A Travel Guide to Campeche: Best Things to Do
San Francisco de Campeche often shortly called Campeche is a colorful city on the Yucatan Peninsula which attracts visitors by the colonial architecture, UNESCO designated historic center and Mayan ruins. This often underrated city has so much to offer, and if you plan on visiting this place, read our travelers' guide on the best things to see and do in Campeche, to inspire your wanderlust.
Mexico has way too many colonial cities with beautiful colorful houses lining cobblestone streets. This might be the reason why Campeche still did not make it on the front page of travel magazines and destinations guides.
On one side it is a shame as Campeche for sure has so many great things to see and do, and it is by no means worse than other popular stops on travelers' Mexico itineraries such as Merida or Oaxaca.
On the other hand, it is exactly the place where all travelers would like to be had they have known about this place earlier.
Although Campeche is the capital of Mexico's state carrying the same name, you would have never guessed it is so large when walking its streets.
This was actually something we noticed a lot in Mexico, as many cities we visited had one thing in common - they were usually large urban areas with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants, but the historic center was usually very quiet and had the small-town feel.
It was something we for sure appreciated, and it was also one of the reasons why we have visited so many of them.
Being a UNESCO-listed city, Campeche has its charm, and according to our opinion, it is one of the prettiest cities on the Yucatan Peninsula, it only needs to be discovered but in moderation, of course.
CAMPECHE IN MEXICO
And what should persuade you to travel to Campeche if you ask us? What are the best things to see and do in the city?
Well, keep on reading, but we can give you a small hint. One Mayan ruin only an hour away from the city, pastel-painted houses, the best market in Mexico, location on the coast, beautiful architecture and well-preserved walls which used to protect the city against invaders.
These are in short reasons why to travel to Campeche.
BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CAMPECHE
If you want to escape the crowds from Riviera Maya, you are at the right place here.
The best thing about exploring Campeche is that you can see most of the highlights and must-do attractions on foot, and only rarely you will have to rely on public transport or taxi.
Here's the best of what we've discovered in Campeche.
Calle 59
Without any intention to see one of the most popular streets in Campeche for dining, we ended up walking around, and it caught our eyes in an instant.
Calle 59 is a pedestrian street, so you do not need to worry about traffic, and you can enjoy walking freely around some of the best restaurants in Campeche.
There is only one hard decision to make - which restaurant you are going to choose.
Fuerte San Miguel & Fuerte San Jose El Alto
Each side of Campeche near the coast is guarded by two fortresses - Fuerte San Miguel and Fuerte San Jose el Alto.
Each fortress is located on a small hill overlooking the sea, and although they are not that far from the city center, you might prefer to get there either by taxi or public transport.
Both fortresses are places where you can learn more about pirate invasions and about the ways how was the city protected.
For a small fee, you can get inside the fort, get a pretty view from its walls, visit a museum, only plan ahead, as both forts are closed on Monday.
Malecon
The waterfront promenade is one of the most popular places where to be among both locals and foreign visitors when the sun is about to set.
The pavement runs alongside the Gulf of Mexico, and you can meet here many people jogging, cycling, walking or having a picnic.
When walking along the coast, you cannot miss the statue of Bride of the Sea, and nearby you can also find large colorful letters creating the word Campeche - a popular photo spot for tourists.
Puerta de Tierra
From 1732 when Puerta de Tierra alias the Land Gate was built it served as the main entrance to the city. Although it is not the main gate to Campeche any more, Puerta de Tierra is a must-see landmark when in the city.
Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (check with the tourism office of Campeche if days hadn't been changed) the gate is lit, and visitors can watch an illumination show reminding us the pirate's past.
Another, but less popular gate you can see in Campeche is Puerta de Mar (Sea Door).
Colorful Streets
We found the largest concentration of picturesque colorful houses between Iglesia de San Juan and Parque Principal, but the historic center is literally dotted with pastel-facade houses.
Take your camera in hand, and get lost in the labyrinth of cobblestone streets.
We felt absolutely safe in Campeche, but as usual, use your common sense and do not lose yourself in the moment too much.
Mercado
When we were booking our accommodation, we did not know it is right next to one of the best markets in Mexico.
Thanks to the fact that Campeche is still not a touristy city, the central market is completely authentic, and you can find here anything you can think of from fruits, vegetables to flowers.
We did shop here every day, and we also ate here lunch - delicious tortas. You do not need to worry here about the hygiene, the market looks very solid.
Iglesia de San Juan
Church of Saint Juan was one of the prettiest buildings we saw in Campeche.
But now, when looking on our photos retrospectively, we realized that it was not the church itself why we liked the place that much.
It was rather the settings (the church is situated on a small plaza surrounded by colorful houses) and the peaceful atmosphere.
Baluarte de Santa Rosa
Some of the city's bastions survived until today, and you can even walk inside the structure and climb to the top to get a better view of the city and see yet another way how Campeche was protected.
When we went inside Baluarte de Santa Rosa no one was there except for staff, and we were not sure if we should pay something.
But at the end, we only had to write our names down in a book.
Parque Principal
The main plaza in Campeche is a place you cannot miss when in the city. The number one sight here is Campeche's Cathedral, Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion.
But the colorful houses with high archways, full-grown trees and a rounded gazebo in the middle of the square are worth noticing as well.
Teatro de la Ciudad Francisco de Paula Toro
As Mexico was the last country we visited on our year-long journey around South America and Central America, we must admit that at the end we were lousy travelers, and we did not plan much ahead what we want to see and do in the city, we simply walked around.
But the theatre building with high white columns captured our eyes immediately, and we knew it must be one of Campeche's most important buildings.
Edzna Ruins
If there is one reason to travel outside Campeche, it is Edzna Ruins.
Only an hour ride by colectivo, or rental car (if you plan on exploring Mexico this way) lies Edzna Ruins.
It's one of the best ruins in Mexico we've visited in Mexico, and believe us that we've seen quite many of them.
Apart from the outstanding structures such as Pyramid of the Five Floors, we liked the best about Edzna Ruins that for one hour straight it was only us on the ground - a situation which had never happened to us in any archeological site in Mexico.
WHERE TO STAY IN CAMPECHE
Campeche is a pretty colonial city, and it is for sure better to stay close to the city center as the place is picturesque, and you will be able to get almost everywhere on foot.
We've handpicked three hotels for every budget and every type of traveler.
Budget | Melisa Hostal - It is not easy to find a typical backpacker hostel in Campeche at a cheap price. This hostel offers a friendly atmosphere, clean rooms, a shared kitchen, an outdoor pool, and a central location.
Mid-range | Hotel Plaza Colonial - This lovely hotel offers air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, free private parking, and a superb location - an excellent value for money.
Luxury | Hacienda Puerta Campeche a Luxury Collection Hotel - Great location, excellent rooms in a restored mansion, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and tasty breakfast are the main reasons why to stay here.
HOW TO GET TO CAMPECHE
Although Campeche is still not the most popular city to make it on every travelers' itinerary, still it is a large city, and you won't have a problem to find a connection to Campeche or from Campeche to your next destination.
We traveled to the city from Merida (only 2 hours away from Campeche), and our onwards travels took us to Palenque (6 hours ride). Most of the time we traveled in Mexico by ADO buses.
When short on time, Campeche has an international airport so you can fly in.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHAT TO PACK
Campeche is a laidback city, where you need only a couple of essential things to pack with you.
Weather in Campeche is usually warm, but the rainy season starts in May and ends in October, and during this time you will likely experience afternoon showers.
Daypack | You do not need to pack much when exploring Campeche, that's why this daypack is a good option.
Umbrella | If you plan on visiting the area during rainy season, it is wise to pack an umbrella or rain poncho.
Short-Sleeved T-Shirt | As it can be incredibly hot in Campeche, pack a breathable t-short with you.
Sunglasses | Do not take sun protection in Mexico lightly, sunglasses with UV protection are must-have.
Travel Camera | Campeche and Edzna ruins are a photographers' heaven, and camera should never stay in your room.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
