Day 21: Palenque - Visit the tourist places of Campeche
Today we begin a new stage in the trip to Mexico in 45 days that will take us to visit the tourist places of Campeche, after the incredible day yesterday, making the Tour to Yaxchilan and Bonampak from Palenque.
With this new stage in Campeche, the day starts very soon, at 4 in the morning, taking advantage to work a little and when it is 7 o'clock, go down to the breakfast room of the Hotel Chablis Palenque, which has been our accommodation in Palenque, for punctures at 7:30 go to the ADO station, which is only 150 meters away, to catch a bus at 8 that will take us to Campeche.
Being Christmas day, we thought the streets would be more lonely, but even being so soon, the station is already in full activity. Punctual we leave, enjoying a last bus journey on the trip to Mexico for free, since tomorrow we will pick up the rental car, in which the gray and rainy sky with which we wake up today in Palenque, becomes an incredibly sky sunny as we get closer to Campeche.
Approaching Campeche
The vegetation continues to surround us during practically the whole journey for after two stops, 10 minutes each in Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Escárcega, when it is 1:30 p.m. to arrive at the ADO terminal in Campeche.
The Francis Drake Hotel, which will be our accommodation in Campeche the next two days is 3 kilometers away, so we take a taxi that leaves us at 40 pesos in the hotel in less than 10 minutes.
Touch a quick check-in and camera around the neck go to visit the tourist places of Campeche, a beautiful maritime city, which we are looking forward to meet and that has received us with a splendid day.
Campeche
It's a little after 2 in the afternoon, so before you get to know the tourist places of CampecheWe decided to stop first at La Parrilla Colonial, the most recommended restaurant in Campeche, where we tried the famous coconut shrimp, grilled octopus, corn cake, more beer, lemon water and two espresso for 893 pesos.
Coconut shrimp in La Parrilla Colonial
The truth is that the food is very good, although we believe that the prices are quite high for what we have eaten, in addition to trying to put in the account a 20% service, something that is the first time that happens in Mexico , where since we arrived, the times that include it in the account, has always been 10%.
And so, at 15:30 we get to know the places to visit some of the tourist places of Campeche, today December 25, that the city is quiet and gives us a unique atmosphere, in which to discover this colorful city , which has caught us as soon as we set foot on it.
We only need a few minutes to fall in love with this beautiful city and decide, as it happened in San Cristóbal de las Casas, that this is one of the perfect places to spend a little season and enjoy it with tranquility to small sips, as we like to do in this type of sites.
Although tomorrow we will have all day to tour the city, this afternoon we propose to have a first vision of the tourist places of Campeche, first getting lost in its streets full of color, something we believe, is the best introduction to get to know the city.
What tourist places to visit Campeche
Campeche is one of the essential cities or places to visit in Mexico that you cannot miss.
With a walled historic center, in which the little streets of pastel-colored houses seem to be taken from a story, we recommend, in addition to visiting the tourist places of Campeche, lose yourself in its historic center without a map, letting yourself be carried only by the senses. We are sure you will not regret it.
Campeche tourist attractions
Main square
The nerve center of the city of Campeche, the Main Square is that place where everyone passes at some time or another during their visit. With a wooded area and a central kiosk that takes us to earlier times, this area is closed to traffic on weekends and holidays, being the perfect time to enjoy the surrounding environment.
Campeche Main Square
Cultural center
Open from 9 in the morning to 9 at night, the Cultural Center is one of the most representative places of the city, both for its architecture, which highlights beautiful arches overlooking the Cathedral of the city, as for its interior, which today houses different exhibition halls.
Cultural center
Cathedral from the Cultural Center
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Another of the tourist places of Campeche that you can not miss is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, which highlights its two towers that seem to preside over the Main Square and the historic center of the city.
Campeche Cathedral
San Jose's Extemplo
Open from 10 in the morning to 8 in the afternoon, the Extemplo de San Jose is an ideal place to stop and admire the beautiful ornamentation and the characteristic yellow and blue tiles.
Church of the Sweet Name of Jesus
Less known than the previous one, but equal or more visual for its yellow facade, this church is another of the places that we recommend visiting in the city.
Church of the Sweet Name of Jesus
Earth Gate
Military construction that was built as a defense of the city, is one of the accesses to the historic center of Campeche. It is the perfect access to reach the San Francisco Bastion.
Earth Gate
Forts and Bastions
Although in Campeche you can see and visit several Baluartes, we recommend you to know the San Francisco Bastion, in which for 15 pesos per person, you can also visit a small exhibition to learn more about the city and its history and then climb through a ramp to the walls, where you can walk for almost a kilometer and have a unique perspective of the city.
Bastions of Campeche
Views of Campeche from the Bulwark
Stroll through Campeche
Undoubtedly this is one of the most recommended things in the city and is that much of its charm is in its streets, which, as we said before, seem taken from a painting. Although the historic center of the city can be visited in a couple of hours, we recommend you reserve a minimum of one more pair to get lost in the different streets.
Campeche
Although Calle 59 is one of its best known streets, where most restaurants are located, we recommend getting lost in the less known streets. Believe it or not, the entire historic center follows the line of pastel-colored houses and it is a real luxury to be able to walk through them.
Of course, we warn you, Campeche if you are a photography lover, it is a danger. We are sure that you will not save the camera or to eat.
59th Campeche Street
Campeche doors
Puerta del Mar
In the opposite part to the Puerta de la Tierra is the Puerta del Mar, which, as its name indicates, was the one that once gave way to the city.
To get there you can follow 59th Street or go through the adjacent streets.
Campeche lyrics. Sunset
One of the moments you cannot miss in Campeche is the sunset. We advise you to opt for the area where the famous colored letters are located and from there go for a walk to enjoy one of the best moments of the day.
Campeche lyrics
Sunset in Campeche
After a tour of the city, in which we have also been able to visit all the tourist places of CampecheIt is 5:30 pm when we go to the boardwalk area, where we enjoy the unique moment in which the sun sets over a wonderful horizon.
More practical information to prepare your trip to Mexico
- 10 essential places to visit in Mexico
- 10 essential tips for traveling to Mexico
- Best travel insurance for Mexico
- Security in Mexico
This tour of the tourist places of Campeche It will take you to know the Main Square or the Independence Square, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Extemplo de San José, the well-known 59th Street, the Puerta del Mar, the Baluarte de San Francisco, to end the day at Campeche lyrics, watching an incredible sunset.
We finish the walk along the seawall of Campeche and it is 7 pm when we approach Chocol'ha, the most recommended restaurant-cafeteria in Campeche, where we order a couple of salty crepes plus two natural juices and two coffees for 268 pesos.
Chocol'ha
It is here that we again verify that prices in Campeche are much higher than what we have been paying these days on the trip to Mexico, something that we also see in the 3-4 stores left is open today Christmas day and in which We also see that they have many souvenirs like the ones we saw in previous days, but three times more expensive. So if you make a route similar to ours, we recommend you buy in the previous cities, since you will find the same and much cheaper.
Also, in this case, as we always say, when you like something buy it. You probably won't see him again.
And so, when it is almost 9 pm we return to the Francis Drake Hotel to rest, but before we can not resist saying goodbye to the city with a night route through the tourist places of Campeche that we liked and that are the best farewell of the day
Campeche Cathedral
Christmas in Campeche
Day 22: Visit Edzná in Campeche
