Amber Alcocer During the month of December, I decided to travel to see my family who lives in the city of Mérida. The mansions, museums, galleries, restaurants in open patios and walking for several hours in the historic center is something that I really enjoy every time I visit my city. I wanted to do something different, I was thinking about maybe going to the beach or some Mayan ruin and then I realized that I had never toured the neighboring state of Campeche as a tourist. I was surprised to see on the map how close it was, less than 2 hours by car, I packed a small suitcase with clothes and ventured towards the center of Campeche.
When I arrived in Campeche, the first thing I did was go for a walk in the historic center and I loved how beautiful its well-preserved colonial houses were.
It is a very colorful city and something that I noticed was the kindness of its inhabitants. While I was walking and seeing something to take a photo of, cars stopped so I could photograph the beautiful facade of some building.
The Campeche Cathedral was built in 1540. “El Mozo”, son of Francisco de Montejo, founder of the city of Mérida, decided to establish a Spanish seat which he called San Francisco de Campeche. The day I arrived, there was a market in the main park. You can take a tour of the city in the little red truck.
Campeche is one of the few walled cities in America. It was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 for preserving its historical heritage in perfect condition. The Fort of San Jose is also a museum called the Museum of Underwater Archeology, the entrance costs $50 and you can see Campeche from above.
Due to its location in the Gulf of Mexico, it was one of the favorite sites for English and French pirates. Campeche has walls that began construction in 1686 and were completed in the 1700s to defend against buccaneers. I visited the San Juan and San Francisco bastions and also the Puerta de Tierra.
The very well preserved houses with very nice details are something that you can find in the main streets of Campeche, in addition to the fact that the street is closed and it is very comfortable to walk during the day and at night as well, I loved how safe it is. city.
The construction of Fort San José was completed in 1792. It has a view of the sea, which made it easier to detect pirates arriving on the windward coast. You can see all of Campeche from there.
From the top of the Puerta de Tierra bastion, you can see the little houses and you can see the cathedral as well. You can walk on the wall and see around the city.
The city of Campeche, in addition to being full of very interesting history, has picturesque corners perfect for taking photos in every corner. I didn't miss the opportunity and took lots of photos.
Something that I really loved was Calle 59, during the day it is perfect for walking and eating something while you explore the city and at night it is ideal for having a drink and making friends. My favorite refreshing drink was sangria and I asked for recommendations as to what to order to eat. I have heard that dogfish bread is very good, I have yet to try it.
I really enjoyed my stay in Campeche even though it was a short time, I explored as much as I could. I can't wait to return and see a little more about the ruins, jungles, haciendas, and so many beautiful things that Campeche has to offer.
Any suggestions for places to visit in Campeche? If so, I would appreciate the recommendations in the comments below.
