| From Celestun head towards carretera federal Rte. | | | | its time. The great defensive tactic was in its design; |
| 281 in the Easterly direction and follow closely all of the | | | | the path leading to the portcullis winds deliberately so |
| signs to reach Campeche. You will be driving through | | | | that battering rams could not be used on the gate. The |
| the following cities/towns to get to Campeche: Becal, | | | | fort's moat was crowded by pikes hidden beneath the |
| Calkini, Tenabo. From Tenabo you will have to turn | | | | murky waters. Currently, the ships and armaments |
| sharply towards south-west to arrive shortly at the | | | | have moved inside the fort for an impressive exhibit. |
| 'gates' of the great city of Campeche. | | | | The view from San Jose spreads over kilometers of |
| Campeche in Mayan language is called Äh Kin | | | | green shoreline giving way to the urban waterfront |
| Pech - or | | | | development. The "Bellavista" and "San Jose El Alto" |
| "The Place of the Serpents and Ticks". | | | | bus from the market will drop you halfway up the hill: a |
| Before-mentioned Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba | | | | five-minute walk will get you to the fort at the top. |
| by 1540, started to expand Campeche into a major | | | | (Open Tu-Su 8-8, Sunday free admission.) |
| trading port, building bulwarks, fortified churches, city | | | | - Museo de las Estelas Maya: Inside de Baluarte de la |
| gates and strongholds. As Campeche grew, it | | | | Soledad, off Calle 8 near Calle 57 behind el parque |
| attracted buccaneers and pirates. The city is vibrant | | | | principal, the museo houses a small collection of |
| with its lights, its pastel facades, its hanging lanterns | | | | well-preserved Mayan stelae and reliefs taken from |
| and beautiful cobblestone streets all built with colonial | | | | sites in the Campeche province. Visitors may climb the |
| architectural undertones. Campeche use to be just | | | | walls of the fort, which is surrounded by a park. A |
| another stopover on the way to Villahermosa (444km | | | | showroom across from the museum occasionally |
| southeast of Campeche), but no more, today it's a true | | | | features free exhibitions. (museum open M 8-2, tu-sa |
| tourist destination because of the city-sponsored | | | | 8-8 Su 8-6) |
| entertainments, beaches, nearby haciendas along Ruta | | | | - Jardin Botanico Xmuch'Haltun: Enclosed by the walls |
| Chenes and Ruta Rio Bec, and the biosphere reserves | | | | of the fuerte Santiago at the northwest corner of the |
| of Calakmul. | | | | city on Calles 8 and 51, the garden is a great place to |
| Major routes: Circuito Baluastes, circumscribes the old | | | | stop and rest. Over 250 species of plant thrive in a tiny |
| city. All major roads come together on the Circuito | | | | open-air courtyard shaded by trees and marked by |
| Baluastes, in the city centre. Avenida Gobernadores | | | | benches, fountains, and frogs. Open M-F 9-4 Sa 9-1 |
| comes in from Merida Highway northeast of the city, | | | | and Sun 9-1 |
| crosses the peripheral highway, and passes the airport, | | | | - La Purisima Concepcion: This glorious cathedral |
| train station, and bus terminals on its way to the | | | | served as a second refuge gathering place for the |
| Circuito. In order to arrive at the park, catch catch the | | | | Maya and Spanish communities. Right below it you can |
| "Gobernadores" bus across the street from the | | | | see El Parque Principal. The construction of the |
| terminal station. | | | | cathedral was ordered by Francisco de Montejo in |
| You can get a taxi from your hotel to the park since | | | | 1540. However, the cathedral has not been fully |
| the taxis are quite cheap. The city centre's east-west | | | | constructed until 1705. The cathedral's main attraction is |
| streets have odd numbers that increase to the south. | | | | its façade. Inside, you will find the Santo Entierro |
| Calle 8 runs north-south between the principal and the | | | | (Holy Burial), a sculpture of Christ in a carved |
| western city wall. Parallel to Calle 8 to the east lies | | | | mahogany sarcophagus replete with gold ornaments |
| Calles 10 and 16. The principal lies near the sea, | | | | inside a glass case with silver trim. (open daily 7-noon |
| bordered by Calles 8, 10, 55 and 57. To the west, | | | | FREE) |
| outside the city wall, Av. 16 de Septiembre and Ave. | | | | - Iglesia de San Francisco: This church can be |
| Ruiz Cortinez also run parallel to Calle 8. North of the | | | | encountered a rather farther distance from the city |
| centro, Calle 8 becomes Malecon Miguel Aleman, | | | | center. It was built in 1546 and is the first official place |
| running past the Iglesia de San Francisco, uphill to | | | | where the first Mesoamerican mass was held. This |
| Fuerte de San Jose El Alto. Avenida Resurgimiento, | | | | church was also a baptismal site of Hernando Cortes's |
| the coastal boardwalk south of the city, runs past the | | | | grandson. The three bells toll for humbleness, |
| youth hostel and the Fuerte San Miguel on its way to | | | | obedience, and chastity. Inside, yellow Corinthian arches |
| san Lorenzo and Seybaplaya. The Buses do not enter | | | | project toward an ornate altar. (Open daily 8-12) Right |
| the historic and colonial centers. The best time to enjoy | | | | now, you can own a condo in Mayan Riviera, use it as |
| Campeche is during the night when the city is light up | | | | home-base and explore parts of Yucatan Peninsula |
| by city lights. | | | | such as Campeche The best thing is that this |
| The Sites to Visit During Your Stay: | | | | condominium property can be rented out as a vacation |
| - Fuerte de San Miguel: This fort houses exhibits which | | | | spot and generate income to off-set your mortgage |
| clearly describe nearby ruins and displays Mayan | | | | payments. For more information visit: |
| jewelry, pottery, vessels from Edzba and a jade mask | | | | - Other sights: Sand and Beaches. The closest stretch |
| from Calakmul. If you like weaponry, the top level of | | | | of sand is at Playa Payucan - great for snorkeling. |
| the fort, proudly displays 19 cannons which gloom over | | | | Fauna, flora and ecotourism escapades are well |
| the sea and Campeche to the north of central | | | | programmed in Calakmul, which is the largest |
| watchtower. To visit the fort, you can take the | | | | biosphere reserve in Mexico covering 1.7 million acres. |
| "Lerma" bus from the eastern end of the Circuito | | | | This reserve in Campeche was a former Maya |
| Baluartes. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the | | | | ceremonial powerhouse containing over 6000 ruins. |
| Castillo parade and then walk up the steep hill on the | | | | From Campeche go south on 261 towards |
| left until you reach the fork on the road. Take the left | | | | Escarcega-Chetumal until you reach Rte. 186 Go 95 |
| turn leading up to the fort. | | | | km on Rte. 186, the town of Conhuas. The entrance is |
| - Fuerte de San Jose El Alto: This fort was built in | | | | on the right, through a 60 kilometer one-lane road. |
| 1762, San Jose was well-designed for defense during | | | | |