Keep exploring

Let’s take a short break in the tour to mention a few other places you might want to explore around Campeche, perfect if you’d like to discover more of the region. Very close to the city is Fort San Miguel, one of the forts built in the 18th century to protect Campeche from pirate attacks. Set on a hill overlooking the sea, it now houses the Maya Archaeology Museum and offers a beautiful view of the coastline. About 55 kilometers from here you’ll find Edzná, one of the most impressive Maya archaeological sites in the region. This ancient city reached its peak between the 6th and 9th centuries and is especially known for the Temple of the Five Stories, a monumental pyramid that rises above a vast ceremonial plaza. Not far from Campeche you can also visit Hacienda Uayamón, a former 19th-century plantation that has been carefully restored. It reflects the wealth of the era of large henequen estates, with stone buildings and imposing arches that evoke the lifestyle of the region’s great landowning families. If you follow the coast south, you’ll reach Champotón, a peaceful seaside town known for its beaches and seafood, but also for an important historical event. In 1517, Spanish conquistadors were repelled here by Maya warriors. Heading north, nature becomes the main attraction with the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve, a protected area famous for its mangroves and its small islands of vegetation known as petenes, where many bird species can be observed, including flamingos. A little farther away lies Isla Arena, a small and very authentic fishing village, ideal for spotting flamingos and exploring the mangroves by boat. Inland, the village of Becal is known throughout Mexico for the production of Panama hats made from jipi-japa fiber. Artisans often weave them inside small caves, where the humidity makes the fibers easier to work with. For archaeology enthusiasts, another spectacular site is Calakmul, one of the largest Maya cities ever discovered. Hidden deep in a vast nature reserve, its pyramids rise above the jungle and offer impressive views over the surrounding forest. Not far from there is Balamkú, a smaller but remarkable site known for an exceptionally well-preserved stucco frieze depicting Maya deities and cosmic symbols. Closer to Campeche, the town of Calkiní offers a calm and authentic atmosphere, with quiet streets, a local market, and a colonial church. Finally, along the coast you can visit Jaina, an ancient Maya funerary island famous for the ceramic figurines discovered in its tombs, representing musicians, nobles, and scenes from everyday life. All of these places show that the region around Campeche is not limited to its fortified city. Beyond the walls lies a territory rich in history, nature, and culture that is well worth exploring.