Campeche is a colonial fairyland, its walled city centre a tight enclave of perfectly restored pastel buildings, narrow cobble- stoned streets, fortified ramparts and well preserved mansions. Added to Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1999, the state capital has been so painstakingly restored you wonder if it’s a real city. Lonely Planet guide to Central America.
The ADO first class coach left Mérida at 11:30 (precisely) and delivered me into Campeche two and a half hours later – ticket price £9.00.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better than Mérida, I was presented with the spectacular walled city of Campeche. From a tourists perspective, this really is a fantastic location – with plenty of things to keep you occupied for at least a couple of days.
Casa número 6: This prerevolutionary-era mansion is worth the visit for an idea of how the city’s high society lived. The front sitting room is furnished with Cuban-style pieces of the period.
After a particularly blistering pirate assault in 1663, the remaining inhabitants of Campeche set about erecting protective walls around their city. Following the wall around is a great way to visit a number of museums and sites in one day. Among the favorite stops are two main entrances which connected the walled compound with the outside world – the Puerta del Mar, which opens onto a wharf, and the Puerta de Tierra.
I stayed in Terracotta Corner Rooms, an excellent B&B just outside the walled city itself. The rooms are equipped with fridges, facilitating some healthier eating!


Next stage: Las Ruinas – Edzná – Campeche.