Campeche & Around
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©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Campeche & Around Why Go? Campeche . 196 Tucked into the southwestern corner of the Yucatán Penin- Hecelchakán . 205 sula, Campeche state is home to serene villages, vast stretch- es of tangled jungle, bird-dotted mangroves and lagoons, Bécal . .206 and some of the region’s most imposing Maya ruins – many Hopelchén . 207 of which you might have all to yourself. On deserted beaches Chenes Sites . 208 endangered turtles lay their eggs, while offshore playful dol- Edzná . 209 phins frolic in the surf. The walled capital city of Campeche Champotón . 211 is the region’s cultural epicenter, providing a great jumping- off point for your adventures into this offbeat hinterland. Sabancuy . 211 Campeche is the least visited of the Yucatán’s states, laced Isla Aguada . 212 through with lonely back roads, friendly people, quiet coast- Ciudad del Carmen . .212 lines and a provincial, lost-land charm. It makes a welcome Calakmul . .215 break from the tourist hordes that descend around the pe- ninsula’s more popular destinations; here you’ll find peace Chicanná & Becán . .217 and surprising attractions. Xpujil . 218. When to Go ¨ Visit Campeche city any time of year, though high season is Best Places to from mid-December to Easter. Hotel prices are at their peak Eat during this time, but there are also some merry festivities – especially Carnaval (late February to early March). ¨ Río Bec Dreams Restaurant (p218) ¨ The dry months of November through March are most pleasant for visiting Calakmul and its nearby sites. Also, ¨ Luz de Luna (p203) during the rainy season access is often limited because of ¨ La Fuente (p213) muddy roads. ¨ To set turtle hatchlings free in Sabancuy, be there from April to October (peak June to August). Best Places to Stay ¨ Hotel López (p202) ¨ Río Bec Dreams (p218) ¨ Hacienda Puerta Campeche (p202) 195 0 100 km 0 50 miles Sisal Conkal Dzibilchaltún Motul MÉRIDA Celestún International Acanceh Reserva de la Airport Reserva de la Biosfera Ría MEX 180 Valladolid Biosfera Los Petenes Celestún (160km) La Costa Ruinas de Bécal Mayapán Ticul Calkiní C Uxmal Kabah amp c u u Isla de JainaHecelchakán P MEX 184 Ruta e Bolonchén C G u l f o f de Rejón he & A Tenabo MEX Grutas de M e x i c o 180 MEX San 261 X'tacumbilxuna'an CAMPECHE MEX Antonio 261 Cayal Tohcok Yucatánroun Hopelchén China MEX 120 Ich-Ek Seybaplaya Iturbide Pakchén Dzibilnocad c MEX 261 Edzná Pich El Tabasqueño H Simochac Dzibalchén ighlights Chencoh Champotón Hochob Ucum Bahía de MEX Campeche Playa 180 Campeche Xmaben Varadero Reserva Atasta Southwestern Coast MEX 261 Miguel Colorado de la Peninsula Sabancuy Biosfera Calakmul Isla del Puerto Isla Villahermosa Carmen Real Aguada (112km) Isla de Pájaros Zoh-Laguna Zacatal MEX Atasta Laguna de 186 Balamkú Xpuhil Chetumal Ciudad Términos Becán (110km) Escárcega del Conhuas Carmen Chicanná Xpujil Hormiguero Río o MEX Bec id d 186 n Candelaria o Jonutla Laguna Calakmul sc El Tigre Misteriosa E Monclova Reserva de la Biosfera Río Calakmul Villahermosa (65km) Emiliano Catazajá Zapata MEX 186 Parque Nacional Mirador- Palenque Reserva de la Dos Lagunas-Río Azul Chiapas (20km) Biosfera Maya GUATEMALA Campeche Highlights 1 Stroll through history significant Maya ruins near of deserted beach along the along the colonial streets of Campeche southwestern coast (p210) Campeche (p196), lined with 3 Spot dolphins and 5 Haul yourself up the pastel-hued buildings and seabirds from Isla Aguada massive pyramids of edged by stone ramparts (p212), or set turtle hatchlings Calakmul (p215) while the 2 Explore the large and free at Sabancuy (p211) calls of howler monkeys impressive complexes of 4 Eat some fresh seafood reverberate in surrounding Edzná (p209), the most or find yourself a little patch jungle.