CAMPECHE

The city of Campeche, the capital of the state of Campeche, is located in the southern Gulf Coast region, 387 km (240 mi) northeast of Villahermosa, Tabasco, and 177 km (110 mi) southwest of Merida, Yucatan. The climate is tropical, with an average year-round temperature of 26º C (79º F). The city gets rainfall during the summer and autumn.

At this old commercial port, a giant wall still stands that once protected the city from pirate attacks in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. In this walled city, you?ll see two forts (one of which houses a museum), seven bulwarks and two main gates (the Sea Gate and Land Gate). Thanks to these monuments and the spectacular buildings in the Historic Center, such as the Cathedral and the Templo de Guadalupe, the UNESCO declared Campeche a World Heritage Site in 2002. Without question, Campeche has one of the most well preserved historic centers in the nation.

During your stay, we recommend that you visit the Museo de la Cultura Maya, housed in the San Miguel Fort, and the Museo de las Estelas Mayas, which exhibits regional art in the San Pedro Bulwark. At night, don?t miss the fascinating light and sound show at the Fort of San Jose El Alto. After the show, you can take a walk along the Historic Center?s cobblestone streets, where you?ll see a wide variety of stores, restaurants, bars and cafes. You can also take a stroll down the beautiful 3.5-km (2-mi) boardwalk, which leads to a tourist walkway, parks and a bicycle track.

In Campeche?s surrounding areas, you can enjoy an outdoor adventure at the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve, which is the habitat of hundreds of pink flamingoes. In addition, you can check out Calakmul, one of the largest biosphere reserves in the nation, which also has an interesting Mayan archaeological zone. Calakmul is a great spot to go camping, mountain biking and hiking.

During your visit to Campeche, don?t forget to try the tamales with chaya leaves and the pan de cazon (tortillas stuffed or layered with shark, beans and salsa), among other regional Mayan cuisine. For all that and much more, Campeche is an excellent destination to discover history, traditions and exciting adventures.