked was the fact that in the offer was included only American breakfast. So it was not possible to chose anything else, although the hotel's offer was much bigger.

• Mexico Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• 10 Best Mexico Vacation Packages 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

• Custom travel
• Event Planning
• B2B Partnerships
• Unique Accommodation

Campeche: Where History and Coastal Charm Unite

Located on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Campeche is a hidden gem blending rich history with coastal allure. Its UNESCO-protected Old Town is a tapestry of pastel-hued buildings and fortified walls, narrating tales of the city’s colonial past.

Colonial Heritage and Cultural Vibrancy

Wander through cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old churches and mansions, witnessing the city’s Spanish colonial architecture. Campeche’s cultural pulse beats vibrantly through its museums and galleries, celebrating the region’s Mayan and colonial legacy.

Coastal Serenity and Natural Wonders

Beyond its historic confines, Campeche unfolds into stunning coastal vistas. The Gulf of Mexico’s azure waters beckon exploration, offering opportunities for relaxation on pristine beaches. Discover hidden archaeological sites like Edzná or explore Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, home to diverse wildlife and ancient Mayan ruins.

Inside the Mayan Realm

Mexico & Guatemala: Mayan People Then & Now

Privacy overview, proceed booking, already a member, don't have an account create one., or continue as guest.

Hemos recibido tu solicitud correctamente.

Recibirás un mail con el resumen de tus reservas.

¿No lo encuentras? Déjanos tu email y te enviamos un resumen de tus reservas.

Compártelo en redes directamente con tu id y nombre de campaña

23 excursiones y actividades en Campeche

Excursión a Edzná y sus haciendas

Tour privado por Campeche

Tour teatralizado nocturno por Campeche

Visita guiada por Campeche

Tour en kayak por la laguna de Términos

Excursión a Calakmul y Balamkú

Excursión a Los Petenes en lancha rápida

Paseo en lancha rápida por el Malecón

Excursión a Champotón

Tour de bares por la calle 59

Excursión a Xpicob en lancha rápida

Tour por la región de Los Chenes

En este tour por la región de Los Chenes descubriremos un extraordinario patrimonio maya en sus principales yacimientos arqueológicos . ¡Os encantará!

Tour en bicicleta por Campeche

Pesca en Campeche

Tour por las iglesias de Campeche

Paseo en lancha por la laguna de Términos

Tour de aventura en el parque Miguel Colorado

Avistamiento de delfines en Isla Aguada

Tour de artesanía por el Camino Real de Yucatán

Excursión a Uxmal

Espectáculo de las Fuentes Marinas de Campeche

Visita guiada por Edzná

Espectáculo Lorencillo, una historia de piratas

Inicia sesión para añadir actividades a tus favoritos y acceder desde cualquier dispositivo

Este sitio está protegido por reCAPTCHA y se aplican la política de privacidad y los términos de servicio de Google.

CALAKMUL   CAMPECHE

A unique Maya Capital City hidden deep in the largest jungle in Mexico

WELCOME TO  CALAKMUL

Travel through time with ka'an expeditions.

In Calakmul, the past comes alive as you climb the ancient Mayan structures of one of the most prominent cities of this historic people. With Ka’an Expeditions, you will explore not only majestic ruins but also immerse yourself in an ecological adventure in Mexico’s largest tropical reserve. Prepare yourself for an experience where history and nature meet in an eternal dance of beauty and mystery.

AUTHENTIC AND SUSTAINABLE EXPERIENCES

We are dedicated to offering tourist services for travelers with an adventurous spirit and a desire to understand other cultures and ecosystems. Our tours are designed to teach you about the biodiversity of Southeast Mexico and promote respect for our natural and cultural environment. By choosing us, you choose a way of traveling that cares for and respects the land and its inhabitants.

MORE THAN VISITORS, WE ARE FRIENDS

At Ka’an Expeditions, we believe that the best journeys are those shared. We welcome you not just as visitors, but as friends. We are committed to making your stay in Calakmul a warm, fun, and enriching experience. From the moment you arrive, we open not only the doors of our community but also our hearts.

COME AND LIVE CALAKMUL

Do not miss the opportunity to explore this unique enclave. Contact us today and discover why each tour with us is an unforgettable adventure. Live, love, and laugh as you dive into the magic of Calakmul.

read more About Calakmul...

CALAKMUL  

 A SEA OF JUNGLE

TOURS IN CALAKMUL

CALAKMUL ANCIENT MAYA CITY 

Join us on this full day tour to the magnificent Calakmul Archaeological Site. Submerged deep in the jungle, it's a great place to see wildlife such as toucans, parrots, monkeys, deer, wild pigs, even a jaguar if you are lucky.

Location: Calakmul Archaeological Site

Languages: English, Spanish

All included

Departures from: Xpujil, Campeche, Bacalar and Chetumal

Prices start at:

*Price may vary depending on the departure city for the tour

LIVING CULTURE -

Maya experience.

Visit a maya community next to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Learn about their culture and traditions while they teach you how to make handcrafts, tortillas and to harvest honey.

Location:  Village 20 de Noviembre

Languages: Spanish

Departures from: Xpujil

*Price may vary depending on the departure city for the tour

SUNRISE HIKE AT CALAKMUL BIORESERVE

Sunrise is the best time to see wildlife in the jungle, as animals are hungry and eager to find some food. Join us on a hike where you will learn all about the local flora and fauna of the 2nd most important jungle in America.

Location: Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

ADVENTURE TRIP

Visit an unexcavated archaeological site. Get an idea of the archaeologist work to restore this amazing buildings. Access to these sites is restricted and 4x4 vehicles are needed.  *Hiking into site available: 20+km

Location: Oxpemul or Río Bec

RIO BEC SITES +

Local community.

Visit Xpujil, Becán and Chicanná ruins, and their magnificent and unique palatial architecture. After we will visit a local community where you can learn how local handcrafts are made and buy directly from the artisans. 

Location: Xpujil, Becán, Chicanná, Village.

KOHUNLICH &   DZIBANCHÉ

Discover the amazing stucco masks of Kohunlich, an ancient Maya city full of located 70 km West of Bacalar. Dzibanché probably one of the first capitals for the Ka´an Dynasty. 

Location: Kohunlich and Dzibanché 

Departures from: Bacalar

Use the code:

5 TIPS TO PLAN YOUR TRIP TO CALAKMUL

WHAT IS CALAKMUL?

Three different things are called Calakmul, so it´s important to understand the difference: 

  Calakmul Archaeological Site

  Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

  Calakmul Municipality

The Calakmul Municipality is the largest of them. The BioReserve is inside the Municipality, and the Archeological site inside the BioReserve.

Xpujil is the largest town with the most tourist services in the Calakmul Municipality.

WHERE IS CALAKMUL?

Most people are here to visit the Calakmul Archaeological Site. 

To get there it is important to consider that the site is 110 kilometers away from Xpujil. If you are driving, allow yourself  1.5 h for this trip.

The road is not in very good conditions so drive slowly and enjoy the view.​​

ON YOUR WAY IN TO CALAKMUL

T here are not grocery stores so keep in mind bring enough water and food supplies.

Xpujil is the main town where you can find gas stations. 

SAFETY FIRST

The Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul is humid and hot, so climate conditions might be adverse for some visitors.

We recommend carrying enough water and food at all times. One liter of water per person is the minimum recommended.

Do not go on the BioReserve trails by yourself. Always with an authorized guide.

Play it safe. Guarantee your experience by hiring bilingual certified guides and licensed touroperators.

ENTRANCE FEES AT CALAKMUL

There are 3 fees to pay when visiting Calakmul:

#1 at the turn off the highway: community fee $81 pesos per person.

#2 Located 20 km ahead of the first payment: biosphere Reserve fee $109 pesos per person. 

#3 At the archaeological site: $95 pesos per person.

In total you will pay $285 mexican pesos per person.

MORE ABOUT CALAKMUL

All the info you need to plan your trip to calakmul, 5 tips to plan your trip to calakmul, history of calakmul, how to get to calakmul, calakmul history.

A vast and uniform green savanna extends hundreds of kilometers far beyond our sight. The contrast between the deep greens and the cosmic blues of the sky is spellbinding. The Calakmul reserve is so enormous; Singapore could fit 10 times within its territory. It is home to flora and fauna only possible to spot within this region, such as spider monkeys, howler monkeys, deer, peccaries, turkeys, jaguars, pumas and ocelots.

The Calakmul region has no match. It houses the largest tropical reserve in Mexico and a large archaeological site that extends for 32 square kilometers. Around 6,000 ancient structures lie as a reminiscence of one of the most important and largest cities of the Mayan civilization. It is known that Calakmul was the capital of the Kingdom of the Serpent. Also known as the Kingdom of  Ka’an, it was the main adversary of the powerful Tikal.

In 2014 Calakmul was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the Mixed Category (Nature/Culture), acknowledging its unique and unrepeatable value in the relation established between Mayan Culture and nature. This heritage covers an area of 300 thousand hectares and has about 350 archeological sites; most of them are still closed to the public.

The archeological zone was discovered in 1931 while raw material was extracted to produce gum. Calakmul emerged during the Middle Preclassical and extended its hegemony until its decline in the Late Classic period.

HOW TO GET TO CALAKMUL - XPUJIL

From campeche.

The state capital is located at 300 kilometers from Xpujil at Calakmul.

The city by itself is worth visiting and staying for a couple of days at least.

There is an international airport here, but flights to this destination are usually above expensive.

First and second class buses available. Second class tickets only available at bus station.

Map & Directions

Private Transfer

From Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar and Chetumal

For this route Cancún is the furthest starting point.

If you start in Cancún, consider at least one day for traveling by car, since 460 kilometers separate one place from the other, resulting in a six hour  drive.

If you arrive by domestic airlines, the closest airport to Calakmul is in Chetumal.

From Merida

Mérida is the state capital of Yucatán and one of this peninsula's largest and most important urban centers.

It is renowned for its architecture, gastronomy and people.

If your trip begins here, you should prepare for a half a day ride.

No direct buses from Mérida. Stopover at Campeche.

From Palenque

Palenque, as Calakmul is one of the most important and extraordinary Mayan archeological sites of all. 

Located in the state of Chiapas, its part of the same Mayan Route as Calakmul.

When coming from Palenque allow yourself at least a 4hrs trip. 

No direct buses from Palenque. Stopover at Escárcega.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND REVIEWS

We are always trying to improve our service so that we are constantly evolving and creating unforgettable memories of Calakmul to even the most demanding travellers.

Our most valuable asset to continue improving:

Our guests reviews.

CARBON NEUTRAL

Declaration.

Due to the present and future scenarios of global warming and climate change, we at Ka´an Expeditions have taken the decision to become a Neutral Carbon company. Meaning that all the direct CO2 (carbon dioxide) that our activities generate, will be neutralized by assuring that the same amount of gases remain collected or captured in the jungles of Calakmul, ensuring that these are not released to the atmosphere.

We have calculated the volume of emissions that our vehicles generate throughout one year, and have designated an area of jungle in the Valentín Gómez Farías community, Calakmul, Campeche, that will be taken care of and destined to its conservation to neutralize Ka´an Expeditions´s carbon footprint.

OUR ADDRESS

Av. Calakmul S/N, Xpujil, Calakmul, Campeche, México. CP24640.

Email: [email protected]

WhatsApp:  (+52) 981-136-0460

14:00 h - 21:00 h

Monday to Saturday

OPENING HOURS

Lunes - Sábado

Success! Message received.

• Where do the tours depart from? As we are based in Xpujil, most of our tours depart from here, although we also have daily tours departing Campeche City, Bacalar and Chetumal. Price may vary depending on departure city. All tours includes round trip to the departure city selected. *Tours subject to availability.
• Can I be dropped off at a different city from where I started the tour? Yes! You can be dropped off at Xpujil for no extra cost. For other cities there's an extra cost for the private transportation service.
• Do I have to pay for my child's ticket? Children aged 1-5 are for free. Children aged 6 and above pay full price.
• I'm a solo traveler, can I join your tours? Yes! If there's another tour already organized for that same date you can join them. Our website booking system will allow you to buy 1 ticket if there's another tour. If not, we can put you on a wait list, or else you can pay for the minimum 2 tickets for a private tour. As we are based in Xpujil, and most our tours depart from here, you have more chances to join a tour if you start from here. Please contact us if you want to be added to the waitlist.
• What is included in the tours? All is included in our tours. We pick you up at your hotel and drop you off after the tour. Entrance fees and permits is all taken care of on our side. Water, sodas, and picnics (for full day tours) is also thought of so you are well nurtured to enjoy the activity! *Read exactly what's included on each tour on their description.

ACCOMODATION IN CALAKMUL

Looking for a place to stay in calakmul.

Casa Ka´an offers 6 beautifullly decorated cabanas completely surrounded by jungle.

If you want to stay in the jungle with all the modern ammenities, then Casa Ka´an is the place for you.

COVID has come to stay.

We need to change the way we take of ourselves and our loved ones. 

Each and everyone of us, at a personal or a business level must take action to combat the virus.

In Ka´an Expeditions we have prepared our team and our equipment, so that you have a safe and COVID free experience with us.

We have been awarded with the "Punto Limpio"  certification which is given by the Mexican Tourism Secretary to those establishments and businesses that have the highest standards of higiene and sanitation.

Getty Images/Hemis.fr RM

Campeche is a historical fairyland, its walled city center a tight enclave of restored pastel buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, fortified ramparts and well-preserved mansions. Added to Unesco’s list of World Heritage sites in 1999, the state capital lacks a little of a 'daily life' ambience, as few people actually live in the historic center. But leave the inner walls and you’ll find a genuine Mexican provincial capital complete with a frenetic market, peaceful malecón (boardwalk) and old fishing docks.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Campeche. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Museo Arqueológico de Campeche & Fuerte de San Miguel

Campeche’s largest colonial fort, facing the Gulf of Mexico some 4km southwest of the city center, is now home to the most important of Maya museums, the…

A popular path for joggers, cyclists, strolling friends and cooing sweethearts, the malecón, Campeche’s 7km-long waterfront promenade, makes for a breezy…

Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción

Dominating Plaza Principal’s east side is the two-towered cathedral. The limestone structure has stood on this spot for more than three centuries and it…

Plaza Principal

Shaded by carob trees and ringed by tiled benches and broad footpaths radiating from a belle-epoque kiosk, Campeche’s appealingly modest central square…

Museo de la Arquitectura Maya

The Baluarte de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, designed to protect the Puerta del Mar, contains the fascinating Museo de la Arquitectura Maya. It provides…

Baluarte de San Francisco & Baluarte de San Juan

Once the primary defensive bastion for the adjacent Puerta de la Tierra, the Baluarte de San Francisco houses a pirate exhibition in both English and…

Centro Cultural Casa Número 6

During the prerevolutionary era, when this mansion was occupied by an upper-class campechano family, Número 6 was a prestigious plaza address. Wandering…

Baluarte de San Pedro

Directly behind Iglesia de San Juan de Dios, the Baluarte de San Pedro served a post-piracy defensive function when it repelled a punitive raid from…

Plan with a local

Experience the real Mexico

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Campeche with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

19 Amazing Things to Do in Campeche Mexico + Practical tips

Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of those links, I may earn a commission at zero cost for you. Please see my disclaimer policy here, and my privacy policy here.

If you are wondering what are the best things to do in Campeche and the best places to visit, this post will answer all your questions about this beautiful and often underrated colonial city of Mexico.

In this Campeche travel guide I will share everything you can do in Campeche city (also called Francisco de Campeche) and state of Campeche, how to move around, and all the practical tips you need to plan your own amazing itinerary in this amazing underrated Mexican State.

When I explored the beautiful city of Campeche I was on a Yucatan road trip, driving from Bacalar, which is also another amazing spot that you shouldn’t miss. More about it at the end of the post.

After Bacalar, I drove all the way north towards Calakmul and obviously explored that part of Mexico for a week to continue all the way through Campeche, including Candelaria, the Laguna de Termino, down to Miguel Colorado until I finally reached the multicolored walled city of Campeche

Things to do in Campeche Mexico

Campeche’s historic center with its old city walls is a Unesco World Heritage Site , since 1999 and it still conserves its ancient walls and system of fortifications, designed to defend this Caribbean port against pirate attacks from the sea.

I loved the unique vibe of this city and its historical feel.

I was walking through the chequerboard of the historical center, fascinated by the pastel-colored walls, the baroque architecture of the old buildings the unexpected creativity manifested in the interior design of coffee’ shops and restaurants, and churches.

Here below find all the things you can do in Campeche city and Campeche state.

1. Take a walking tour and learn about Campeche history

Its historic Fortified Town has been built by the Spanish founders when they realized that it needed extra protection from the pirates’ attacks.

In fact, being a harbor town and the second most important commercial center in the Gulf of Mexico, after Merida, made Campeche one of the most haunted cities by the aggressive pirates and corsairs in the Caribbean sea.

Later on, at the beginning of the 18th century, in order to reinforce the protection, another two forts were built in addition to the hexagonal walls, the redoubt of San Jose on the East Hill of the village and the fuerte San Miguel on the West Hill, as well as the batteries of San Lucas, San Matias and San Luis, examples of the military architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries. (SOURCE – UNESCO SITE )

Among other historical buildings, you must visit, Plaza Mayor, overseen by the magnificent Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and several other churches, scattered around the historical center, the Toro theatre and the municipal archives.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is, in fact, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is baroque in style, with two large towers, and was built in 1705.

The Museum of Sacred Art is also located here. Entrance to the cathedral is free.

A walk around downtown Campeche

A 2-hour walk around the city with a local guide. Starting from Parque Principal, we will walk through downtown streets, discovering and learning about Campeche’s history. The sites include House No. 6, Cathedral of Campeche, San Francisquito Curch, Sea Gate, San Carlos Fort, Soledad Fort, Tukulna, and Land Gate.

2. Sit in one of the cafes on the popular street 59

The historical center is brimming with pretty colorful streets and beautiful buildings, small restaurants, churches, and museums .

In particular, called 59 which connects the 2 main doors of the city, Puerta de Mar y Puerta de Tierra.

On the side of Puerta de Mar, you will see also the tourist office where you can get information on local events and things to do.

On the Puerta de Tierra, they normally have a night show on the weekend around 7 pm where local actors will narrate their history.

But make sure you check with the tourist office as they may change the schedule according to season. 

3. Enjoy the sunset from the Malecon, the seaside road that runs across the city.

Beautifully designed to favor runners and bikers, the Malecon (sea promenade) is a great place where to hang out at sunset, both because the temperature is bearable and you can enjoy amazing views over the Gulf of Mexico.

4. Browse around the local market

That was an experience, full of colors. The market is very crowded so watch the purse, but you will enjoy watching the locals chatting singing, dancing, and making deals over products of any different types.

The fruit and veggie stalls were my favorites, so nicely organized in many different patterns of shapes and colors and precise order. If you need anything…just go to the Market and you will find it.

5.  Stay in one of the charming haciendas

Right in town, by the “Puerta de Tierra” in Calle 59 is located the Hacienda Puerta Campeche , a Starwood Luxury collection signature.

It is a cute little jewel in the historical city, to make your stay even more enjoyable with a full immersion in history and luxury.

If you haven’t heard about the haciendas in the Yucatan peninsula , I have got you covered as well.

Similar to that within the same group of Haciendas of the Luxury Collection is the stunning and elegant  Hacienda Uayamon located at 30 minutes distance from the city.

6. Visit Fuerte de San Miguel

If you are not joining a guided tour, the Fuerte de San Miguel would be a great place to start your self-guided itinerary of the City. It’s in fact one of the most emblematic buildings in the city.

It was built in the 18th century with the purpose to reinforce the defense of the city against the pirates’ attack since the fortified walls were not enough.

Its rooftop used to have 20 cannons some of which are still there for visitors to see.

You can also enjoy an amazing view of the bay.

Inside the Fuerte de San Miguel, you will now find a small museum of archeology where you can admire a few stelae and other vestiges found in the Calakmul and Becan archeological sites.

7. Visit Xmuch’haltún Botanical Garden

Xmuch’haltún means, “water that springs from the earth” in Mayan language.

You will be able to admire a central fountain that feeds several canals leading to the plants throughout the garden for watering purposes.

The garden includes a large variety of tropical species and Mayan herbal medicine.

The most interesting part is the information about the kinds of herbs and plants that were used in the past for dying fabrics and thatching homes and other interesting functions. 

The botanical garden is located in the city center where originally the Baluarte de Santiago was situated.

It’s open every day from 9 am to 4 pm and the entrance fee is 20 MXN (1USD)

8. Visit the Centro Cultural Casa no. 6

Despite the odd name, this building is definitely worth passing by as it’s a great example of Campeche architecture in colonial times.

It’s now home to a library, coffee shop, artisan shops, and tourist information

Address: Calle 57, centro histórico, 24000 San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche.

Opening hours : from 8 am to 9 pm from Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sundays from 9 am to 9 pm

Entry fees : 20.00 MXN

9. Visit Mansión Carvajal

Another significant building that deserves a visit while you are walking around Campeche.

Mansion Carvajal is a beautiful house probably built in the 18th-century home of the landowner Fernando Carvajal Estrada and his wife María Lavalle de Carvajal.

He was also the owner of the largest hacienda in the peninsula, Uayamón , which is now one of the best luxury haciendas in the Yucatan Peninsula

On the second level you can admire its balconies with wrought iron windows and the letters “FCI”, which are the initials of the father of the great landowner.

Opening hours : from 9:00 am to 6 pm Location : Calle 10 s/n Campeche City

10. Take TRAM tour of Campeche

This fun tour is a ride on old trams that have been refurbished to take tourists around Campeche and show them all the historical landmarks of the city while a knowlegdeable guide shares some interesting facts about the history and culture.

There are different itineraries that you can choose from and they all leave from the Plaza Mayor.

The tour costs 100 MXN per person but they need at least 10 participants in order for the tour to take off.

Day trips from Campeche

11. visit the magnificent archaeological site of edzna’.

I believe the Edzna ruins are one of the most fascinating and mind-blowing of all, for the dimension and the logistics of their structures most of all.

Walking around those huge perfect buildings you will feel like being taken back in time.  Try it and let me know.  Sit on the first stairs looking at the main square and shout.

Hear the eco talking back to you. That’s the way they used to communicate with one another. Through perfect architecture tricks.   

What is the meaning of Edznà?

Itzá is the name of one population, the Chontal who were living in the city.

For this reason, the neighboring inhabitants refer to them as the “Itzaes”  and Edzna means Casa de los Itzaes (Itzae’s home). This site has been populated from 400 ad to 1450 ad. when it was abandoned.  

The archaeological discovery brought to light numerous painted facades that represented gods and mythological creatures in various colors, which reflects a typical architectural characteristic of the “Peten” .

Also, you can find hints of the Chenes, Puuc, and Tardios, all different lineages of the Mayan civilization.  

How to reach Edzna’ archeological site

The best way is by rental car and drive from Campeche to Edzna, which will give you the freedom to check out other sites in the surroundings.

It’s located 55 km south of Campeche you can get there by car through Route 180 and 261. It is well indicated.

Or you can get there by public transportation either from Champoton or Campeche. 

The other option would be to join a tour from Campeche . The advantage would be that you have a guide and transportation included and you don’t have to worry about the organization.

Also, it’s always a great idea to have a guide when you visit an archeological site since they will be able to share some interesting facts about the site that you wouldn’t know otherwise.

Join a tour to Edzna ruins

4 hour tour from your hotel to Edznà archeological site accompained by a certified guide!

12. Take a tour to Calakmul and Balamku from Campeche

Calakmul archaeological site and biosphere is one of the most magnificent and extensive to see while Balamku, located right in front is one of the most unique for it’s well preserved large frieze.

Both are quite far away from Campeche and if you don’t have a car it’s impossible to visit them in only one day.

This tour is the solution. I need to warn you it’s not for everyone. It’s a 15 hours tour starting from the 5 am pick up. But if you really want to visit Calakmul and you don’t have much time, it’s a great opportunity to do it.

▶ Read more about the tour and book it in advance

13. Visit Isla Arena

If you are interested in exploring a little off the beaten path, where locals go, Isla Arena could be a great destination.

Located at about 2 hrs and 30 minutes from Campeche on the way to Merida, Isla Arena is a small laidback fishermen’s town where you can relax on a beachfront cabaña and take boat tours to see the flamingos.

In fact, it’s only 40 minutes boat ride from the more popular Celestun home of pink flamingoes colonies.

In Isla Arena, you can also visit the museum of the Mexican Actor Pedro Infante and then relax on the beach.

You can check out Wotoch Ayin: La Casa del Cocodrilo for some kayak tours in the mangrove areas

On the way to Isla Arena or on the way back stop at El Remate, a natural pool with crystal clear spring waters surrounded by lush tropical vegetation where to relax or enjoy some of the activities offered.

It’s quite a popular place among locals so try to get there early on weekdays only to avoid crowds.

14. Visit Champoton

Champoton is one of the biggest towns close to Campeche situated on the Coast on the way to Ciudad del Carmen. There you can visit the spectacular Hacienda San Luis Carpizo if it is still open to the public.

It belonged to Don José María Carpizo, an agricultural producer and it was restored in 1999 by the Mexican Navy to house the Marine infantry school there.

When I was there I managed to get a tour from some of the militaries who were happy to show me around and share the history of the place.

Then you can enjoy a local dish in one of the seafood restaurants on the beach or if you love fishing you can book a fishing tour.

15. Spend some time on Playa Sabancuy

Campeche is not exactly a place that you go for the beaches. However, if you want to spend some beach time, Sabancuy has one of the best beaches in the area, with white sand and pristine waters.

You can also find some interesting snorkeling boat trips and other activities as the area is becoming more and more prepared for tourism.

Here you can also find nice hotels and posadas where to stay along the coast.

16. See the dolphins in Isla Aguada

On the way to Ciudad del Carmen, before the long bridge across the Laguna de Termino, you will find a small town called Isla Aguada, which translates to “watered island”. Odd, I know!

You wouldn’t have any reason to visit here if it was not for the awesome boat tour that local fishermen offers from the Malecon (seafront promenade).

It’s a 2-hour tour that takes you around the Laguna de Termino, a huge bay where a cute family of dolphins lives freely.

You will stop by a bank of sand in the middle of the lagoon to spot some birds as well and you can swim if you wish.

17. Visit the cenote of Miguel Colorado

Miguel Colorado is a surreal place located only a 2-hour drive from Campeche that is worth visiting if you love nature.

I visited Miguel Colorado during a road trip around the Yucatan Peninsula and I had a blast. I arrived in the small town of Miguel Colorado in the evening and I was lucky to find the only place to stay available at that time.

It was a nice cabaña with external bathrooms and it was kind of creepy at night because I was the only guest.

I arrived just on time for the sunset and I was offered a tour by a local girl to visit a bat cave. I was curious and I accepted.

She took me on her motorbike in the middle of a field and then we walked up to a hill at the edge of a huge cave waiting for the bat to come out.

When the night had come it was fascinating to see all the bats coming out and the owls trying to catch them for their dinner.

During the night I had a cat visiting me and spending the night with me which was nice but odd.

When I talked to the lady who was managing the cabañas the following morning and I told her about the cat, she smiled and told me that it was there to protect me from the snakes.

That freaked me out for a moment but I was happy to learn about that the following day and grateful for my random guardian angel.

Early morning I drove up to the Cenote and was happy to learn that I arrived right before two coach busses full of people.

I enjoyed visiting the cenote in tranquillity, swimming, and kayaking around by myself.

You can easily spend the entire day in Miguel Colorado cenote, and enjoy all the available activities, from the zipline, hiking, bird watching, biking, and more.

Opening hours – from 8 am to 5 pm every day

Entry fee – it depends on the package you choose and the activities you prefer. Starting from 200 MXN (10 USD)

18. Visit the Mayan Ruins of Xtampak

Located in the north of Campeche, Xtampak is the ancient city of the Chenes region. Its name means “ In front of the wall ” and it’s considered one of the largest and most important cities in this region.

It hasn’t been excavated as much as the other popular sites of Campeche like Calakmul and Edzna, but visiting it is still a remarkable experience.

Xtampak entrance fees

• Entrance fee: $65 MXN (US$3.5).

Mexican nationals and foreign residents of Mexico get free admittance on Sundays.

Xtampak opening hours

• Opening hours: 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

19. Learn how to make the famous jipi japa straw hats

I am sure you know the famous Panama hats, right? the one that is not made in Panaman but in Ecuador! I bed you didn’t know! Well there is also the Mexican version of it and it’s called jipi japa And the true original one is made in a small town of Santa Cruz in Campeche.

The art of making straw hats by hand has been transferred from generation to generation and they are still doing it the old way sitting in low chairs in caves. If you get there in the moring you may have the chance to see how they do it.

It’s on your way to Isla Arena so you can combine the two sites in one day.

How to get to Campeche

Now that you know all the reasons why you should visit Campeche let’s talk about how to get there.

Getting to Campeche by plane

There is an airport in Campeche but no international flights get there.

You will be able to connect in Mexico city though if you want to fly into Campeche.

Book your shuttle transfer from the airport to your hotel

Getting to Campeche by bus

You can get to Campeche by bus from Cancun, Merida, Tulum, Bacalar, and Chetumal among others, depending on your itinerary and where you are coming from.

Check on the ADO bus website for schedule and price. And you can also book your bus ticket online.

Getting to Campeche by car

Getting to Campeche by car is the best option if you have plenty of time on your hand and you love to explore.

You can book the car to be picked up at the airport where you are landing whether it’s in Cancun or Merida, and start your road trip itinerary from there.

I would just make sure you drop off the car in the same location where you pick it up in order to avoid high drop-off surcharges.

You could check car rental prices on Discover Cars platform where you can compare prices among different car rentals and find the best deals.

Discover Cars Mexico Review

Discover Cars is one of the most popular car rental for many reasons, among which:

✔︎ straight forward information ✔︎ full coverage add-on ✔︎ listing of different companies with reviews

The Best Mayan Sites to Visit in Campeche

Besides Edzna, situated only 1 hour from the city Campeche and the lesser known but very intriguing Xtampak there are many other incredible archeological sites in Campeche that are worth mentioning.

Since I have talked about them in another post I am just linking to the other page in case you want to learn more.

Keep in mind though that you will definitely need a car if you want to explore those places as they are located in remote areas that are not always well connected by local transportation.

I will also include the distance from Campeche for your convenience.

Balamku Archeological Site – 242 km / 150 miles Calakmul archeological site and Biosphere – 242 km / 150 miles Chicanna’ ruins – 288 km/ 178 miles Hormiguero – 318 km / 197 miles Xpuhil – 297 km / 184miles

Things to do in Campeche: final thoughts

As you can see there are so many interesting places to visit in Campeche even though it’s lesser talked about compared to other regions in the Yucatan Peninsula.

So make sure you keep it in your mind when you are planning your Yucatan intinerary, especially if you are coming during the day of the dead celebration.

Make sure you don’t miss a stop to Pomuch in that time of the year.

✨ Mexico Travel Planning Guide ✨

👉 do i need travel insurance to travel to mexico.

I would do it if I were you. You never know what can happen and know that no matter what, you will be covered with any expenses will give you peace of mind, and make your travel worry-free. You can check out SafetyWing which I have used and find it affordable and comprehensive and also Travel Insurance Master w hich is great because you can insert all your information and what kind of insurance you need and their system will pull out the best insurance for your need.

🚰 Can I Drink Tap Water in Mexico?

No, you can’t! Maybe in some areas or in some homes where they have installed water filters but to be on the safe side, I would say, never drink tap water in Mexico. Carry a water bottle with you and fill it up where you find available potable water sources. Most of the hotels have those.

🚗 Is It Safe to Drive in Mexico?

The short answer is: depending on where you are. Although in general if you stick to the main roads and don’t drive at night you should probably be safe. In lesser tourist areas you should probably check the local news to stay up to date. Driving in the Yucatan Peninsula is easy everywhere, even at night, although I would still avoid it. I recommend Discover Cars because the site offers the option to compare prices among different car rentals and you can add their own full coverage.

Read more on my guide on Renting a car in Mexico .

📱 Will My Phone Work in Mexico?

It will probably work, especially if you have a European or US phone, but your roaming rates may be to the stars (check with your SIM provider). Even if have an affordable international rate, you will be much better off by buying a Mexican SIM Card . It’s cheap, easy to set up, and it will keep you connected with your friends, family, and, more important, google Maps so you will never get lost!

🤕 Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico Right Now?

The short answer is, yes it is. However, there are parts of Mexico that are indeed troubled and you should avoid for now, and others that are super safe and easy to travel around.

Regardless of where you are you should always use some common sense rules such as, never flaunting expensive clothing, accessories, electronics, or money and keeping a low profile.

Read more on my detailed guide on safety in Mexico . If you are traveling to a specific destination I have got you covered as well:

• Is Cancun Safe?
• Is Tulum Safe?
• Is Puerto Vallarta safe?

💉 Do I Need Any Vaccine to Travel to Mexico?

No, there is no vaccine requirement (of any kind) to travel to Mexico

🇲🇽 Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Mexico?

If you are coming from the US or Europe you don’t need a VISA to enter Mexico. Once you get in you need to fill out a form that you need to keep with you until you leave. If you don’t have it you will pay a fine. Although the tourist visa for US and European travelers used to be 6 months long which you could easily renew by leaving the country for a couple of days and going back, nowadays they have been stricter. You may be asked how you would sustain your living and other similar questions. Sometimes they even ask you to show your credit cards. It seems odd but they can do that. If you intend to stay longer than a usual couple of weeks’ vacation time, just be honest and explain your plans. If you are not from the US, check this site to see if you need a visa

💸 Where Do I Find the Best Travel Deals for Mexico? 💸

A trip to Mexico can be expensive if you love to travel with all the comforts (like I do). There are a few tricks that will help you find the best deals. Here are my tips:

👉 DON’T travel in the high season, which is Holy week, Christmas and winter in general, and August. 👉 Book months in advance to find early booking discounts 👉 Use aggregators such as Discover Cars to find price comparisons and VRBO for vacation rentals! 👉 Look for packages flights+hotels on Expedia . 👉 Check on Booking.com or Hotels.com for hotel deals

Happy travels!!

Isabella is traveler and animal lover, a former tourism professional with an multinational background that lead her to Mexico, that she can proudly call home. After seven years in Cancun where she's still a resident, she took a bold leap, leaving her fancy job to embrace a nomadic lifestyle. She traveled all over Mexico, from Baja California to Ciudad Juarez, Oaxaca, Chiapas Hidalgo exploring and living like a local. Isabella founded Let's Travel to Mexico to help travelers plan their own trip on and off the beaten path in this beautiful land that she loves so dearly.

22 Awesome Things To Do In Campeche In 2023 (With Videos)

So you are thinking of visiting Mexico’s Rainbow City?  You’ll be happy to know that Campeche was one of the most memorable stops during our 70-day adventure throughout the Yucatan Peninsula! There are so many fantastic things to do in Campeche and the surrounding area that you will be sure to have a great time in this colorful and friendly city.

Campeche was the first of the Yucatan Peninsula’s famous colonial cities that we visited. And we have to say that we fell in love. We spent over two weeks discovering the wonderful attractions in this off-the-radar destination. We learned that Campeche is much more than the colorful UNESCO World Heritage downtown for which the city is famous. It is also the perfect base to experience all things Yucatecan – from gorgeous colonial buildings to epic Mayan ruins and beautiful cenotes!

This post will fill you in on all the unmissable things to do in Campeche.  From essential stops inside the beautiful city center to off-the-beaten-path day trips, we share everything you need to start your adventure in one of the region’s best destinations.

What Is Campeche Best Known For?

Is campeche safe for tourists, how many days do you need in campeche, how to get to campeche, the 22 best things to do in campeche, mexico.

• 1. Wander Through The Colorful Streets Of Campeche's Old City
• 2. Watch Life Pass By At Campeche's Independence Square
• 3. Get A Glimpse Of Campeche's Opulent Past At Centro Cultural Casa No. 6

4. Enter The Beautiful Santa Iglesia Cathedral

• 5. Climb On Top Of Campeche's Fortified Walls
• 6. Go On A Walking Tour To Learn All About Campeche's Amazing History

7. Learn About Campeches Pirate-Infested History At The Palace Museum

• 8. Take A Break From Walking And Ride Campeche's Trolly (Tranvia)
• 9. Grab A Cold Beer At Campeche's Best Cantina

10. Keep The Party Going On Calle 59 (59th Street)

11. shop for artisanal products & traditional clothing at casa tukulna, 12. try some traditional campechano foods, 13. try unique ice creams at la brocha (but avoid the cheese ice cream).

• 14. Enjoy Sunset From Campeche's Beautiful Malecon
• 15. Join Fellow Travellers At The Malecon's Nightly Laser Show

16. Visit Fort San Miguel For Beautiful Views & Mayan History

• 17. Explore Campeche's Frenetic Local Market

18. Explore The Incredible Mayan City Of Edzna

19. make the trip to calakmul: the most epic mayan city in mexico, 20. discover the stunning miguel colorado eco-park, 21. see how locals craft panama hats in caves in the town of becal, 22. relax on the beaches of isla aguada, where to stay in campeche, final thoughts: is campeche worth visiting.

Estimated reading time: 28 minutes

*Note: this post contains affiliate links. We receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from these links . Thanks in advance for supporting WOTW!

No Time To Discover The Best Things To Do In Campeche? Pin It For Later!

What To Know About Campeche, Mexico Before Visiting

San Francisco de Campeche , or simply Campeche, is famous for its beautiful city center. The colorful colonial buildings are responsible for its perfect nickname – the Rainbow City. Designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, Campeche is also known for the walled fortress surrounding the historic center and its pirate-infested history.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that Campeche is just a cute colonial town. It is also the capital of the state of Campeche, and those that go beyond the touristic center will discover a city filled with authentic local life.

Add to that the surrounding area filled with epic day trip opportunities, and you have a perfect place to get away from the Yucatan Peninsula’s more developed destinations. Campeche is still being overlooked as a tourist destination, so visit before the word gets out!

Can’t Wait To Check Out What To Do In Campeche, Mexico? Just Click Play!

The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the safest regions in all of Mexico, and Campeche is definitely no exception. We asked our walking-tour guide about safety in Campeche – he literally told us that we could be out at 2 am dancing in the middle of the street with all of our camera gear and nothing would happen to us.

While we didn’t test his theory, we definitely got the vibe that Campeche is a relaxed and extremely safe seaside town. You don’t need to take any extra precautions when visiting Campeche.

3 or 4 full days is a good amount of time to see Campeche’s most important sites . This also gives you the flexibility to go on a couple of day trips to beautiful Mayan ruins or nearby beaches.

3 days may not seem like a lot of time, but many of the best things to do in Campeche are easy to explore on the same day. Especially the attractions in the old city.

Getting to Campeche by bus:

Honestly speaking, Campeche isn’t the most convenient place to get to. It is located on the opposite side of the peninsula from many of the Yucatan’s more popular destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

That said, making the track to Campeche is a doable and worthwhile adventure.

• Merida to Campeche : 4.5 hours
• Cancun to Campeche : 8.5 hours
• Playa del Carmen to Campeche : 8 hours

Getting to Campeche by plane:

The closest international airport to Campeche is located in Merida, though you will find it more difficult to find convenient flights to Merida than to the region’s largest airport – Cancun International Airport.

This post is organized into the following sections to help you easily plan your Campeche itinerary:

Best Things To Do In Campeche’s Historic Center

What to do in campeche outside the city walls.

• Perfect Day Trips From Campeche

1. Wander Through The Colorful Streets Of Campeche’s Old City

• Price : free!
• Hours : you can access the historic center 24 hours day, but it has the most energy after 5 pm.
• Time needed : 1 – 2 hours.
• WOTW rating : 5/5

Inside the walled fortress is Campeche’s pastel-colored historic center . The old city is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which helps fund the maintenance of Campeche’s beautiful colonial buildings. The UNESCO designation also ensures that no two buildings next to each other are the same color. Because that just wouldn’t be ‘rainbowy’ enough.

The colonial vibes in Campeche are strong! So wandering around the colorful streets while admiring the historic buildings is one of the essential things to do in Campeche . Beautiful churches and cathedrals dot the old city, and colorful colonial homes make everything unbelievably photogenic. We promise you won’t be able to resist taking your camera out to capture all the picture-perfect buildings!

• Location : Puerta de Mar & Puerta de Tierra are the main entrances to Campeche’s old city.

WOTW Tip : Calle 59 (59th Street) has arguably the most impressive and well-maintained colonial buildings in Campeche’s old city.

Curious about the other colorful cities in Mexico? Read these posts next:

• Merida : 25 Of The Best Things To Do In Merida, Mexico (With Videos)
• Valladolid : 23 Magical Things To Do In Valladolid (With Video)
• Oaxaca City : 35 Things Nobody Tells You About Oaxaca City, Mexico
• Colonial Cities : Discover If Valladolid, Merida or Campeche Is Right For You (With Videos)

2. Watch Life Pass By At Campeche’s Independence Square

• Price : free to visit!
• Hours : open 34 hours, but more active in the late afternoons.
• Time needed : 30 – 60 minutes.
• WOTW rating : 3.5/5

As far as central squares go, Independence Square (Plaza de la Independencia) isn’t the most vibrant. But it is still a great base to start exploring some of Campeche’s most important attractions. It is also a relaxed spot to sit back and watch life pass by for a little while.

Like all good central squares in Mexico, Independence Square is lined with cozy park benches . We recommend grabbing a seat to admire the plaza’s historic surroundings and watch the children chasing pigeons. Keep your eyes peeled for the ‘marquesita’ cart so you can munch on one of the Yucatan’s favorite street foods while soaking up the vibes.

Once you are done relaxing in Independence Square, head over to the next place on this list of things to do in Campeche – Centro Cultural Casa No. 6.

• Location : Independence Square, Campeche, Mexico.

3. Get A Glimpse Of Campeche’s Opulent Past At Centro Cultural Casa No. 6

• Price : 20 MXP ($1 US).
• Hours : 9 am – 8:30 pm.
• Time needed : 30 minutes.
• WOTW rating : 4/5

Facing Plaza de la Independencia is Centro Cultural Casa No. 6 , a restored mansion from Campeche’s glory days. Enter this beautiful old home to go back in time and see how Campeche’s elites lived during the city’s glory years.

This gorgeous mansion features a beautiful courtyard with the obligatory fountain , colonial-era furniture and artwork. You can also see what the kitchens would have looked like in the 18th century and how they used different native plants to make their cookware. Cool!

Just a heads up, following local traditions, family members that resided in the house were buried in the garden next to the kitchen. Maybe the house is haunted!?

• Location : Centro Cultural Casa No. 6, Campeche, Mexico

WOTW Tip : ask for the guided tour or stop by on this highly-rated walking tour of Campeche to get the most out of your experience.

• Price : free.
• Hours : 7 am – 9 pm.
• Time needed : 15 minutes.

The most iconic building in Campeche’s old city is the beautiful cathedral . This old cathedral is officially known as Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción Santa Iglesia Catedral. What a mouth full! We’ll just call her Santa Iglesia – which translates to St. Church. Perfect…

Santa Iglesia technically does not fit the definition of a cathedral. It’s too small and doesn’t have the cross-shaped floor plan typical of cathedrals. Nevertheless, it is still a great spot to pop in to appreciate the elegant decorations. Also, make sure to pass by at night to admire it when fully illuminated.

• Location : Santa Iglesia Cathedral, Campeche, Mexico.

Want exclusive behind the scenes stories from the road? Sign Up To Receive Our Weekly Email!

5. Climb On Top Of Campeche’s Fortified Walls

• Price : 15 MXP ($0.75 US).
• Hours : 9 am – 9 pm.

The Spanish colonial city of Campeche was under attack from pirates for centuries! Eventually they convinced the motherland (Spain) to construct a fortress around the city to protect it from the constant threat from these rotten scoundrels. Ironically, the construction of the beautiful fort coincided with the end of the golden age of piracy.

But while the fortress was never valuable for deterring pirates , it is still a great place to walk around while visiting Campeche. You have views of the historic center from the top of the city walls. No visit to the Rainbow City is complete without climbing these walls, so make sure to check it out when you are in Campeche!

• Location : there’s someone selling tickets to climb the old fortress walls at Puerta de Tierra.

WOTW Tip #1 : try not to visit during the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak. It gets so hot in Campeche, and there is little relief from the sun on top of the city walls. WOTW Tip #2 : don’t forget to ring the bell! It’s totally fine to ring the bell to announce that you have conquered the city. Or to announce to the attendant that you are ready to leave.

You may also be interested in…

• Yucatan Peninsula: 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Visiting The Yucatan
• Cozumel : Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Cozumel (With Videos)
• Bacalar : 21 Epic Things To Do In Bacalar: The Costa Maya’s Magical City (With Videos)
• Isla Holbox : 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Isla Holbox (Why We Didn’t Like It)

6. Go On A Walking Tour To Learn All About Campeche’s Amazing History

• Price : $20 US.
• Hours : 6 pm – 8 pm.
• Time needed : 2 hours.

Overwhelmed by all of the historical sights in Campeche’s old city? Consider taking a guided tour through the historic downtown!

We had a wonderful time exploring Campeche on the guided walking tour. The guide is friendly and well-informed, and they can help you explore a number of the most important things to do in Campeche while also giving historical context along the way. It’s a total win!

• Location : Santa Iglesia Cathedral is the meeting point.

• Hours : 10 am – 5 pm; closed Mondays.
• Time needed : 1 hour.

I don’t know about you, but there’s something about pirates that fascinate me. If you can’t get enough of these dastardly criminals of the high seas, then definitely add Museo El Palacio (Palace Museum) to your Campeche itinerary.

This museum goes into how piracy and colonialism shaped Campeche’s history. The exhibits feature old pirate weapons, replicas of their ships, and beautiful artwork. And like many of the best things to do in Campeche, visiting this awesome museum is totally free! And it is air-conditioned. #bonuspoints

• Location : Museo El Palacio, Campeche, Mexico.

8. Take A Break From Walking And Ride Campeche’s Trolly (Tranvia)

• Price : 100 mxp ($5 US).
• Hours : 12 – 7 pm.
• Time needed : 60 minutes.

Wondering what to do in Campeche to escape the heat? Hop on the trolly bus to explore the city with the breeze blowing through your hair! We think these bus tours are underrated ways to see the city and learn a bit of history.

Campeche’s tranvia (trolly) gets you off your feet for a while as you cruise through parts of the city you may have missed otherwise. The 60-minute excursion takes you along the ‘malecon’ (waterfront promenade) and the Santa Ana neighborhood. It also stops in front of the famous Iglesia San Roman (St. Roman Church). This church is home to a rare Italian crucifix featuring a black Jesus.

• Location : Campeche Trolly (Tranvia Campeche).

WOTW Tip : the information provided during the tour is in both English and Spanish, but it’s pretty difficult to hear with the sounds of the road and people talking. Your best bet is to enjoy the views and invent your own pirate history! ‘Look! That was Blackbeard’s favorite taco joint!’

9. Grab A Cold Beer At Campeche’s Best Cantina

• Price : local beers are about $1.50 US.
• Hours : 11 am – 9 pm; best time to be there for live music is between 3 – 5 pm.
• Time needed : up to you. The more you drink the better the free snacks get 🙂

We have a soft spot for Mexico’s cantinas. Something about the no-frills charm and traditional music made us feel like we were immersing ourselves in an authentic part of a foreign culture. Conveniently for us, this aspect of Mexican culture involves ice cold beers and ‘free’ bar snacks!

Salon Rincon Colonial was one of our favorite cantinas in the Yucatan Peninsula! Go to cool down after checking out the historic center and enjoy the ‘botanas’ (free bar snacks) that come with every order. Level up your experience by asking the singers to serenade you with their favorite mariachi classics!

• Location : Salon Rincon Colonial, Campeche, Mexico.

• Price : drink prices vary.
• Hours : the outdoor seating starts to fill up after sundown; some places stay open until 3 am!
• Time needed : your call drunky pants!

One of the best things to do in Campeche is to enjoy the festive atmosphere on Calle 59. This street is lined with bars and restaurants, so you can easily find a place to enjoy a night out. Whether you’re looking for a place to dance the night away or just relax with a few drinks, Calle 59 is the perfect spot to wind down after a day of exploring the city’s historical sites!

• Location : Calle 59, Zona Centro Campeche.

• Price : vary.
• Hours : 9 am – 8 pm.

Casa Tukulna is one of the prettiest shops we visited in the Peninsula. The shop showcases beautiful handicrafts, colorful hammocks, handmade Panama hats, traditional clothing, and more. The items are super high-quality and therefore more expensive than you might find in the local market.

Beware, this shop is very charming. Don’t blame us if you end up buying more than you came in for!

• Location : Casa de Artesanias Tukulna, Campeche, Mexico.

• Hours : 7 pm – 12 am; many restaurants are closed Mondays.

One of the best places to try regional Yucatecan food is Los Portales de San Francisco. Relax in the large outdoor seating area while relaxing with live music and the refreshing ocean breeze. Be sure to try some local favorites like panuchos or meriendas!

• Location : Los Portales De San Francisco, Campeche, Mexico.

WOTW Tip : head to Marganazo Restaurant inside the city walls to try ‘queso de bola.’ This stuffed cheese dish is one of Campeche’s most iconic foods!

Save This Things To Do In Campeche, Mexico Post For Later!

• Price : $2.75 per cone.
• Hours : 12 pm – 11pm; closed Mondays.
• Time needed : N/A
• WOTW rating : 1.5/5 for the cheese ice cream.

La Brocha is somewhat of an institution in Campeche. They are known for their unique ice cream flavors, most notably ‘queso de bola.’ This cheese-flavored ice cream has actual bits of Dutch cheese in it. WHY???

I was hoping that the cheese ice cream would somehow be surprisingly delicious. But it tasted aggressively like cheese. But even if the cheese ice cream at La Brocha wasn’t the greatest, the other flavors are!

• Location : La Brocha Helados, Campeche, Mexico.

14. Enjoy Sunset From Campeche’s Beautiful Malecon

• Hours : check for sunset times.

The malecon – or waterfront promenade – is an essential aspect of coastal towns throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. The best time to enjoy this comfortable spot is during one of the city’s beautiful sunsets. Trust us, you don’t want to forget to add this to your list of things to do in Campeche.

The malecon comes to life around sunset time. Walk around to admire the beautiful monuments as you watch the sun melt into the Gulf of Mexico. Upgrade your experience by stopping by La Brocha to grab an ice cream before heading to the waterfront. Because ice cream makes everything better!

• Location : Malecon, Campeche, Mexico.

15. Join Fellow Travellers At The Malecon’s Nightly Laser Show

• Hours : the light show happens everyday around 8 pm.
• WOTW rating : 3/5

An excellent way to compliment your nighttime stroll on Campeche’s malecon is to check out the nightly light show . To be sure, this isn’t one of the most epic things to do in Campeche, but the displays of lasers and choreographed fountains are nicely done. If you aren’t sure what to do in Campeche at night, why not stop by the light show?

• Location : Fountain Show On The Malecon, Campeche, Mexico.

• Price : 60 MXP ($3 US).
• Hours : 8 am – 5 pm; closed Mondays.

Like many things in the Yucatan Peninsula, the Campeche Archeological museum showcases the region’s Mayan and Spanish influences . Climb to the top of San Miguel Fort to see sweeping views of Campeche and the Gulf of Mexico.

Once you are done trying to spot pirates from the fort, you can enter the museum to find exhibits featuring Mayan art and other items. Many of the artifacts were brought from Calakmul, the most important Mayan city in what is now the Yucatan Peninsula. Highlights include jade funeral masks and well-preserved statues of Mayan gods.

• Location : Fort San Miguel & Campeche Archeological Museum .

17. Explore Campeche’s Frenetic Local Market

• Price : free to explore.
• Hours : 6 am – 8 pm.

Campeche’s local market is the first we visited that wasn’t geared to tourists. And we mean that in the best way possible! Mercado Campeche has everything you could ever want from a local Mexican market. Get lost to find local food stands selling Campeche’s favorite ‘trancas’ (large sandwiches), colorful produce and rows of fresh meats.

While it is not as massive as the market we explored while visiting Merida, Mercado Campeche is still beautiful chaos. Visit in the morning when Campechanos head there for breakfast to get the fully energized experience.

• Location : Mercado Campeche, Santa Ana, Campeche.

Epic Day Trips From Campeche, Mexico

• Price : 80 MXP ($4 US); 500 MXP for the guided tour ($25 US).
• Hours : 8 am – 5 pm.
• Time needed : 2 – 3 hours (+ 45 minute drive, each way).

We freaking loved Edzna! It is easily one of our favorite Mayan cities that we visited during our trip. And it’s not because it’s more affordable and less busy than many other Mayan ruins (though those factors definitely contribute our feelings).

The real reason why we love Edzna is that it is amazing! You can understand the incredible ingenuity of the ancient Mayans by witnessing the astonishing acoustics between the main temple and the giant courtyard. See intricate carvings of the sun god, and climb the beautiful structures around the temple for unforgettable views across the ancient city. We think Edzna is a must-visit when coming to Campeche!

• Location : Edzna Archeological Zone, Yucatan, Mexico.

WOTW Tip : the best way to get to Edzna is with the colectivo bus. You’ll have to wait until the bus fills up before it leaves, but it is a convenient and very affordable option for getting to Edzna.

Visiting Edzna Is One Of The Best Things To Do In Campeche! Click To See Why!

• Price : 200 MXP ($10 US); 700 MXP for a guided tour ($35).
• Time needed : 12 – 14 hours (includes 4.5 hour drive, each way)!
• WOTW rating : N/A

The city of Calakmul was one of the largest and most important in the history of the ancient Mayas. It is a jewel of the Yucatan’s famous Mayan ruins. But there’s a catch. Calakmul is located in the middle of the Yucatan jungle!

Calakmul is a 4.5 hour drive from Campeche. Check out this guided tour from Campeche if you want to sleep on the bus instead of renting a car and figuring it out for yourself. The price includes transport, admission, and a guided tour.

You may not find a better time to explore Calakmul than when you are visiting Campeche. While the more relaxed option would be to spend a night in Xpujil, it is entirely possible to make the trip to Calakmul from Campeche.

• Location : Calakmul Archeological Site, Yucatan, Mexico.

• Price : 300 MXP ($15 US).
• Time needed : 2 – 4 hours (+ 1.5 hour drive, each way).

Want to take a day trip into the Yucatecan jungle to see families of howler monkeys and zipline 300 feet over a cenote? Of course you do! I’m pretty sure I completely blacked out during the ziplining – which you can admire in the video below. Good times!

Miguel Colorado was one of the most memorable experiences from our 70-day adventure throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Beyond ziplining, the eco-park also includes kayaking in an open cenote and a jungle hike in the ticket price.

Do you love cenotes? Us too! Check out our post about 15 perfect (and swimmable) cenotes near Merida!

It felt like we had discovered a little piece of paradise that nobody else knew about. We were among only a handful of people at the entire park and swam and kayaked in a cenote that we had all to ourselves. Visiting Miguel Colorado is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Campeche!

• Location : Miguel Colorado Eco Park, Campeche, Mexico.

WOTW Tip : while there apparently is a small restaurant at the eco-park, it is only open when it gets busy (in the weekends). Bring some snacks and plenty of water, especially if you are visiting during the week.

Epic Day Trip From Campeche To Miguel Colorado!

• Price : the hats can range in price from $30 – $300 US, depending on the quality of the fiber.
• Time needed : 1 – 3 hours (+ 1.5 hour drive, each way).

Yes, you read that headline correctly. The town of Becal is famous for making some of the world’s best Panama hats, and they make them inside of caves! The climate inside the caves makes the fibers more elastic and easier to work with.

If you are looking for things to do in Campeche that are beyond the obvious, then taking the 75-minute drive from Campeche to Becal might be exactly what you are looking for!

• Location : Becal, Campeche, Mexico.

• Time needed : 1.5 hour drive from Campeche.

Exploring the Gulf of Mexico’s virgin beaches is one of the best things to do in Campeche. While Playa Bonita near Campeche is suitable if you just want a convenient beach outing, the beaches farther south will reward you with their less commercial appeal.

Do you love a good beach? Are you visiting Cozumel during your trip to the Yucatan? If you answered yes to both questions, then you have won the opportunity to learn about the best beaches in Cozumel!

You can also take a boat trip through the lagoon to spot dolphins and various species of seabirds . Who doesn’t love a good seabird!?

The town of Isla Aguada is also one of Mexico’s ‘Pueblos Magicos,’ and it is famous for its 100-year-old lighthouse and friendly locals!

• Location : Isla Aguada, Campeche, Mexico.

You shouldn’t be surprised that this beautiful colonial city has an abundance of incredible places to stay. Pick your favorite colonial hotel from the highest-rated accommodations below to upgrade your trip to Campeche!

Campeche’s Luxurious High-End Hotels:

• Hacienda Puerta Campeche (A Marriott Property): Known as Campeche’s most luxurious hotel, this beautiful property is a restored 17th-century mansion and features a pool built across 3 houses that has to be seen to be believed!
• Hotel Boutique Casa Don Gustavo: exceptionally designed boutique hotel with original artwork and furniture. The elegant colonial building is in the middle of Campeche’s historic center.

Beautiful Mid-range Hotels In Campeche, Mexico:

• Casa de Zari B&B: charming colonial-style hotel located a short walk from Campeche’s center.
• Hotel Plaza Colonial: beautiful colonial hotel located right in the center of the old city. The property features colorful rooms and a swimming pool.

Best Lodging Options In Campeche For Budget Travelers:

• Hotel Malecon: comfortable hotel located slightly outside of the center. The hotel has a pool and relaxing garden.
• Hotel Edzna: a cozy and affordable hotel with tons of character.

WOTW Note : we travel long-term, so we look for places with a kitchen and space to work. This helps us save money while we are on the road. Take a look at our Airbnb in Campeche, Mexico! It wasn’t luxurious, but it was spacious, comfortable and conveniently located.

With its beautiful colonial architecture and charming atmosphere, Campeche is definitely worth visiting. In fact, we give our Campeche experience a million stars.

The people in this wonderful city are amazing, it has a nice relaxed vibe, and there are so many incredible things to do in Campeche! There aren’t many better places to experience a picture-perfect colonial city, epic Mayan ruins and off-the-beaten-path adventures.

So whether you’re looking for culture, history, or adventure, Campeche has it all. We hope you love the Rainbow City as much as we did!

Thanks for reading!

Have any questions about things to do in Campeche? Which one of these activities are you most excited to experience? Reach out in the comments or DM us on Instagram!

Discover more of beautiful Mexico here:

• Cozumel Beaches : Discover 15 Perfect Cozumel Beaches For You To Visit (With Video)
• Guadalajara : 33 Things To Know Before Visiting Guadalajara, Mexico
• Punta Allen : How To Visit Punta Allen: The Riviera Maya’s Hidden Gem (With Video)
• Yucatan Foods : 40 Of The Best Yucatecan Foods & Drinks To Try (With Videos)

Tired of reading? We have a full Yucatan Peninsula travel series on YouTube! Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there to follow along with the adventures 🙂

Ready To Book? Please Consider Using Our Links!

These are the tools we use to book everything for our trips! We earn a small commission when you purchase something using these links, at no extra charge for you. These commissions help us stay on the road and sharing content we hope you find useful!

• Find your perfect hotel : Booking.com
• Where we book our favorite apartments : Airbnb
• Book unforgettable tours : Viator & Airbnb Experiences
• Search for the cheapest flights : Skyscanner
• Find the rental car for your road trip : Expedia

Was This Things To Do In Campeche, Mexico Post Helpful? Share it on Pinterest!

* Note : this post contains affiliate links. We receive a small commission w hen you purchase from these links, at no extra charge to you . Affiliate income helps keep us on the road creating content that we hope is useful to you!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

15 BEST Things to Do in Campeche, Mexico

by Julie | Oct 5, 2021 | Mexico , Travel

The UNESCO-listed city of Campeche is probably the most underrated destination in all of Mexico. Not many travelers make it to this colorful and historically rich city. That’s too bad because it has a lot to offer visitors. It’s got pirates, ancient Maya ruins, jade masks, old fortresses, buildings the color of Easter eggs, killer sunsets, and the best tacos in Mexico.

Plus! It’s not very crowded.

What more could you ask for in a destination?

In this blog post, I’m going to share with you 15 of the best things to do in Campeche. The list is ideal for those who love history, culture, food, beautiful architecture, and a bit of adventure.

You’ll also find loads of practical tips on getting around Campeche

Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate and a Bookshop.org Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Please see this website’s  Disclosure  for more info.

Table of Contents

• how to get to Campeche
• what to do in Campeche
• where to stay
• when to visit
• Is Campeche safe for solo travelers
• where to find ATMs

How to get to Campeche

From merida to campeche.

To get to Campeche from Merida , you can take an ADO first-class bus for around MXN$250 (US$12) . The trip takes 2.5 hours . I felt perfectly safe on the bus.

Another option is to take a second-class bus that is much slower .

The ADO Bus Station in Campeche is located outside of the walled city, so you need to take a taxi to get from there to the old city. The taxi cost me MXN$40 (from hotel to station) and MXN$50 (from station to hotel) .

For a bus schedule to Campeche, check the ADO website .

From Palenque to Campeche

Another common route people take is the one between Campeche and Palenque .

Before I took the bus, someone told me that this bus route wasn’t safe . I even read on the TripAdvisor forum about a robbery on a night bus between Palenque and Campeche .

I took the bus to Palenque from Campeche during the daytime.

It took only 5 hours , and the ride was pretty comfortable. I also felt completely safe .

For a bus schedule, check the ADO website .

PRO TIP: No one likes to think about insurance, but accidents do happen. I highly recommend getting travel insurance. During my travels over the past 2 years, I’ve been using SafetyWing for my insurance. They’re very affordable for all ages, and digital nomads can use their insurance long-term.

15 Things to do in Campeche

Now let’s take a look at all the things to do in Campeche. There are loads of things to do both inside the city walls as well as outside. You’ll also find loads of day trips to take to places outside the city.

1. Wander around the historic center

I’m a sucker for taking pics of colorful buildings and beautiful architecture, so in my opinion, the number one thing to do in Campeche is to get your camera out and wander around the historic center snapping photos of its many blue doors, yellow churches, and pink houses.

The best time to get that awesome photo is at dusk when the light has softened or in the middle of the day when the shadows are not hiding the pinks, blues, and greens of the city’s buildings.

My favorite street to wander down is Calle 59, a pedestrian-only street . It’s lined with lots of good places to eat.

However, just about every street in the historic center will delight photographers and architecture lovers.

For those who love architecture, make sure to visit the building that housed the former Hotel Cuauhtémoc on Calle 57 . You can just walk in and wander the halls of this old gem of a building. There’s a unique view of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception from the second floor that should not be missed.

Campeche also has some gorgeous bright yellow churches that you’ll want to discover. You’ll want to check out the church on the corner of Calle 59 and Calle 12 called El Claustro (photo above).

Check out the Ex Templo de San Jose , a former Jesuit monastery that’s been turned into an artisanal market.

2. Visit the Gates and Walls of Campeche

• OPEN: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• COST: MXN$15 to visit the Puerta de Tierra and Baluarte de San Francisco; free to visit other gates and walls
• LOCATION: Google Maps

Campeche used to have a pirate problem back in the 1600s and 1700s. To remedy it, the city built fortifications around itself (1680-1710). Lucky for us travelers, the walls and forts still stand. One of the best things to do in Campeche is to walk along the ramparts for some great views of the old city below.

There are two gates to the historic center: Puerta de Tierra (Gate of the Land) and Puerta de Mar (Gate of the Sea). Both gates are located at opposite ends of Calle 59, the main pedestrian street.

Start by visiting the Puerta de Tierra (Gate of the Land) , which is the gate facing the land side of Campeche. You’ll pay MXN$15 to see a canon from colonial times, visit a room with a lame exhibition on pirates (all in Spanish), and most importantly, go up on the city walls and walk along the ramparts of the Baluarte de San Francisco (The Fort of San Francisco) .

You get to walk pretty far along the ramparts and get some nice views over the historic center and over the Mercado.

When you want to get down from the wall, you need to ring a bell for someone to open the door to let you out.

Later in the day when you’re on the opposite end of Calle 59, you can visit the Gate of the Sea (Puerta de Mar) , which is the gate facing the ocean. Originally, the beach a few feet outside this gate, but through land reclamation projects, the shore was pushed back a few blocks.

It doesn’t cost anything to go through the Gate of the Sea. Basically, it’s just the way to exit and enter the city on your way to the promenade (Malecon)—the path along the ocean.

There is a wall along the ocean side of the historic center. You can access the top of the wall from the Museo de Arquitectura Maya . It’s free, maybe because you can’t really walk very far along the wall like you can at the Baluarte de San Francisco. But there are some nice views of the historic center (above photo).

There are other pieces of the wall around the city like Baluarte de Santa Rosa and Baluarte de San Carlos , but they were closed when I was there. Well, Santa Rosa was closed but someone had left the door open, and I snuck in and they let me go to the top for a short visit. It’s nice but not worth going out of your way to see.

How to get to the Gates and Walls:

If you’re staying within the old city walls, just use your two feet to get to them. They’re at both ends of Calle 59.

Tourist Information Center – Campeche is one of the few cities I’ve visited in Mexico with a tourist information center. The people who work there were friendly and helpful and spoke pretty good English. Pick up a free and very nice city map. They’re located next to the Puerta del Mar (Gate of the Sea). Their hours are a bit funky. Sometimes they’re closed at times when you would think they’d be open. 

3. Learn about the Maya at the Museo de Arquitectura Maya

• OPEN: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Tu – Su)
• COST: MXN$40 (US$2)

The Museo de Arquitectura Maya is a pure gem ! Located right inside the wall near Independence Plaza (Baluarte de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad), the museum houses an amazing collection of Maya artifacts from the Campeche ruins of Edzna, Becan, Xcalumkan, Santa Rosa Xtampak, and the mighty kingdom of Calakmul. The highlight of the museum is a stunning jade funerary mask from Structure VII at Calakmul.

Along with the mask are three rooms full of stelae and other artifacts. Luckily, for English speakers, there are detailed explanations in English of what is carved on the stela. They’ll point out things that non-archaeologists would first miss on the stela like the prisoners bound for sacrifice, snakes, human skulls, and many other symbols of Maya culture.

In my opinion, this museum is way better than the Maya section at the famous anthropology museum in Mexico City . This one in Campeche has English explanations for every artifact, while the one in Mexico City does not translate the description of the artifacts, so if you don’t speak English, you don’t know what you’re looking at. I learned way more about the Maya here than anywhere else in Mexico.

How to Get to the Museo de Arquitectura Maya

It’s easy! The museum is stuffed inside the city walls (Baluarte de a Soledad). It’s kitty-corner to the main square and if you’re facing the ocean, it’s to the right of the Puerta de Mar. You can easily walk to it.

4. Visit Plaza de La Independencia and Catedral de la Immaculada Concepcion

• OPEN: 24 hours

Campeche, like all Mexican cities, has a central plaza lined with colonial buildings and a grand cathedral. Campeche’s main square is called Plaza de la Independencia or Parque Principal.

The park has got a gazebo in the center that’s been turned into a restaurant. You can find benches around the park where you can sit and have your lunch or just take a rest. There are a few vendors selling street food as well. This is also where you can catch the trolley for the city tour and where you can watch the sound-and-light show on Sundays at 8:00 pm .

Along the plaza are beautiful buildings from the colonial era. There are a few places that have been turned into museums: Centro Cultural Casa No 6 and Museo el Palacio. You’ll also find the Catedral de la Immaculada Concepcion here as well. Come in the evening to see the cathedral all lit up.

5. Watch the sound-and-light show in the Central Plaza

• START: 8:00 PM (Su)

Every Sunday at 8:00 in the evening, people gather in Plaza de la Independencia (Parque Principal) to watch a colorful sound-and-light show projected on the façade of Museo de Palacio telling the history of Campeche.

Although the spectacle is only in Spanish, it’s still fun to watch the exterior of the buildings transform themselves into a dazzling display of colors and images of the Maya and their ancient pyramids, Spanish conquistadors, and their ships and forts, and Catholic friars and their churches and convents. And it’s free!

5. Visit Centro Cultural Casa No 6

• OPEN: 9:00 – 4:00 PM
• COST: MXN$20 (US$1)

Centro Cultural Casa No 6 was the former home of some wealthy Campechan merchants. It is now a living museum that attempts to show you how people lived long ago. There’s a pretty courtyard along with three rooms that have been stuffed with some old furniture: a bedroom, living room, and kitchen.

The rooms and furniture didn’t quite gel with me. It didn’t feel like this was the original setup of the home. It’s like three rooms were chosen and some old furniture was arranged in the rooms but it didn’t seem like this was how the home would have been organized long ago. If you’ve been to the Quinta Montes Molina Mansion in Merida , Centro Cultural Casa No 6 pales in comparison.

6. Museo El Palacio (City Museum of Campeche)

• Open: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: Google Maps

Another place to only visit if you’ve got a lot of time to kill and if you really need to go somewhere with air conditioning is Museo El Palacio, a fancy name for the City Museum of Campeche. Here you can learn a bit about the history of Campeche.

Basically, the museum is filled with cardboard cutouts of the conquistadors who first settled in Campeche with explanations in Spanish and little miniature replicas of the city and forts of Campeche. There are not many explanations in English on the history of the city. The only actual artifact that you can see is a display of some old weapons. I love to learn about a city’s history, but this museum was rather disappointing.  I recommend taking the trolley tour for a better introduction to the city’s history .

7. Xmuch’haltun Botanical Gardens

• OPEN: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• COST: 15 pesos

Surrounded by the old city walls is a tiny botanical garden called Xmuch’haltun Botanical Gardens. I think I spent a total of 5 minutes here. There are a couple of interesting trees, but the place is very small and there must have been around 1,000 mosquitoes per capita in the tiny space . If you absolutely love gardens and horticulture and have nothing and I mean nothing to do, then go for it. If not, I’d skip it.

How to get to the Botanical Garden:

How to Get to the Botanical Gardens:

It’s within the city walls about two and a half blocks from the Parque Principal. You can easily get to it by foot.

8. Try some of Campeche’s best restaurants

Probably one of the top three things to do in Campeche is to eat. Campeche’s cuisine is similar to the Yucatan’s . You’ll find cochinita pibil and panuchos on a lot of menus. But there are a few special dishes from Campeche that you should try such as pan de cazon made of shark, beans, and tortillas covered in a tomato sauce.

I recommend Choco Ha ( Google Maps ) for its spinach quiche and chocolate drinks (you can order hot or cold). Across from Chocol-Ha is Luan ( Google Maps ), a great place to go for breakfast/brunch, but with limited hours and poor service. Their chilaquiles are fantastic along with an Instagram-worthy dish of huevos con serrano .

For a late breakfast and early lunch (they close at 2:00 PM),  Taqueria Arcoiris ( Google Maps ) is a budget-friendly and stomach-satisfying place to go for the best tacos in all of Mexico (photo above). Try the cochinita pibil and negro rellenos tacos. They put some of that pink onion in it to give it this really nice bite of acid.

For dinner, stroll down the pedestrian-only Calle 59 and grab a table outside on the street at one of the many restaurants.

I recommend La Maria Cocina Peninsular ( Google Maps ), where I had the best poc chuc in all of Mexico .

I also enjoyed my meal at Aduana Vasconcelos ( Google Maps ).

La Parroquia ( Google Maps ) is another popular restaurant where you can try pan de cazon . I had one good meal and one bad one here.

9. Visit Fuerte del San Miguel and Museo Arqueológico de Campeche

• OPEN: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Tu – Su)
• COST: MXN$60 (US$3)

If you look at where Fuerte del San Miguel is on a map, you might think that it’s too much of a hassle getting there and wonder if it’s really worth it. Not to worry. It’s not that difficult and it’s absolutely worth your time. The museum is just as good as the Museo de Arquitectura Maya.

You get two destinations for the price of one at Fuerte del San Miguel.

First of all, it’s a fort with views of the ocean and a really cool windy entrance .

Second, you get an informative and fascinating archaeological museum with an extensive collection of Maya artifacts.

The fort was smaller than I expected. Of the hour and forty-five minutes I spent at the structure, I spent 20 minutes walking around the fort (only because I took tons of photos) and the rest at the museum. You could probably do it in ten minutes.

The museum, on the other hand, has a lot to see! There are eight rooms filled with artifacts from the different Maya ruins around Campeche including five jade masks from Calakmul and grave artifacts from one of the greatest snake kings of Calakmul, Yuknoon Yich’aak K’ahk (Fire Claw).

The other thing that I loved about this museum is the detailed and fascinating explanations of Maya culture and civilization in English . You can find out what the Mayas wore, how they transformed their bodies to become beautiful, how they were buried, and how their society was structured.

How to get to Fuerte Del San Miguel and Museo Arqueológico de Campeche:

Getting to Fuerte Del San Miguel by public transportation is REALLY easy and safe! I took a colectivo (white and red van) heading to “Lerma” (look for the words on the front of the white van) from the bus stop across the street from the Campeche Mercado ( Google Maps ). It cost me MXN$7 (less than 50 cents). The driver had me sit in the front seat so he could easily tell me where to get off. It took ten minutes to get to where the van dropped me off ( Google Maps ). Then I crossed a not very busy street.

After that, I walked for seven minutes on a sidewalk up a hill to the fort. Very safe!

How to get back to Historic Centre from Fuerte Del San Miguel:

To get back, I walked back down the hill to a bus stop that’s at the end of the sidewalk and on the same side of the street. After waiting for less than five minutes, I got on a bus going to “Centro” and “Mercado” for another MXN$7.  I got off the bus when I saw the old city walls on Avenue Cto Baluartes.

You can also get on a colectivo (a white and red van) going back to Centro or Mercado.

10. Take a trolley tour of Campeche

• OPEN: day and evening tours
• COST: MXN$100 (US$5)

You might think taking a trolley tour is kind of a cheesy thing to do. Actually, it turned out to be one of the best things I did in Campeche and should not be skipped. It’s your chance to get outside the walled city—to the colorful and historic neighborhoods that most guidebooks skip. Plus! Since the tour is in both Spanish AND English, you’ll get to learn about the colonial history of the city.

After making a circuit of the square, the trolley leaves the historic center walls and travels to the colorful Barrio de Guadalupe , the former neighborhood of Campeche’s artisans and wealthy citizens. You’ll next visit the oldest neighborhood of the city, Barrio San Francisco followed by a drive along the Malecon (promenade). One side is lined with big box stores from the United States and the other the ocean. Finally, the trolley takes you to the former working-class neighborhood of Campeche’s sailors, San Ramon.

How to find the trolley tour:

You can pay for and board the trolley on Calle 10 at the Parque Principal . Because I was one person, the person selling me the ticket had to ask the driver if it was ok for a solo traveler to take the tour. Weird, don’t you think? But since the tour was only half full, it was fine. There seemed to be no set schedule. I did see trolleys leaving and making their way around the city until late into the evening.

11. Watch the sunset over the ocean at Malecon

• OPEN : depends on the season

One of the best things to do in Campeche in the evening is to hop on down to Malecon (promenade) right before the sun sets and join the locals to watch as the sun dips below the horizon. But don’t walk away right after the sun disappears because the post-sunset was the highlight for me every time I was there (photo below).

The ideal place to see the sun set is at the thin and tall sculpture topped with an angel (Maya angel) and the letters that spell out Campeche (photo above).

The Malecon is very safe even after dark. It’s filled with families, joggers, and police officers.

How to get to the Malecon:

From the historic center, walk out the Puerta de Mar gate and keep on walking toward the thin and tall statue topped with an angel. You’ll have to cross a busy two-lane street, but not to worry, cars stop for pedestrians in Campeche. It should take you 10 minutes.

12. Watch the Poetry of the Sea Sound and Water Show

• START: 8:00 PM (M, W, Th, F, Sa, and Su)

After you’re done watching the sun set over the ocean, grab a chocolate or Nutella marquesita from one of the many mobile vendors that ply the Malecon and head to the sound and water show that is also along the boardwalk. It’s at a place called Fuentes Marinas Poesia del Mar (The Poetry of the Sea Sound and Water Show).

The water show reminds me of the one at the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas. You get to watch the colored fountains as they dancs to the rhythm of English pop songs. It’s free and it’s something to do while you eat your pre-dinner snack of marquesitas . The show lasts around 30 minutes.

I felt safe walking along the Malecon at night . You’ll see lots of locals out having fun as well as police patrolling the boardwalk.

How to get to the Sea Sound and Light Show:

It’s less than a five-minute walk from the Maya Angel Statue along the Malecon and within walking distance from the Puerta de Mar (Sea Gate).

13. Visit the Ruins of Edzna

• OPEN: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• COST: $65 pesos (June 2021)

Just an hour’s colectivo ride (white and red van) from Campeche, the ruins of Edzna make for an excellent half-day excursion. However, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to wear long pants and bring enough insect repellant to smother yourself ten times over . I’ve never experienced so many mosquitoes before in my life. And I’m from Minnesota!

Edzna may not be as famous as Chichen Itza or Palenque, but it’s got some beautifully designed structures and stelae. Also, you’ll probably be only one of a handful of tourists in the whole park during your visit. Look at that above photo! That’s from my trip to Edzna. No one else around!

The highlight of Edzna is the uniquely-designed Temple of the Five Storeys, a 22-room temple sitting on top of an Acropolis overlooking a huge plaza. Don’t miss the Temple of Masks with its two reliefs of the Sun God. There’s also an interesting small museum before you enter the grounds with some detailed stela of Maya kings.

Go in the morning because the ruins close early and the last colectivo back to Campeche is at 2:00ish.

How to get to Edzna from Campeche:

I took a colectivo (white and red van) from Calle Nicaragua ( Google Maps ) at 8:00 AM. The cross street is Calle Chihuahua . It’s behind Campeche Mercado . It’s less than a five-minute walk from the Puerta de Tierra Gate (An eight-minute walk from my hotel). Look for the colectivos that say “Valle de Edzna” and “Bonfil Campeche” on them. The vans are white and red. Calle Nicaragua is the starting and ending points for the colectivo. The colectivo left with only four passengers (usually they don’t leave until full). It cost MXN$45 (US$2.25) and took one hour to get to Edzna. The van dropped me off at the entrance to the ruins.

When do you pay the driver? – Sometimes you pay when you get on, but other times you pay when you get off.

Another option is to go out to the ruins with a tour group like Kankabi’Ok Tours in Campeche. They do the visit to Edzna with a visit to a beach that’s a bit hard to get to without your own wheels.

How to get back to Campeche from Edzna:

I didn’t need to walk back out to the road to catch the colectivo. It drove right up to the entrance to the ruins. However, I’m not sure if all colectivo drivers will do that. The last colectivo comes at around 2:00 PM. Double check with the driver on times.

14. Visit the Ancient Ruins of Calakmul

• COST OF TOUR: MXN$1,650 (US$83) for transportation + MXN$230 (US$11.50) entrance fees OR MXN$2,750 (US$138) for transportation, guided tour, and entrance fees.
• LOCATION OF THE KANKABI’OK TOUR COMPANY: Google Maps
• CONTACT INFO: Kankabi’Ok Website
• LOCATION OF CALAKMUL: Google Maps

Probably the best thing I did in Campeche was to travel all the way to the border of Guatemala and visit the ancient ruins of the Snake Kingdom of Calakmul— one of the most powerful Maya kingdoms . If the Maya world had a superpower, Calakmul would probably be it (the other one being Tikal).

These ruins are amazing. They’re located smack dab in the middle of a rarely-visited jungle that is filled with howler monkeys, spider monkeys, jaguars, pumas, snakes, and wild turkeys. Do not leave Mexico without hearing the sounds of howler monkeys! Supposedly, the creators of Jurassic Park used the sounds of these monkeys for the sounds of the dinosaurs in the movie.

Along with monkeys and jaguars, Calakmul has the tallest pyramid in Mesoamerica . You can actually climb to the top of it as well, which makes for stunning views of the jungle.

How to get to Calakmul from Campeche:

Visiting these ruins is not easy. They’re not accessible by public transportation. To get to them, you have three choices:

• Rent a car,
• Travel to Xpujil (there are no direct buses from Campeche or Merida to Xpujil, so it will take several hours) and join a tour or hire a taxi in Xpujil
• Join a tour leaving from Campeche

I tried to do the second option, but it didn’t work out, so I ended up visiting Calakmul by joining a tour through Kankabi’Ok in Campeche, right across the street from Parque Principal. I highly recommend them! The staff speaks English and they are very professional.

They picked me up at my hotel at 4:30 AM and we returned to Campeche at 8:51 PM. My only complaint is that we did not get to see all of the ruins because time was limited. I suppose if you’re coming from Xpujil, then you’ll get more time to spend at the ruins.

15. Enjoy the sun, sand, and surf at Playa Bonita or Bahia de Tortugas

If you’re looking for a beach in Campeche, the closest one is Playa Bonita ( Google Maps ). Located about 15 kilometers from the historic center, Playa Bonita supposedly has nice, clean, calm waters with some white sandy beaches. You need to pay to access the beach. It was closed due to the pandemic when I was in Campeche so I can’t confirm the information. You can read reviews and see photos on Google Maps.

Another option is to travel a bit further away to Bahia de Tortugas ( Google Maps ). I didn’t get to this place, but I met two guys from Mexico City on my Calakmul tour who did visit Bahia de Tortugas on a tour with Kankabi’Ok and they raved about how clean and calm the ocean was (“like your bathtub,” they said).

You can see photos and reviews on Google Maps. I couldn’t find any information online on how to get to Bahia de Tortugas via public transportation, but you can visit it through a tour combined with a trip to the ruins of Edzna with Kankabi’Ok . They’re located on the plaza right next to Centro Cultural Casa No. 6.

Where to stay in Campeche?

I stayed at Balamku Hotel ( Booking.com | Agoda ) on Calle 57 in the historic center. This was one of my top 3 favorite hotels in Mexico . Very nicely priced, comfortable and clean rooms (cleaned daily), reliable and fast WiFi, and a friendly and helpful staff. I had no problems teaching my Zoom classes on the hotel’s internet.

When to visit Campeche

I was in Campeche in June and it was uncomfortably hot and humid. It was in the high 90s every day.

The chart below says that there are 11 days of rain in June. But during my ten days in Campeche, it ONLY rained in the evening or at night. It NEVER rained during the day.

Is Campeche safe for solo female travelers?

I can only tell you my experience, but overall, I felt incredibly safe in Campeche walking around alone during the day and at night w ithin the walled city and along the promenade. Sometimes I found myself walking alone from a restaurant to my hotel (a few blocks away) at around 9:00 PM and I felt fine.

I felt safe taking public transportation by myself outside the city walls to different parts of the city and to the ruins outside Campeche.

The only place I felt I needed to be more careful was around the Central Mercado as it was busy and crowded.

Where can I find ATMs in Campeche

I used the ATM at the HSBC bank on Calle 10 in the historic center.

If you’re in Merida , you can easily do a day trip to Campeche . It’s only about 2.5 hours away. However, I do recommend staying in the city for at least three full days .

Four days if you’re doing Calakmul, which I highly recommend. It’ll be an unforgettable experience!

Are you on Pinterest?

Hey! How about saving one of these pins to Pinterest to read for later?

And feel free to follow me on Pinterest, where you’ll find lots of travel articles for everywhere around the world.

Looking for more travel info on Mexico?

• You can find lots of fun things to do in Merida in my list of 23 things to do in Merida
• Looking for things to do in the Yucatan? Here is a list of 15 day trips that you can take from Merida ! Includes detailed instructions on how to get to each place by public transportation–tried and tested!
• Here’s a detailed guide on how to visit some of the best cenotes in the Yucatan .

I spent a fair amount of time in Merida but never visited Campeche. The whole area is amazing with all the ruins but it looks like I missed a lot in this city. I’d love to visit the Museo de Arquitectura Maya.

I love Mexico, but had never heard of Campeche. It looks like a delighful town and I’ll definitely add it to my list for a future Mexico trip.

So much incredible information. I am saving this because I really am interested in finding the less traveled locations in Mexico. Thanks for this.

I’ve never heard of this UNESCO site. Mexico is just so fascinating and interesting.

Thank you very much for your detailed and honest reviews and suggestions. I think probably the best information we have read on our travels through mexico so far. We used the cenote information for Merida and are now in Campeche using the same useful info to get the most out of our time here. Thanks again.

I’m glad to hear that you’ve found my blog posts on Mexico helpful! I hope you like Campeche as much as I did.

This is super detailed and helpful. I appreciate this blog post a lot!

This was a very helpful blog. I am an elderly lady traveling alone and got more information from your blog then I could get from my very lovely hotel. I did not for buses because there was walking to do to get to the places where I could catch them. But I went by taxi and it was more expensive but well worth it. I actually am spending 2 weeks here. That’s a bit more time than one would need but I’ve taken a number of day trips. Thanks for your blog

Thank you for the kind words. I am soooo happy to hear that you found my blog post helpful! I spent 10 days in Campeche and never really got bored, so 2 weeks is actually a good way to see the city and the surrounding area.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

What are you looking for?

About the bamboo traveler.

Welcome to The Bamboo Traveler, a travel blog dedicated to helping those travelers who want to dig deeply into the history, heritage, and culture of a place. Whether it’s through the pages of your passport or the pages of a book, I’ll help you travel the world and uncover the history, culture, food, architecture, and natural beauty of some of the world’s most fascinating places.

Follow the Bamboo Traveler

Traveling to Japan soon?

Get all my great travel tips as well as this FREE Japan travel and itinerary guide sent to your email right away!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Recent posts.

• 36 Books on Japan That’ll Spark Your Wanderlust
• Manila Itinerary 2 Days: Culture, History & Food
• Port Barton Itinerary: 3 Days in Paradise
• El Nido Itinerary: Exploring Paradise in the Philippines
• Philippines Itinerary: Island Hopping in Paradise
• 35 BEST Things to Do in Oaxaca for Food, Culture & History Lovers
• Ultimate Malapascua Itinerary (+ Kalanggaman Island)
• Siquijor Itinerary: 4 Days on the Island of Witches
• A Foolproof Japan Packing List for Summer 2024
• How to Get from Oaxaca Airport to Oaxaca City in 2024

Get Your FREE Japan Itinerary Guide Here!

Subscribe to my newsletter to receive the latest travel tips for Asia and get a free 4-page PDF version of my 3-Week Japan Itinerary.

Pin It on Pinterest

How to Visit Calakmul (Campeche): The Definitive Guide

• Calakmul: Everything You Need to Know

Calakmul is a hidden gem and one of the best places to visit in Mexico.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is home to the second largest forest in the Americas and the biggest tropical reserve in Mexico.

You can wander through the ancient ruins of a powerful Mayan city, surrounded by lush jungle and curious monkeys.

But this amazing experience comes with a challenge: it’s a long 5-hour drive from Campeche , near the border with Guatemala. That’s why it’s off the beaten track, and that’s what makes it special!

Calakmul is one of my top picks in Mexico.

To help you plan your trip, here’s everything you need to know about Calakmul:

The history of Calakmul in a nutshell

1. chan chi’ich, 2. chii’k naab, 3. great acropolis, 4. gran plaza and structure ii, 5. structure i, 6. small acropolis and structure iii, 7. fauna of calakmul reserve, calakmul tourist map, calakmul: my opinion, on your own, take a tour to calakmul from campeche, rent a car in mexico, where to stay near calakmul, what to bring to calakmul, visiting calakmul: other practical information, how to find the best flight deals, you’re traveling in mexico these articles will help you.

Visit Calakmul Early During Construction With the major construction site of the Maya Train , Calakmul is temporarily open from 5am to 1pm, with last access at 10am .

Calakmul’s name means “two towering mounds” in the Yucatec Maya language, after its two largest pyramids : structures I and II. But the city also had other names in the past, such as Kan, meaning “serpent”, or Ux te tuun, meaning “three stones”.

Calakmul boasts the most stelae of any Mayan site, containing valuable information that has helped to reconstruct the history of Calakmul and the kind of society it was.

Along with Palenque in Chiapas and Tikal in Guatemala, it was one of the most important and influential cities of the Mayan world.

A brief summary of its history:

• It was occupied from 550 BC and reached its peak from 250 to 900.
• Between 636 and 695, Calakmul formed a very powerful socio-political network.
• After being defeated by Tikal in Guatemala, Calakmul had to change its political strategy. The new rulers established relations with other cities further north, such as Río Bec .
• Between 1000 and 1500, it was mainly a pilgrimage site .
• Calakmul was a hub of creativity and culture from 400 BC to 1000 AD . It attracted talented artists and craftsmen who produced stunning works of art and architecture. They built magnificent buildings, murals, friezes and giant masks, as well as colorful pottery for the elite houses and tombs. They also made exquisite jade jewelry and masks, shell and wood objects, and more. Calakmul has the most funerary masks of any Mayan site , revealing the beliefs and customs of its people.

What to see in Calakmul

The archaeological zone of Calakmul has 6,500 ancient structures, but only 21 of them have been excavated and restored so far.

My advice  You can choose from 3 options to explore Calakmul: a short path (2h), a medium path (3h), or a long path (4-5h).

There is a map at the start of the tour that shows all the accessible structures and the different routes. I took some photos of this map and they were very helpful. I suggest you do the same ! Luckily, the path is well marked.

So, I present to you What to see in Calakmul , in the order of the route I followed:

This was a residential area where large families lived together. They were not all related by blood, but by their common ancestry.

They had a drainage channel to deal with the heavy rain and avoid flooding.

This was a huge complex of 68 structures with plazas and corridors. It was probably a place for festivals and celebrations.

It was the first big site I saw in Calakmul, and it blew me away!

It was a large residential area with two main parts: a semi-public part and a private part for the elite.

• The semi-public area had about 10 buildings around two plazas. They were separated by structure XII. The north plaza had a ball court , and the south plaza had a staircase. The main entrance to the Acropolis was through structure XIV. It was open to the public, but very controlled.
• The private area was where the governor and the elite of Calakmul lived. There were about 70 structures around 17 courtyards and plazas.

The Great Acropolis was not only a residential area, but also a center for administration, politics, society and ceremony. Some of the structures had tombs of important people with offerings, such as structure XV, where three tombs were found.

The Gran Plaza is the main plaza of Calakmul . It is surrounded by several structures, such as the famous Structure II . Besides being the largest pyramid in Calakmul, it is also the heart of the city.

This pyramid is one of the tallest and most important in the Mayan world.  It stands at 55 feet high, but it used to be 66 feet high in its glory days!

 It was the symbol of power and authority in Calakmul, and the burial place of some of its rulers. Archaeologists have found nine tombs inside the pyramid.

You have to climb up to admire the view, beyond the top of the trees. And if you look closely, you will see some dots emerging from the vegetation: they are other pyramids . Among them, on your left, you will see the other great pyramid of Calakmul: Structure I.

My advice The pyramid has different levels, and the highest one is a bit hidden.

I thought I had reached the top, but I was wrong. The pyramid is bigger than it looks from the ground.

Structure I is the second tallest pyramid in Calakmul , after Structure II.

It’s 44 feet high, and you can climb it if you’re brave enough. But watch out, the stairs are uneven and steep.

From the top, you can see the amazing view of the jungle . And you can also spot Structure II peeking through the trees. It’s a breathtaking sight, and it feels like you’re in a movie!

This is your last chance to see the ruins before you leave, so make the most of it.

The Small Acropolis may not look as impressive as the big pyramids, because they are not well restored.

But trust me, it’s still fun to climb around and explore. You’ll feel like an adventurer, like Lara Croft or Indiana Jones!

Structure III is located on the edge of the Small Acropolis.

It’s a palace where one of the oldest lineages of the city lived. Two tombs have been found here, one of them with offerings (ceramic, jade masks) and plaques with hieroglyphic writings, indicating that the deceased was an important ruler.

This was a palace where a royal family of Calakmul lived. They were one of the oldest and most powerful lineages in the city.

Archaeologists have found two tombs inside the palace, with valuable offerings (ceramics, jade masks) and inscriptions. One of the tombs belonged to a great ruler of Calakmul.

The Calakmul reserve has a rich wildlife: 235 species of birds, 5 of the 6 Mexican felines, numerous reptiles and monkeys.

As for the archaeological site of Calakmul , I saw several howler monkeys playing from one branch to another and a couple of ocellated turkeys walking around. You will probably encounter them along the way, so keep your eyes open.

Here is a map of Calakmul with all the buildings accessible to the public, provided by INAH .

Calakmul is a hidden treasure in the jungle, waiting for you to discover it.

You can roam freely around the ancient Mayan site, climbing up and down the pyramids and other structures. This is a rare opportunity , as most other archaeological sites in Mexico don’t allow it anymore.

Calakmul is not very famous, but very important. It was once a powerful city, rivaling Tikal in Guatemala. Now, it’s a peaceful place, with few visitors and lots of wildlife. You might see only 100 people on a busy day, or none at all!

You need to be fit and adventurous to explore Calakmul. There are many steps to climb, and some are steep and slippery. But don’t worry, you’ll find people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying the site.

The big question is: is it worth the long drive to get there ? YES, absolutely.

Trust me, it’s a unique and unforgettable experience that you don’t want to miss on your trip to Mexico!

How to get to Calakmul

It takes a while to get to Calakmul (4h from Campeche, 2h15 from Bacalar , 40 min from Xpujil), so plan ahead.

After that, you’ll need another hour to get to the site entrance , driving at 17 mph

Going by car

• From Campeche: take Highway 261 south to Escárcega , then Highway 186 to Chetumal . At km 95 (Conhuas), take the junction south for 37 miles. Important: when passing through Escárcega , take the opportunity to fill up your tank because there is no gas station until Xpujil .
• From Bacalar : 2h15 via Mexico 186 and Villahermosa – Chetumal/Mexico 186
• There is free parking

With public transportation

To get to Calakmul by public transportation , you have to take two things into account: you will have to arrive first to Xpuijl, spend the night in Xpujil and the next day, take the transfer from Xpujil to Calakmul (round trip 7am – return 3pm)

• From Campeche: departures to Xpujil from Terminal Sur at 08:00, 13:30, 22:00 with Autobuses Sur , ticket 307 pesos
• From Bacalar: there is an AU bus departing at 23h55 (from the ADO terminal ) and arrives 2h45 am to Xpujil . It is direct, but the schedule is not practical. Another option is to take a bus or colectivo from Bacalar to Chetumal (40min) and then the ADO bus from Chetumal to Xpujil (takes 1h45, departures 18h30, 21h, 22h, or with AU at 00h55)

You can take this tour from Campeche , which includes pick up at your hotel , guided visit to Calakmul and the archaeological site of Balamkú .

Book it here:

Renting a car is for sure the best way to explore Calakmul and make the most of your stay!

To rent a car, personally, I always use Rentalcars.com, for a few reasons:

• You can easily compare the rental cars prices between all the agencies: for sure the easiest way to find the best rate!
• Cancellation is often offered free of charge: no need to worry if you change your mind
• Rentalcars offers full insurance coverage at a lower price than the rental companies , so it’s an instant saving with no effort

Simply click on the green button to find your rental car at the best price:

It really depends on your itinerary.

If you want to visit Calakmul in one day from Campeche , you’ll need a good place to stay in the city. My recommendations for hotels in Campeche are:

• Melisa Hostal : very well located hostel in a beautiful typical house in the center of Campeche , friendly staff, with a small pool, access to a kitchen, and very clean and comfortable mattresses. Bed in shared room, from only 20 $usd per night
• Casa Serena Beautiful Colonial Loft : a spacious apartment in the center of Campeche that offers excellent value for money . With air conditioning, a living room, kitchen, terrace, good wifi with breakfast included. Sleeps 2 to 4 people , starting at 125 $usd per night
• Boutique Hotel Casa Don Gustavo : an elegant 18th century manor house completely restored on a pedestrian street in downtown Campeche. A beautiful blend of modernity and colonial decor, with comfortable air-conditioned rooms. Wifi, outdoor pool, jacuzzi and a very tasty à la carte breakfast await guests . Starting at 65 $usd!

Xpujil is a good option to stay if you are visiting Calakmul from or on your way to Bacalar . It is a small town with some hotels and restaurants, and it is close to the entrance of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Here are some of the hotels in Xpujil that I recommend:

• Coa de Collar : great budget option in Xpujil with simple, but clean and well-located rooms, close to restaurants and supermarkets. Miguel, the owner, is a tour guide, which is very helpful. From 40 $usd a night
• Ecohabitat : a small country house surrounded by vegetation. It is comfortable, very clean, with a very nice welcome. In the morning they bring you breakfast on the veranda, or if you prefer they prepare it to take away. Delicious breakfast included, from 70 $usd per night
• Casa Kaan : comfortable cabins with air conditioning, terrace and kitchen, in the middle of nature. It is an ecological lodging that works with solar energy, has several fruit trees and the residues are used as fertilizer for the vegetable garden. Breakfast included, from 98 $usd

Calakmul can be hot and humid , so dress comfortably and wear sturdy shoes.

You’ll be climbing up and down the ancient structures, and you’ll want to avoid the sunburn and the mosquito bites. Bring some repellent and sunscreen.

Don’t forget to pack some binoculars if you have them. You’ll be amazed by the wildlife and the ruins that are hidden in the jungle.

Remember: Calakmul is isolated, so bring enough snacks and water . There are no shops or restaurants nearby.

Here you have all the information you need to visit Calakmul :

• Entrance fee 255 pesos for foreigners, 90 pesos for nationals
• Optional guide 500 pesos (maximum 4 people)
• Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

To find a cheap flight ticket to Cancun , Campeche or Chetumal, I recommend you to use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner: it’s the guarantee to pay the best price!

Discover all my articles about Mexico : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Mexico are listed there.

• The 35 Best Things to Do in Mexico
• Yucatan Peninsula : Top 20 things to Do and See
• Bacalar : The 18 Best Places to Visit
• Campeche : The 20 Best Places to Visit
• Edzna : Everything You Need to Know
• Itinerary : 10 days in Mexico – Mexico City , Chiapas and Yucatan
• Itinerary : 2 weeks in Mexico   – Best itinerary to discover the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas!
• Itinerary : 3 weeks in Mexico – Mexico City, Puebla , Oaxaca , Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán and Riviera Maya
• Itinerary : 1 month in Mexico – My Epic 30-31 Days Itinerary from Mexico City to Cancun
• Road trip in Mexico : The best itineraries for 10, 15, 21 days and a month
• Itinerary : 1 week in Yucatan – The Ultimate 6, 7 or 8 days Itinerary
• Itinerary : 10 days in Yucatan – Best Itinerary for 9, 10 or 11 Days in Yucatan
• Itinerary : 2 weeks in Yucatan – Epic Itinerary + All my Best Tips!
• Itinerary : 3 weeks in Yucatan – Best things to do in 20-21 days
• Itinerary : 1 month in Yucatan – Yucatan Peninsula in 29, 30 or 31 days from Cancun
• Road trip in Yucatan : The best itineraries for 7, 10, 15, 21 days and 1 month

You’re using Pinterest? Here is the picture to pin!

I have created this blog to give you all my best tips to plan your next trip to Mexico, regardless of your budget. I share detailed itineraries, advice about places to visit as well as recommendations for transportation, hotels and restaurants. I hope I will also help you to discover amazing off the beaten path destinations in Mexico!

Related Stories

Tulum’s Best Restaurants: A Food Lover’s Guide for Every Wallet

Kitesurfing in El Cuyo: The Comprehensive Guide to Yucatan’s Wind Paradise

2 Days in Tulum: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

Discussion 2 comments.

We are traveling to Calakmul the very end of January/beginning February, do you know it they will still limit entry 5am to 1pm, with last access at 10am.

Hi Jennie! It’s a bit hard to give a definite answer since it really depends on the progress of the Maya Train construction. But, given there are still two months to go and the train is already running up to Campeche station, there’s a good chance it might be finished by then. If that’s the case, Calakmul should be back to its normal opening hours soon.

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Website (optional)

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• All our Guides about Mexico

Merida to Campeche Mexico: Best Ways to Visit in 2024

Planning your Merida to Campeche trip?

At only less than 2.5 hours away from Merida, Campeche City is an easy trip on a Campeche tour, rental car and bus.

With only about 110 miles distance from Merida to Campeche City, you’ll get there quickly, and then have the whole day to explore this relatively quaint town.

Merida Car Rental: Everything You Need to Know + 10 Driving Tips

Though Downtown Campeche City — AKA the Walled City of Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is the main draw in the state, there’s more to do on your Merida to Campeche City trip!

Campeche Mexico, also has beautiful beaches and fascinating Mayan Ruins to explore.

This off-the-beaten-path Yucatan Peninsula city is one of the most popular and best Merida day trips . For those who want to make it an overnight trip, you’ll also find the best Campeche hotels in this article.

In short, think of this article as your Ultimate Guide to Campeche Travel — with everything you need to know for a Merida to Campeche trip. Ready to get to it?! Let’s dive in .

merida to campeche mexico

Campeche, mexico travel faqs, where is campeche mexico.

Campeche City, Mexico, is the capital of Campeche state — one of three states making up the Yucatan Peninsula . As you can see on the Campeche Mexico map below ⤵, It is located in the southeast part of the country, right on the Gulf of Mexico.

📍campeche map

Campeche is an off-the-beaten-path Mexico destination and the least-visited of the three Yucatan states.

However, thanks to Instagram, YouTube, and social media, more and more people are adding colorful Campeche City to their Mexico bucket list.

At about 110 miles from Merida and 205 miles from Valladolid , travelers in Yucatan state will often visit Campeche.

As it’s quite far from the popular Quintana Roo state destinations of Tulum , Cancun and Playa del Carmen — many stay overnight in a Campeche hotel .

merida to campeche City, Mexico

Is campeche worth visiting.

Travelers who love venturing off the beaten path will also love Campeche State. You’ll get a much more authentic Mayan and Mexican cultural experience in Campeche, without the large tourist crowds and without the high tourist-town price tags!

Is Campeche city worth visiting?

Campeche City is a smaller town, so for a day or overnight trip, it is absolutely worth visiting. Beyond that, you’ll want to head to other parts of Campeche, or the pueblo magico (magic town) of Valladolid , or even back to Merida .

For photographers and history buffs, the colorful streets and historic forts once used to fend off pirates make the short trip from Merida worthwhile.

Those doing a Yucatan road trip will love a stopover in Campeche City before heading to all the other must-see Yucatan destinations.

Best Things to do in Campeche Mexico

Campeche city.

The walled city of Campeche is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Within its walls, there are so many fascinating, beautiful and historic things to see and do. For a complete guide, visit 10 Best Things to Do in Campeche City Mexico .

Campeche Ruins

For those who rent a car , you can explore the other UNESCO site in Campeche state, the Calakmul Mayan Ruins .

There are other Campeche Ruins to explore, like Becan , Chicanna and Edzna , one of the most beautiful of all Mayan Ruins in Mexico .

Campeche beaches

There’s also the pueblo magico (magic town) of Isla Aguada, Campeche, as well as Sabancuy and Ciudad del Carmen — three of the best beaches in Campeche Mexico .

Since these are some of the lesser-visited beaches in Mexico , you have to have them all to yourself!

Best Merida to Campeche Tours

By far, the easiest way to get from Merida to Campeche is on a group tour! With a tour, all you do is show up, sit back, and enjoy!

Below, you will find the best Merida to Campeche tours, which include Campeche City and the best Mayan Ruins in Campeche.

For places further from Merida, like Calakmul Mayan Ruins , a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, you’ll need to go by rental car .

Most beaches in Campeche are also a bit far from Mérida, so the tours don’t go to those either.

Tours from Merida to Campeche

Merida to campeche drive.

Renting a car in Merida is a fun way to explore all the amazing beaches , Mayan Ruins and Merida cenotes , as well as neighboring Campeche state.

Below, you’ll find out everything you need to know about the drive from Mérida to Campeche.

• Merida to Campeche Distance: 110 miles (175 km) to Campeche City
• Merida to Campeche Drive Time: About 2 hours and 15 minutes in normal traffic to Campeche City

Driving from Merida to Campeche City

Merida to campeche map.

Planning for this mini-Yucatan Peninsula road trip is super easy. The total trip time is less than 2.5 hours, with a distance of about 110 miles (175km).

This is a pretty straightforward drive, as you just take Highway 180 (Costera del Golfo) the whole way down.

However, you should make sure to download an offline map from Google Maps or Maps.Me , as there’s a good chance you’ll lose your cell phone signal at some point in the drive. While you’re at it, go ahead and download some podcasts !

🚗💨 One of the best reasons to drive versus taking the bus to Campeche? The freedom to stop wherever and whenever you’d like along the way, of course.

Located near Campeche City, consider a stop at Ecoturismo Ich Ha Lol Xaan (also called Hampolol), located right off Highway 180.

Even if you don’t want to swim, this is such a beautiful park, and it makes a nice respite in nature before arriving at Campeche City.

Merida Car Rental

The easiest, most convenient way to travel from Merida to Campeche? A rental car, of course. For a complete guide to the whole process, check out Merida Car Rental: Everything You Need to Know + 10 Driving Tips .

Discover Cars has competitive rates and several Merida locations, including at Merida International Airport and in the areas most people stay in while visiting Merida — Centro Historico (historic downtown) and Paseo Montejo.

On a personal note: I recommend, and use , Discover Cars .

Is it safe to drive in Yucatan?

Short answer: Yes — For the vast majority of travelers, it’s safe to drive anywhere in Mexico.

Longer answer: As a general rule, the Yucatan Peninsula is considered safe for both locals and visitors, and the drive from Merida to Campeche is also safe. However, there’s the obvious caveat to that… you’re in a foreign country!

Since you’ll be driving in another country, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with Mexico driving laws or ask the agent at your car rental for advice.

For your convenience, there are 10 Useful Mexico Driving Tips in this article to help you with how to drive in Mexico.

Merida to Campeche Bus

The bus is a great option for your Merida to Campeche day trip — especially for budget travelers, as it’s the cheapest way to get from Merida to Campeche.

🚕💨 Campeche Travel Tip : There’s no Uber in Campeche state, so be sure to have pesos to pay for a taxi from the ADO Campeche station to Downtown Campeche.

For those unsure about taking the bus, Mexico bus travel is quite popular, especially to the best Mexico off-the-beaten-path destinations, like Campeche.

It is also quite economical at only about $ 20-35 USD for roundtrip Campeche to Merida bus tickets.

There are two options for which Merida bus station you can use: the Terminal de Autobuses de Merida and Terminal Alterna at Paseo 60 (see below for info ⤵).

As far as what company to use, ADO is Mexico’s largest bus company and will offer the most trip times. If you’re okay with public transportation, then the ADO bus from Merida to Campeche is a good option.

TAME Or CAME — TERMINAL DE AUTOBUSES DE MERIDA

CAME is the main Merida bus station and will have the most options for Merida to Campeche bus trip times.

You can check the ADO website for time, but I always book my Merida to Campeche bus tickets on BusBud , as the ADO site doesn’t take U.S. or non-Mexican credit cards.

TAME/CAME Address: Calle 70, #555, Centro de Merida, Merida, 97000. It is located on 70th Street, between 69th and 71st Streets, in Downtown Merida | 🗺 Google Maps

🚌 Note: The Terminal de Autobuses de Merida (TAME) had a name change in 2019; it used to be called Central de Autobuses de Merida (CAME). For this reason, you’ll sometimes see it as either TAME and CAME, though it’s the same place.

Paseo 60 — Terminal Alterna

The second option is the Paseo 60 bus station, a smaller station but more convenient for those staying around Paseo de Montejo , the most popular street in Merida.

There are rarely Merida to Campeche City buses that leave from Paseo 60, but you may get lucky. Paseo 60 Address: Calle 60, #346, Zona Paseo Montejo, Merida, 97000 — on 30th Street, between 35th Street and Avenida Colon. | 🗺 Google Maps

merida to campeche City

Best campeche hotels.

Planning to spend the night in Campeche City? You have plenty of really great Campeche hotel options, all located in or right around downtown.

As there’s not much outside of downtown, and Mexico Campeche Yucatan is relatively inexpensive.

Don’t expand your hotel search too far from the City Center — or select one of the best hotels in Campeche from the list below — all located right in walkable Downtown Campeche.

• Best overall Campeche hotel: Hotel Plaza Campeche
• Best hacienda in Campeche: Hacienda Puerta Campeche
• Best hotel on the Malecon (Walkway): Gamma Campeche Malecon
• Best boutique hotel in Campeche: Hotel Boutique Casa Don Gustavo

Things to do in Campeche City at Night

Campeche Travel Tip: Bring something to sit on, as there’s only ground seating for the video mapping show.

Campeche is also very pretty by night when many buildings downtown are lit up with colorful lights.

Campeche VIDEO MAPPING SHOW

Don’t miss the Celebremos Campeche (Celebrate Campeche) video mapping light and music show on the side of Palacio Centro Cultural (seen in the video above ⤴).

The show takes place Tuesdays to Sundays, from 8 pm to 8:30 pm, and is one of the best free things to do in Campeche .

sunset dinner in Campeche

If you’re staying overnight in a Campeche hotel , enjoy a sunset dinner on the Gulf of Mexico at one of the best restaurants in Campeche.

La Palapa del Tio Fito and Restaurante Malecon Campeche both offer beautiful Gulf views, yummy Yucatan food and fresh seafood options.

merida to campeche Mexico

Final thoughts: merida to campeche trip.

How far is campeche from merida ? At less than 2.5 hours from Merida, Campeche City is the perfect day trip.

From further places in the Yucatan Peninsula, like Tulum, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Valladolid, you’ll want to rent a hotel in Campeche — or even this cool Campeche Hacienda !

25 Amazing Day Trips From Merida That You Need to Take

Though downtown is quaint at just 25-30 (or so) blocks, there are still many fun things to do in Campeche City .

Not far from Downtown, you also have the ruins of Becan, Chicanna and Edzna — some of the best Mayan Ruins near Merida .

After 1-2 days, however, you may want to head to other parts of Campeche state, like the Calakmul Mayan Ruins .

There are also some great Campeche Mexico beaches , like the Isla Aguada pueblo magico (magic town), Ciudad Carmen, and Sabancuy, which many say is the best Campeche beach.

As more and more people discover Campeche’s colorful streets and adorable sidewalk cafes via social media and YouTube, this is fast becoming a part of many a Yucatan Mexico bucket list.

Merida Travel Planning Guide

Should i buy mexico travel insurance.

100% YES! — With basic coverage averaging just $5-10 USD per day, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Travel Insurance Master , one of the biggest names in travel insurance. ( Read more )

Can you drink the water in Merida?

No — You’ll want to buy this Water-To-Go Bottle , which filters your drinking water so you don’t get sick from drinking water in Mexico, and helps keep you hydrated while traveling Mexico. ( Read more )

Is it safe to rent a car in Merida?

Yes — Renting a car in Mexico is one of the best ways to see the country! I always rent with Discover Cars , which checks both international companies and local Mexican companies, so you get the best rates. ( Read more )

Will my phone work in Merida?

Maybe — It depends on your company, so check with your provider. If you don’t have free Mexico service, buy a Telcel SIM Card . As Mexico’s largest carrier, Telcel has the best coverage of any Mexico SIM Cards. ( Read more )

What’s the best way to book my Merida accommodation?

For Mexico hotels and hostels, Booking.com is the best site. If you’re considering a Mexico Airbnb, don’t forget to also check VRBO , which is often cheaper than Airbnb! ( Read more )

What’s the best site to buy Mexico flights?

For finding cheap Mexico flights, I always recommend Skyscanner .

Do I need a visa for Mexico?

Likely Not — U.S., Canadian and most European Passport holders don’t need a visa for Mexico; but check here to see if you do need a Mexico travel visa. The majority of travelers will receive a 180-Day FMM Tourist Visa or passport stamp upon arrival.

Loved this post? Share & Pin it for later

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Email
• Share on Reddit

Want to share your culture with travelers from all the world?

Free walking tour near campeche, others cities to visit after campeche, where are you traveling to.

How to Get from Merida to Campeche Mexico: Your 2024 Guide

If you are spending any amount of time in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, you might be wondering how to get from Merida to Campeche City. Campeche is well worth visiting, and for the time being, at least, this gorgeous colonial city flies largely under the radar and sees a fraction of the tourists seen by other more popular coastal destinations in the region. 

Fortunately, getting to Campeche is relatively easy to do. There is a distance of 175 km between Merida and Campeche City and the journey can be made in as little as 2.5 hours depending on which transport method you use.

Arguably, the fastest and most comfortable way to get there is to rent a car and drive independently. However, if you are not comfortable doing so, the ADO buses that run between the two cities are a great, reliable budget choice. 

You are in good hands here because I have been living in Merida for the last two years and have made the journey to Campeche multiple times. My partner was working on the Tren Maya project in Campeche, so we have spent many a weekend there.

Table of Contents

How to Get from Merida to Campeche 

As I mentioned, you have a couple of different options available to you for getting to Campeche but my recommended method would be to drive. 

As of December 15th 2023, the Maya train that runs from Cancun to Campeche via Merida will finally be up and running and will make it faster and easier than ever to get to lovely Campeche. 

Arguably the “best” method for you personally comes down to your own personal preferences, budget, etc, so we will review all of the various options here. 

Rent a car and drive to Campeche

Renting a car in Merida and driving to Campeche is arguably the easiest way to make the journey, and having a car can be a good option for your Yucatan itinerary if you plan on visiting off-the-beaten-path Yucatan Mayan ruins , villages and beaches.

The roads in the Yucatan peninsula are well maintained and signposted and you are likely to find that driving here is not all that different from driving in the US or Canada. 

Many reputable rental companies operate in Merida , including Europcar, Avis, Enterprise rent-a-car, and Alamo rent-a-car. I recommend (and personally use) Discover Cars – a rental car comparison website that allows you to compare and contrast the different prices offered by various rental companies so that you can secure the best deal. 

You are looking at a total cost of around $30-$40 per day for an economy-sized car rental including full coverage insurance. Since scams are not unheard of, it is typically best to stick to well-known, trusted international rental companies like those listed above. 

If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. On the Discover Cars platform , you can filter by suppliers with a rating of 7 or above based on past customer reviews which I highly recommend doing. 

Of course, if you are flying into Cancun or elsewhere in Mexico and travelling to Campeche via Merida, there are also plenty of reputable rental companies in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. 

Driving from Merida to Campeche

Driving in Mexico is not as daunting as it may sound. It also gives you a lot more freedom and flexibility when it comes to managing your schedule. It is very easy to drive from Merida to Campeche; you essentially just follow the Carretera Federal 180 Campeche-Mérida/Carr. Costera del Golfo all the way to the coast. There are no tolls on this section of the road (unlike on the section from Cancun to Merida where there are two).

Some useful tips for your journey are summarised below.

• In Mexico, you drive on the right-hand side and overtake on the left, like in most of the Americas and the world
• Don’t drive at night – rural Yucatan roads are not well-lit and wild animals and stray dogs pose hazards
• Speed limits in the Yucatan are 110km/h on highways, 70km/h on main roads, 40km/h in towns and 20km/h around schools and hospitals
• There are plenty of gas stations and places to stop for refreshments along the road to Campeche. Do note that gas stations in Mexico are full-service.  

Take the ADO bus to Campeche

ADO Buses from Merida to Campeche depart every 30-60 minutes throughout the day and are a comfortable way to make the 2.5 hour journey. All buses have air conditioning, reclining seats and a bathroom on board, and some of the more luxurious classes have USB chargers and complimentary wifi. 

There are numerous bus stations in Merida. However the Merida – Campeche bus departs from the ADO Centro Historico TAME station which is Merida’s main bus terminal. 

Its street address is Calle 70, #555, Merida, 97000, Yucatan. This is conveniently close to the Paseo de Montejo and the historic centre of Merida, but if you are staying elsewhere in the city during your Merida itinerary , you can also easily take a cab to the station for just a few pesos.

Although the journey by bus should take 2.5 hours, you should note that the bus does make a couple of stops after leaving Merida, and if you are travelling at rush hour (between 4 and 7pm), there can be a bit of traffic. 

Ticket prices range between 300 and 452 pesos each way depending on the specific service you are travelling on. (Between $15 and $25 USD). 

Purchasing your ADO bus tickets 

You can buy your bus ticket to Campeche online via the ADO official website or app, in-person at the ticket office or through third-party booking sites like Busbud. Honestly, since there are so many departures every day, you are usually fine to just go to the station 30 minutes before your bus scheduled departure and buy the ticket there and then. 

The ADO website is fairly self-explanatory despite only being available in Spanish. The only problem is that sometimes it glitches, crashes and doesnt accept international bank cards. 

Busbud is a good site for reserving your bus tickets in Mexico in advance, although it does charge a small admin fee. (Usually only like $1 or so). 

ADO bus classes 

There are different classes of buses that run between Merida and Campeche. The standard ADO and OCC buses are fine and perfectly comfortable. 

• ADO Conecta – Small shuttle-style bus that runs between Merida and Campeche.
• ADO Primera – Basic class of ADO buses that is still very comfortable
• ADO GL – Deluxe ADO bus that is slightly more spacious and luxurious than ADO Primera

ADO bus times

Buses depart very regularly between Merida and Campeche. The current departure times across all bus providers and classes are detailed below. 

This was last updated on the 10th November 2023, although it is potentially subject to change. You can easily check the ADO bus website to check the latest schedules and route information.

Daily at 00:45, 02:40, 03:30, 06:15, 07:45, 08:15, 08:30, 08:55, 10:00, 10:30, 10:55, 11:45, 11:55, 12:30, 12:55, 13:15, 13:45, 15:00, 15:37, 16:15, 17:00, 17:05, 17:30, 17:45, 17:50, 18:30, 18:40, 19:31, 20:15, 20:20, 20:25, 20:50, 21:00, 21:05, 21:30, 22:00, 23:15, 23:30, 23:59.

Take the Maya tren to Campeche

After years of construction and anticipation, the Cancun to Campeche (via Merida) leg of the Maya train will be completed and up and running on the 15th December 2023. The high speed train aims to make it easier for tourists to make their way around various places of interest in the Yucatan. 

The journey from Merida to Campeche via rail is likely to take just over an hour. Tickets will be available to purchase online, however the official Tren Maya website has not yet been launched. 

It is believed that travellers will be able to purchase tickets from the 1st December 2023, which is exciting news if you will be travelling to the Yucatan this winter as you will be one of the very first people to ride this new train. (As soon as the website is up and ready, I will update this article accordingly).

Organise a taxi or a private transfer

Ride apps like Uber and Didi operate in Mexico and locals tend to prefer them to using official taxis. (Not only is Uber cheaper in Merida, but there is more accountability via the app as you have the drivers name, vehicle information, reviews and references).

Uber lists the price for the journey from Merida to Campeche as being between MX$1,843 and MX$2,484, although this rate may be higher at peak times.

You should note that it may be difficult to find a driver that is willing to take you to Campeche, just because of the distance between the two cities and the fact that they may not be able to get a return fare back to Merida.

Take an organised tour 

Since Campeche is still relatively off the beaten path, there are only a handful of tour operators that offer day trips here. (When I first moved here a few years ago, there were none!)

Some of the most reputable small-group excursions and private tours available on Viator are detailed below for your consideration. The great thing about doing a tour is that you dont need to worry about the logistics of getting from A to B, and hotel pick-up and drop off is included.

Not to mention, exploring Campeche with a local Yucatecan guide means that you have an expert on hand to ask any questions that you have, and you can gain more information and context than you would if you travelled here independently.

• Private tour to Campeche City from Merida
• Visit The Walled City of Campeche: City Highlights + Museums + a Workshop
• Half-day private tour of Campeche: the walled city

Is Campeche worth visiting?

Campeche City is well worth visiting and warrants at least an overnight stay, but you could easily while away an entire weekend here. The gorgeous port city is perched on the Gulf of Mexico and is locally renowned for offering some of the very best sunset views in the country.

Campeche City is characterised by its exquisite and well-preserved baroque colonial architecture, its UNESCO-protected old town, and its historic hilltop fortresses which have now been converted into museums. If you are really short on time, you can do Campeche as a day trip from Merida but it would be a long day of travel and you would barely have time to scratch beneath the surface. Since Campeche is so often overlooked (this is the least visited state in the Yucatan tri-state area), it is a lot more affordable and less crowded than destinations like Cancun, Tulum and even Merida.

Campeche Highlights

• Take the bus to Edzna, House of Itzas – one of the most impressive, yet forgotten Mayan ruins
• Hike up to the hilltop fortresses of San José and San Miguel and explore the museums within them
• Check out the fascinating exhibits at the Museo de Arqueología Subacuática (Underwater Archeology Museum) – including the oldest human remains in America
• Take a trip to the Calakmul archaeological site – a UNESCO world heritage site and part of the largest tropical rainforest in Mexico
• Dine at wonderful Campeche restaurants along Calle 59
• Stroll along the Malecon and sip pina coladas as you watch the sunset
• Indulge in beloved Campeche and Yucatan food specialities such as shrimp with coconut, or garlic octopus
• Meander through the walled UNESCO-protected old town, designed as such to defend from pirate attacks  
• Hire a local photographer and take incredible photos in front of the brightly coloured colonial buildings
• Learn more about Campeche’s history at the Museo De La Ciudad 

Accommodation Options in Campeche 

There are ample accommodation and hotel options in Campeche to suit every budget and travel style. You will find everything here from cheap and cheerful hostels to quaint independent guesthouses, and grand renovated Yucatan haciendas . A few suggestions are detailed below for your consideration. 

Hacienda Puerta Campeche, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Where: Calle 59. 71 Por 16 & 18, 24000 Campeche

Staying in an old Hacienda is an absolute must at some point during your time in Mexico. The Hacienda Puerta Campeche in Campeche is a gorgeous 16th-century hacienda in the historic district of downtown Campeche. 

It has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now one of several hacienda hotels managed by Marriott in Mexico. The property features a luxury spa where you can indulge in a relaxing massage or facial treatment. 

Several of the city’s main highlights and attractions are located within a short walking distance of the property. Take a stroll through the nearby X’much Haltún Botanical Garden before visiting the Museum of Mayan Architecture to see impressive ancient Mayan art.

After a long day of sightseeing, unwind with a swim in one of the hotel’s indoor or outdoor pools. Click here to see the latest room rates and availability at Hacienda Puerta Campeche. 

Hotel Maya Ah Kim Pech

Where: Calle 55, #4 Colonia Centro, 24000 Campeche, Mexico 

Hotel Maya Ah Kim P ech is an excellent budget choice, right in the heart of downtown Campeche. Rooms are available here for as little as $25 a night, without compromising on comfort or quality in any way. The property, housed in a quaint historic building, boasts an indoor pool and a charming courtyard area. Rooms feature flat-screen cable TVs, minibars, and iron, along with private bathrooms complete with toiletries and fluffy towels. 

Click here to see the latest room rates and availability at Hotel Maya Ah Kim Pech. 

Final thoughts on travelling from Merida to Campeche

It is definitely worth making the effort to travel from Merida to Campeche and I would recommend spending at least a couple of nights in this coastal city. If your schedule allows, you can also use Campeche City as a jump-off point for a wider exploration of the state.

From here, you can continue onwards to Yucatan pueblo magicos like Isla Aguada and Palizada, or to more remote ruins like Edzna, Chicanna, Becan, and Calakmul.

If you are doing a round trip and plan on heading back to Merida after exploring Campeche, you can also take a detour on the way back to stop by Celestun and see the wild flamingos, or visit Hecelchakán – a city that supposedly serves some of the best cochinita pibil (Yucatecan slow-cooked pork) in the region. 

If you have any other questions or queries, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. As I mentioned, I live in Merida and I have been to Campeche a bunch of times. (We have spent four weekends there in the last year alone so we have gotten to know it quite well.)

If you are traveling to Southern Mexico for the first time, you might also enjoy reading this post on the best time to travel to the Yucatan , or this suggested Yucatan itinerary .

I hope you have a safe and wonderful time in the Yucatan! Buen Viaje! Melissa xo 

Safe travels and enjoy Mexico! Buen Viaje! xo

Melissa Douglas

Similar posts.

22 Best Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula: Your 2024 Guide by a Local

If you are looking for the best Mayan ruins in the Yucatan to visit during your trip, you have come to the right place. I…

25 Fascinating Yucatan Peninsula Facts to Know Before You Go

It can be interesting to read and learn Yucatan peninsula facts if you have an interest in Mexican history and culture, especially if you plan…

Best Restaurants in Campeche: Your 2024 Guide by a Local

Looking for the best restaurants in Campeche? Look no further. This guide has been written by a local and showcases some of the best places…

How to Spend One Day in Merida Mexico: A Local’s Guide

One day in Merida Mexico isn’t a ton of time to dedicate to exploring the Yucatan’s cultured capital. But it’s enough to scratch beneath the…

How to Get from Merida to Chichen Itza in 2024: A Local’s Guide

If you are using Merida as your base during your time in the Yucatan, you are probably curious about how to get from Merida to…

Visiting the Mayapan Ruins in 2024: The Last Great Mayan City

The Mayapan ruins are among the most impressive ancient Mayan cities in southeastern Mexico and arguably, all of Latin America. They are located less than…

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

The Maya Train Will Get You to All of Yucatán’s Best Spots. But Not Yet.

In December, the train began running on its first route through Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. On a five-day journey a few months later, the author encountered enthusiasm, and scheduling hiccups.

By Elisabeth Malkin

Elisabeth Malkin has been visiting the Yucatán Peninsula for three decades.

I stepped off the platform at the gleaming new Maxcanú train station, eager to see the magnificent Maya archaeological site of Uxmal. All I needed was a taxi to take me there, a trip of about 30 miles away.

There are no taxis, said the stationmaster, as we stood on the polished limestone floors of the high-ceilinged station, which was cool and breezy despite the brilliant late-morning sun outside. And I was the third person in two weeks to get off at Maxcanú expecting to reach Uxmal, he said.

I was midway through a five-day trip to explore the brand-new Maya Train and several of its destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico . Designed to run 965 miles (1,554 kilometers) around a loop of 34 stations when completed, the train will whisk passengers in cool comfort through colonial cities, archaeological sites, splashy resorts and tropical forests.

Now I was stunned. Wrangling a taxi has never been a problem in Mexico. But the drivers gathered in the main square of Maxcanú offered only beat-up vans that hopscotch through small towns, where I might or might not find a taxi to Uxmal. The next van was leaving in 45 minutes.

Yucatán’s layers of history have long held me spellbound. During earlier car trips, I have clambered up deserted Maya temples and palaces, stepped into the cool naves of massive 16th-century churches and visited restored haciendas, testaments of the ostentation — and hardship — of the peninsula’s 19th-century plantation economy. Traveling by train, I thought, would allow me to steep myself in more of that history.

But as I found in Maxcanú, a train won’t necessarily get you to where you want to go.

During my February trip, I traveled on the only route then available, an east-west leg that opened in December and runs from Cancún to Mérida, and then south through the port city of Campeche to the Maya site of Palenque (a short route between Cancún and Playa del Carmen opened last month, with three trains a day). I encountered scheduling confusion, unfinished stations and a dearth of trains — just two operating daily each way between Cancún and Campeche, and only one to Palenque. Overnight sleepers and special dining trains seem years away.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador considers the Maya Train his showcase development project, and wants to inaugurate the rest of the train before he leaves office on October 1. Based on my experience, that goal seems elusive.

A $29-billion route through the jungle

I started my journey in Cancún, where in the pre-dawn gloom the station hovered like a glowing spaceship. An attendant scanned the ticket I had bought online and a half-dozen more pointed me toward my tourist-class car, which was about a quarter full. I planned to go to Campeche, about 300 miles away, stopping once each day. At 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) an hour, the train covers the route in about six hours, the same as a car. (When construction is complete, the train’s speed should increase to 160 kilometers an hour.)

The car’s wide windows looked out at a wall of low jungle. The blue-green seats were comfortable and there was ample space between the rows. I bought a very good cappuccino at the snack bar, but declined the plastic-wrapped sandwiches. The rest of the merchandise was fruit cups, milk boxes and junk food.

The train will ultimately cost much more than the $29 billion budgeted so far, and it’s not the first time ambitious planners have alighted on the region. Cancún was once a tiny fishing village, selected half a century ago as a tourist hub. Last year 10 million international tourists flew into its airport, more than the airports of Mexico City, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta combined.

But uncontrolled growth has stressed the Caribbean coast’s fragile environment. The Maya Train, scientists warn , will push those problems south, threatening the area’s water supply, its unique system of underground limestone caves and its vast nature reserves.

Mr. López Obrador has charged ahead, handing the train over to the military , and arguing that it will spread Cancún’s wealth and attract new visitors. Mexico received more than 42 million overseas tourists last year and they spent almost $31 billion .

Local governments see an opportunity. “The train will allow people to disperse throughout the peninsula,” said Michelle Fridman, the tourism secretary for Yucatán state, which promotes dozens of attractions far beyond highlights like Mérida and Chichén Itzá .

Now that the train is operating, transport companies will begin to connect stations with lesser-known sites nearby, she said.

It’s fair to ask whether the train is the most effective way to develop the peninsula’s tourism. Tour companies already run trips to many sites from major cities, which are well served by buses. Driving a rental car through most of the area is considered safe , according to U.S. State Department travel guidance .

Route of Mexico’s Maya Train

Canceled trip.

It took two hours (and one time-zone change) to reach Valladolid, a colonial city of handsome streets and ancient churches, where I bought the rest of my tickets at the station. A tourist-class ticket from Cancún to Valladolid costs 472 pesos (around $28) for foreigners and 355 pesos (around $21) for Mexicans. First class, with wider seats, costs 755.50 pesos and 566.50 pesos, and discounts are available for older travelers and residents of the five states along the train’s route. (A first-class bus from downtown Cancún to Valladolid costs between 222 and 344 pesos, depending on the time of day, and takes half an hour longer.)

It was impossible to run the new Maya Train tracks into dense city centers and the Valladolid station, like the rest, was outside the urban core. A waiting bus took disembarking passengers downtown, a 15-minute ride for 35 pesos.

That day I toured Ek Balam , the site of a ninth-century Maya kingdom that is dominated by a 100-foot palace distinguished by a facade of carvings depicting winged warriors, stylized animal features and geometric patterns bordered by giant fangs. Admission to the site includes entry to the X-Canché cenote, one of thousands of limestone sinkholes that were sacred to the Maya.

Later that afternoon, I was wandering through the Museum of Ethnic Clothing, a private collection of traditional dress, embroidery and hats, when a WhatsApp message from the ticket office blinked on my phone. My train scheduled for the following day was canceled.

I decided to deal with the problem in the morning and enjoy the city. As I wandered past the antique shops and boutique hotels of the elegant Calzada de los Frailes, it was clear that Valladolid’s tourism, and the infrastructure to handle it, was well established. The Maya Train is simply an alternative way to reach a city that tourists discovered years ago.

‘We’re on the Tren Maya!’

In the morning, I found that my train had not been canceled, but the station for which I had a ticket, Tixkokob, was closed. I got off instead one stop earlier at Izamal, known for its ocher streets and the giant Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Padua, built atop the ruins of a pyramid.

During the 90-minute ride, I heard widespread enthusiasm among fellow travelers who expressed a willingness to give the train time to work out the kinks. “We’re an experiment,” said Oliva Escobedo Ochoa, 64, who was vacationing from her home in central Mexico.

Leticia Iliassich, 57, who is Mexican, was traveling with her Croatian husband along with relatives from Mexico and Croatia. They had initially been scheduled on an earlier train to Mérida that had been canceled. “We knew that it was a new project,” she said. “We don’t mind.”

The group had already sent a video to friends declaring, “We’re on the Tren Maya!”

At the Izamal station I hitched a 15-minute ride into the town center with a man who had asked me to take his photo alongside the train and his father. From there I negotiated a taxi to Hacienda San Lorenzo Aké, a working hacienda that still turns the fiber from an agave plant called henequén into coarse rope. Global demand for henequén, known as Yucatán’s “green gold,” brought fantastic wealth to the region in the mid-19th century, speckling the peninsula with more than 1,000 haciendas. ( Many are now sumptuous hotels.)

Where geometry, nature and the divine merge

It was during my third day that I found myself stuck in Maxcanú, after a 90-minute train ride from Izamal. The stationmaster, an army captain, offered me a ride to Uxmal, just as he had to the stranded tourists before me.

Eying Uxmal’s 4 p.m. final ticket sale, I accepted.

My situation made it clear just how distant the Maya Train’s promises are for tourists seeking to explore more of Yucatán. In time, that will change, said Ms. Fridman, the tourism secretary. “The idea is to have more hotels along the train line,” she said. “That will happen little by little.”

But Uxmal , among the most stunning of the Maya sites, made up for the inconvenience. Uxmal’s grand buildings are faced with intricate decorative masks as well as friezes in which geometry, nature and the divine merge. New plaques at each structure offer detailed information in English and Spanish, part of the government’s investment in improving displays at Maya sites for the train project.

Most tourists either take day trips by car or bus to Uxmal from Mérida or stay at one of three nearby hotels. As I finished dinner at my hotel, the dining room began to fill up: 47 Polish tourists had arrived.

Panama hats and a cramped van

My plan for the day was to go by taxi to Bécal, a town where Panama hats are woven in limestone caves to keep the fibers soft, and then pick up the afternoon train in nearby Calkiní for the port city of Campeche.

But I spent so much time watching the hat-making demonstration and then fitting my new hat and buying gifts that we set off with little time to reach the station. To my chagrin, I missed the train, the last one of the day.

On Calkiní’s central square, I found a van that was leaving for Campeche. Cost: 65 pesos. Time: about 1 hour and 20 minutes, similar to what I would have spent on the train. Of course, I was trapped in a cramped seat and had to listen to the driver’s choice of sentimental ballads, but I was dropped off in downtown Campeche, close to my hotel.

The next day, I toured the Museum of Maya Archaeology , an expertly curated collection that included haunting jade funeral masks, glyphs and delicate ceramic figures.

José Madrigal, 45, an engineer from Fremont, Calif., was trying to make Maya pottery interesting for his twin sons. The boys had just turned 5 and their birthday present had been a ride on the Maya Train. “They love trains,” Mr. Madrigal said. Then the family moved on, keeping up a brisk clip through the museum. They had another train to catch.

Should you take the train?

Yes, if you are traveling between larger stations. The train also offers a way to get to Palenque, which is harder to reach and has roads with security concerns. Travelers can stow bicycles on board.

To see train times, check the destinations on the website . You cannot buy tickets online more than a week in advance. But when you finally board, the ride is smooth — and the coffee is excellent.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .