2-Day Campeche and Calakmul Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Campeche is your base for all four nights, and the long day south starts from here.Details

Getting here: Campeche has a small airport, and many travelers come by a long bus or road trip from Mérida or from the Yucatán coast. Book the ride to your door ahead, and plan to arrive in daylight.
Getting around: The walled city is small and flat, so walk it. The fort sits on a hill outside the walls, a short taxi ride away. Edzná and Calakmul need a car with a driver, a rental or a small group trip with a local operator.
Heat and care: The Gulf coast is hot and humid for much of the year, and the sun is strong even on cloudy days. Bring a hat, sun cream, repellent and water, wear light long sleeves, and plan your walking for the morning and the evening.
First evening: Day 1 starts in the cathedral square, so settle in and take an easy stroll after dark, when the streets cool and the old walls are lit. Spanish is the language of the streets, and a few words go a long way.

How much walking? On foot, about 0.2 kilometers a day, and 387.9 kilometers by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Day 1. The walled city and the waterfront

4 stops · 0.2 km on foot, 8.1 km by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
MorningIndoor
Campeche Cathedral
The cathedral on the main square of the old town, a church of the Immaculate Conception built over a long stretch of the colonial period, with two towers and a pale, carved front. The square in front of it has trees, benches and a bandstand, and it is where the town meets. It is a working church, so stay quiet during services.
Go when Morning, while the square is cool and quiet.
Local tip It is a working church, so cover your shoulders and stay quiet during services. Sit on a bench in the square afterward and watch the town wake up.
Photo: lapin.lapin, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 13 min by car or transit4.1 km
2
AfternoonIndoor
Fuerte de San Miguel
A fort on a hill south west of the town, built in the 18th century to guard the coast, with a moat, ramparts and cannons that look out over the Gulf. Inside, a museum shows Maya objects from sites across the region. A short taxi ride from the old town.
Go when Afternoon, once the heat begins to ease.
Local tip Walk the ramparts for the view over the Gulf, and ask the taxi driver to wait or to come back for you. The museum inside is a cool, indoor stop.
Photo by Armando Guerrero on Unsplash
Lunch
Pan de cazón
A dish of Campeche: layers of tortilla filled with shredded dogfish, black beans and a tomato sauce, eaten with a squeeze of lime.
Local tip Ask for the sauce on the side and eat it soon after it is made.
About 12 min by car or transit3.9 km
3
Afternoon
Calle 59 and Calle 57
Two of the pedestrian streets of the old town, lined with painted houses in pastel colours, with iron balconies and tiled floors. Calle 59 runs between the two gates and has arcades and cafes. Walk slowly and look up at the cornices.
Go when Afternoon into evening, once the shade returns.
Local tip Look up at the colours of the houses and down at the old tiled floors in the doorways. Stop in the shade of an arcade when the sun is strong.
About 2 min walk0.2 km
4
Evening
Puerta de Mar
The sea gate of the old walls, where goods from ships once entered the town. Today it opens onto a small plaza, and the walls on either side hold the bastions. A good place to be as the light turns gold and the town comes out to walk.
Go when Evening, as the light softens (about 5:43 PM).
Local tip Stand in the gateway and picture the ships at the quay beyond it. It is a good place to wait for the evening walk.
Dinner
Shrimp and a cold drink
Campeche is known for its shrimp, served in a cocktail with lime or fried with garlic, at a table where the street is cool.
Local tip Ask what came in today, and drink plenty of water.

If it rains. Campeche Cathedral and Fuerte de San Miguel are covered, so keep them. Move Calle 59 and Calle 57 and Puerta de Mar to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. Calakmul and the southern road and Edzná

2 stops · 379.8 km by carAbout 5 h 22 min driving

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

Drive from Puerta de MarAbout 2 h 55 min by car208.1 km
Where Day 1 ended.
1
Midday
Calakmul
One of the largest Maya cities, deep in the Calakmul biosphere reserve, a vast area of protected forest. Tall pyramids stand among the trees, and from the top of the highest the forest spreads in every direction. Wildlife such as monkeys and birds lives in the reserve, but it cannot be promised on any visit.
Go when Morning, as early as your road allows.
Local tip The road in is long, so check its condition, the distance and any guide or entry rules ahead, and consider a night nearby. Bring water, food, repellent and a layer, and keep wildlife at a distance. It cannot be promised.
Photo: PashiX, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 2 h 27 min by car171.7 km
2
MiddayBest early
Edzná
A Maya city inland from Campeche, set in open country. The central pyramid, called the Building of Five Floors, rises above a wide plaza, and the people who lived here dug canals and water works around it. Climbing rules can change, so check ahead on what is open.
Go when Morning, as early as you can.
Local tip There is little shade in the wide plaza, so bring a hat and water. Ask about climbing rules on the day, and walk slowly to look at the stonework.
Photo: Manuel de Corselas, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Pork baked in banana leaf
Pork marinated in a sour orange and spice paste, then baked in a banana leaf, a dish of the peninsula, served in tacos with pickled onion.
Local tip Add the hot sauce a little at a time.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Calakmul is a very long day, so the morning after it is best kept free.Details

Getting out: Book the ride to the airport or the bus station the day before, since the long road from Calakmul can run late. Leave a little margin on a wet day, when the highways slow down.
What to take home: Look for handwoven hats, embroidered cloth and sweets made from local fruit. Carry the sweets in your hand luggage, and ask the seller to wrap anything fragile.
If you have a few hours: Walk the Malecón once more in the cool of the morning, or sit in the cathedral square with a cold drink under the trees.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Campeche?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to February and November to December are the most comfortable months for walking around Campeche. This plan is built for january to March, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Campeche, planned for january to March. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

On foot, about 0.2 kilometers a day, and 387.9 kilometers by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.