Campeche

The Yucatan Peninsula is comprised by: Quintana Roo, Yucatan, and Campeche; the latter, despite being the lesser known of these 3 states, is far from being uninteresting. For many travelers, the lack of Cancun-like glamour, or the usual busloads of Chichen Itza’s visitors, is what makes Campeche an appealing place in the world. Its friendly people, abundant wildlife, rich cultural inheritance, delicious food, wonderful landscapes, and high safety ratings, make Campeche a treasure awaiting discovery.

For most of the ethnic groups found in México, folk-art plays an essential role in the conformation of their identity, giving cohesion to the communities, showcasing the expression of the soul, and interpreting the aesthetics with the use of materials found in the natural realm. Campeche stands out thanks to the abundance of natural resources and skilled master artisans whose creations include: embroidered textiles, bull horn accessories (a substitute material for Carey turtle shell), fine hats made out of natural fibers, guitars, wood sculptures, furniture, and hammocks.

Campeche is holder of a particularly rich natural heritage with 7 natural protected areas covering 41% of its territory. The southeastern UNESCO World Heritage Site of Calakmul contains the largest preserve of untouched tropical forest in Mexico and more than 6,000 Pre-hispanic structures in an unparalleled combination of archeology and nature.

Located in southwestern Campeche, Laguna de Términos preserve along with Pantanos de Centla in Tabasco, constitute one of the most important wetland preserves in the México, and its the northernmost area in the continent where the Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) can be spotted. In the northeastern region we find the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve which include some of the tallest mangrove forests in the country, and pristine water springs that invite to refresh during the heat of the day. Another natural reserve of great importance is the Ría Celestún which is shared with the state of Yucatán, home and breeding grounds to thousands of American Flamingoes. Lastly is important to mention that 51% of the oil extraction of México comes from Campeche.

The capital of the state is called San Francisco de Campeche whose name is a reminder of the religious order that settled in the area during the conquest, the Franciscans; the whole city centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a wonderfully preserved 16th-century Spanish colonial town. Pirate attacks were the reason for the city’s fortifications as this used to be the main port of the Yucatan peninsula at the time, and a much desired target for English corsairs. The city is complete with museums, restaurants, a picturesque main plaza, and a modern sea front known as El Malecón. Not far from town, we find the Mayan city of Edzná, the southernmost of a series of archeological sites known as the Puucs which reached its apogee around 800 a.C.

Campeche has been the birthplace of great political figures such as Justo Sierra and María Lavalle, and currently has prolific poets and writers who head the cultural movement of the region such as Brígido Redondo and José Landa. Several festivals take place every year like the iconic International Jazz Festival and the Theater Festival.

The gourmet scene is also bustling with the traditional campechano dish known as Pan de Cazón awarded as the best Mexican dish in Mexico for 2019; and the local restaurant La Pigua selected as one of the best restaurants in the country by the council of Grupo Culinaria Mexicana. The government-run folk art gallery Tukulna deserves a special mention due to its selection of fine pieces and the fair-trade practices that benefit the artisans of the state.

After carefully studying the case of Campeche as a potential destination for Travelian Tours, I have to say that there are plenty of elements and resources to design different itineraries suitable for birding, natural history, photography, and culture.