| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
251km (156 miles) SW of Mérida; 376km (233 miles) NE of Villahermosa Campeche, the capital of the state of the same name, is a beautifully restored colonial city. The facades of all the houses in the historic center of town have been repaired and painted, all electrical and telephone cables have been routed underground, and the streets have been paved to look cobbled. Several Mexican movie companies have taken advantage of the restoration to shoot period films here. Despite its beauty, not many tourists come to Campeche. Those who do, tend to be either on their way to the ruins at Palenque or the Río Bec region or the kind of travelers who are accidental wanderers. A couple of things do need to be said: Campeche is not geared to foreign tourism the way Mérida is, so expect less in the way of English translations and such at museums and other sights. Also, expect less in the way of nightlife, except on weekend nights when they block off the main square for a street party. Calakmul is a large and important site, with the tallest pyramid in the Yucatán peninsula, and if you're going that far, you should stop at Balamkú and perhaps a few other ruins in the area. From the Campeche side you can get information and contract a tour with one of several tour operators. You can also rent a car. Calakmul is too far away for a day trip. There are a few small hotels in the area. Hotel Del Mar in Campeche has two: Chicanná Eco-village and Puerta Calakmul. From the Ca
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