Campeche

The state of Campeche with the city of the same name is located in the center of the Yucatán Peninsula directly on the strategically important route between Chetumal on the Caribbean coast and Villahermosa near the Gulf Coast. This coastal town protected itself from pirates with forts and city walls during its colonial heyday. Campeche is a charming colonial town with inviting little alleys and arcades. The former Spanish walled fortress, built because of numerous pirate attacks, is partially preserved, and now houses museums and galleries. The region is also known as the “Rio Bec” zone, a name of a local architectural style typical of the area. In the same region are also found the ruins of Chicanná, Calakmul, Bécan and Xpujil, all of which are little visited.