Campeche

🏰 Campeche: the fortified city with the colors of the past

📍 Location

• Capital of the state of the same name, San Francisco de Campeche is located on the west coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Mexico.
• She is one of the rare fortified cities in Latin America, and the only one from Mexico to have preserved its colonial ramparts intact.

🏛️ History and heritage

• Founded in 1540 by the Spanish conquistadors on the ruins of the ancient Mayan city Ah Kin Pech.
• Thanks to its strategic position, it became a major commercial port between Europe and the colonies of the New World.
• Victim of many pirate attacks, the city was fortified in the 17th century with ramparts, bastions, and coastal forts as San Miguel and San José.
• Classified UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 for the exceptional conservation of its historic center.

🎨 Architecture and atmosphere

• The city center is a a real open-air museum : colonial houses in pastel facades, carved doors, wrought iron balconies, and cobbled streets.
• The ramparts offer a panoramic walk between bastions and watchtowers, with views of the sea and colorful rooftops.
• The Independence Square, the heart of the city, is bordered by the baroque cathedral, the shaded arcades, and the lively cafes.

🖼️ Museums and culture

• City Museum : traces colonial history and the struggles against pirates.
• Museum of Mayan Architecture : presents the archaeological sites of the region as Edzná, Calakmul, and Santa Rosa Xtampak.
• Piracy Museum : installed in the San Francisco bastion, it evokes maritime legends and famous figures of the Caribbean.

🌊 Nature and excursions

• Nearby : ruins of Edzná, a majestic Mayan city 60 km away.
• Isla Aguada and the mangroves of the Términos lagoon offer boat rides to observe dolphins, birds, and tropical fauna.
• Xtacumbilxunaan Caves and colonial haciendas as Uayamon immerse the visitor in a rural and mystical Mexico.

🍽️ Local gastronomy

• Typical cuisine: pan de cazón (fish lasagna), camarones al coco, pescado tikin-xic, and candied papaya sweets.
• The markets and cantinas offer a friendly atmosphere, between Yucatecan flavors and Caribbean influences.

✨ Why Campeche is unforgettable

It is a city where time seems to stand still, where each facade tells a story, and where colonial calm blends with tropical warmth. Campeche is elegant, discreet, and deeply captivating — a cultural and sensory stopover off the beaten track.