The city of Campeche on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is a perfect example of a typical colonial-era Spanish harbor town. Situated right on the waterfront, Campeche’s historic center is beautifully restored and remains surrounded by a 2.5 km hexagon of bulwarks. Buildings throughout the historic center are painted bright shades of pastels and trimmed in white. Campeche’s central plaza is a popular gathering place, as is the city’s palm-lined pedestrian pathway, or malecón. Both are sources of pride for local residents and the city was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999.
From the World Heritage inscription:
Campeche is a typical example of a harbour town from the Spanish colonial period in the New World. The historic centre has kept its outer walls and system of fortifications, designed to defend this Caribbean port against attacks from the sea.
The nearby Edzná archaeological site located just 53 km southeast of the city makes for an interesting day trip. Campeche also serves as a great jumping off point for visiting the nearby city of Mérida and exploring the pyramids at Chichén Itzá.
If you’ve purchased cheap flights to Mexico you’ll have the opportunity to visit Campeche. International travelers headed to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula should book flights to Cancún International Airport or Mérida International Airport.
Photo credit: via flickr
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I started checking off the UNESCO sites I’ve visited. My main conclusion was, not enough!
Looks like a gorgeous town I love the colourful buildings!