The state of Campeche, like the majority of states in the Gulf of Mexico, has been influenced by the Mayans as much as the Spanish, providing the area with almost 10 centuries of culture and history.
Campeche is located in the southeast of the Yucatán Peninsula and is bordered by the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Tabasco, as well as the neighboring countries of Guatemala and Belize. Its coasts are bathed by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The state is approximately 56,844 km2 and is divided into 11 municipalities: Calkini, Calakmul, Candelaria, Escárcega, Hecelchakán, Tenabo, Campeche, Hopelchén, Champotón, Carmen and Palizada.
Campeche brings in a lot of income for the country thanks to the oil deposits that generate two thirds of the nation’s production of crude oil. Agriculture is another valuable activity for the state. They produce rice, corn and sugar cane. Since Campeche is on the coast, fishing is also very important – principally shrimp. Cattle ranching is most prominent in the southwest portion of the state.
The state works to preserve and protect its flora and fauna in reserves like the Clakmul and Ría Celestún Biospheres.
Campeche belongs to a group called the “Mayan World” that attracts thousands of tourists every year. This group is made up of the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan and Quintana Roo as well as the countries of Belize, Honduras and Guatemala.
The state capital, Campeche, is a legendary city that preserves Mexican history. Here you can still feel the presence of the Spanish conquerors, the pirate invaders, and the fighting of the XIX century. This historical center is the main artery for the commercial, cultural, administrative and tourist activities of the state. Campeche is a blend of construction from the XVI, XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries with architecture of military, civil and religious buildings as well as the office complexes and houses from the XX century.
The most visible characteristic of the city of Campeche is its varied architecture. The most popular locations to visit are the historical districts and neighborhoods of San Román, San Franciso and Guadalupe where you can see places like Casa 6, Carvajal Mansion, the municipal archives building, Francisco de Paula Toro Theater, the main plaza of Campeche, the Municipal Palace, the Campeche library, and the Casa del Teniente del Rey. The most prominent religious buildings are the Church of Guadalupe, Campeche Cathedral, Church of San Román, Church of San Francisco and the San José Temple.
The military architecture is also an interesting part of Campeche like the Bulwarks of San Carlos, Santa Rosa, San Juan, San Francisco, San Pedro, Santiago, La Soledad, San Fernando and San José, the forts of San José and San Miguel, and the “baterías” of San Lucas, San Matías, and San Luis.
Another point of interest in Campeche is the 3.5 km Malecon (boardwalk) with beautiful coastal views.
Crafts are a part of the popular culture and for many residents, their main source of income. Another inherent part of the culture is their festivals. The most popular of these are the Candelaria Festival, Carnival, Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, the San Joaquín Fair, the San Román Fair and the San Francisco Fair.
The people of Campeche are known for the warmth and hospitality they extend to visitors. Here you will find a large number of hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, museums, forts and many more services and activities for all tastes and budgets.
