Campeche
Campeche is a Gulf coast city where colonial walls and bastions, built against pirates, still surround the historic center.
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Campeche is the capital and largest city of Campeche state, in southeastern Mexico. Spanish conquistadors founded it in 1540 on the site of the Maya city of Can Pech, and its historic walled center was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Most of the old walls still stand. Work on them began in 1686 and finished in 1704, to protect the port from pirates and buccaneers who came for logwood dye and salt. Inside, aligned streets run past colorful house facades, and more than one thousand historic buildings survive.
Campeche suits travelers who want colonial history and forts. Edzná, a Maya site relatively close to the city, has monumental buildings and a system of canals and reservoirs. The city has its own airport, Campeche International Airport, and the Tren Maya stops at its railway station. Most rain falls from June to October, so the drier months are generally the better time to visit.
Campeche in five
- Walk the old center on the wall's edgeThe 17th-century walls and bastions ring the historic center. A walk along the ramparts at dusk takes about an hour and shows how small the fortified town was.Yucatán travel guide
- Visit the San Miguel fort for the Maya museumFuerte de San Miguel sits on a hill south of the center and holds a museum of Maya archaeology. Take a taxi up and walk down, and check the hours first.
- Eat the regional seafoodPan de cazón, a layered tortilla dish with shark or ray, and fresh Gulf fish are local specialties. Eat inside the center or by the seafront for the best choice.
- Add Edzná as a half-day tripThe Maya site of Edzná is about an hour southeast of the city and has a five-story temple and a canal system. Go early; the site has little shade.
- Fly or bus in, and avoid the heat of middayCampeche has a small airport and good ADO bus links to Mérida, about 2.5 to 3 hours away, and to Palenque. Midday heat from April to September is heavy, so plan walks early or late.Mérida
Things to do in Campeche
See all attractions in Campeche
Need to know
- Airport
- Campeche (CPE); Mérida (MID) has more flights, about 2.5–3 hours
- Getting there
- ADO bus from Mérida or Palenque, or rental car
- Getting around
- Walking inside the walls; taxis outside
- Best base
- A hotel inside the old center
- Time needed
- 1–2 days; add a half-day for Edzná
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Dry, pleasantJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Dry, warmFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- MarchClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Warm, dryMarchClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh34°Low24°Hot, dryAprilClear
Good
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MayClear8 rainy daysHigh35°Low25°Very hotMayClear
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JuneRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low25°Hot, rain startsJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 246 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, rain starts
- JulyRain17 rainy days2 days with stormsHigh33°Low25°Hot, humidJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 122 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 2
Hot, humid
- AugustRain20 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low25°Hot, humidAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 171 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, humid
- SeptemberRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low25°Rain, storm riskSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 227 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rain, storm risk
- OctoberRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low24°Storm riskOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 143 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Storm risk
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Drier, pleasantNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, pleasant
- DecemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Dry, mildDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mild
Average daily high and low in Campeche, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Campeche
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
31
- Feels like
- 35°
- Humidity
- 59%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 88%
Campeche
04:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°23°88%Monday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Tue31°22°55%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Wed31°23°78%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Thu31°22°55%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Fri30°23°57%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Sat31°23°47%Saturday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Sun31°23°55%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 55%.
Updated 12:22 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Edznáabout 1 hour by carA Maya site with a five-story temple.
- Méridaabout 2.5–3 hours by roadBig cultural city and base for the north.Read the guide
- Celestúnabout 3 hours by roadFlamingos and mangrove channels.Read the guide
Before you go to Campeche
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Rules for Campeche, checked
- Entry depends on your passport. Some visitors need a visa, others need a tourist card (FMM). Check the rules with the Mexican consulate or the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores before you book.
- Customs asks about cash above the legal limit and about goods you bring in. Check the rules on the SAT website before you fly.
- Tipping is customary in restaurants and for taxi drivers. Check the bill first, since some restaurants add a service charge.
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance from any Mexican phone.
Plan around Campeche
Yucatán's capital, 2.5–3 hours north
Read the guideCelestúnFlamingos and a wetland reserve on the coast
Read the guidePalenqueJungle ruins and waterfalls, farther south
Read the guideYucatán travel guideCenotes, haciendas and the peninsula
Read the guideChiapasSan Cristóbal, Palenque and Sumidero Canyon
Read the guideAll of MexicoCities, ruins, beaches and entry basics
Read the guideCampeche FAQ
Is Campeche worth visiting?
Yes, for a calm walled city with colorful streets, forts and seafood, and few crowds. It suits one or two nights as part of a Yucatán loop rather than a long stay.
How many days do you need in Campeche?
One night covers the center, the walls and a museum; two days lets you add Edzná or a coastal drive. Add more only if you are using it as a base for the region.
How far is Campeche from Mérida?
About 2.5 to 3 hours by road or ADO bus, roughly 190 km. Many travelers link the two with a night in each.
When is the best time to visit Campeche?
December to March, when days are warm rather than very hot. April to September is hot and humid, and the rainy season brings storm risk.
Is Campeche safe to walk at night?
The historic center is generally calm and well lit, with many people out in the evening. Use normal city care and read the current government advice for the state.