Mexico · City Tours

Campeche City Tour Through Its Highlights + Jipi Japa Workshop

10 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Merida. Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore the walled city of Campeche on a private full-day tour
  • 02 Visit Campeche Cathedral and the Black Christ of San Roman
  • 03 Walk along Campeche’s historic main street and scenic Malecon
  • 04 Discover Fort San Jose and Fort San Miguel
  • 05 Learn about Mayan heritage at Campeche’s museums
  • 06 See restored city gates and colonial architecture
  • 07 Join a hands-on Jipi Japa handicraft workshop in Becal
  • 08 Travel from Merida with private transportation and a certified guide

Discover the rich history, architecture, and traditions of Campeche on this full-day private tour from Merida. Explore one of Mexico’s most distinctive colonial cities as you visit its cathedral, historic main street, seaside Malecon, restored gates, and impressive forts, while learning how the city’s walls once protected it from pirate attacks.

Along the way, dive into the region’s Mayan heritage at local museums, including the Fort of San Miguel, and enjoy a hands-on Jipi Japa handicraft workshop in Becal. With private transportation, a certified guide, entrance fees, and a snack included, this experience offers a well-rounded introduction to Campeche’s culture, history, and craftsmanship.

Jipi Japa is the name of the fiber that is used to elaborate hats, bags, fans, and other elements.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities San Francisco de Campeche, Merida
Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Hotel Pick-Up

Getting to the beautiful city of Campeche will only take us 2 hours from Merida. Our professional tour guide and the bus driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel and start the journey for you to know the city of Campeche. All the staff will follow the biosecurity protocols for your safety and well-being. 

Take advantage of this time to enjoy the graceful scenery of the Yucatan Peninsula, learn more about the culture of this region of Mexico, and relax until getting there. 

Campeche

Once we arrive in Campeche, you will fall in love with the city, its architecture, how well preserved and clean it is, the wall that surrounds it, and its great history. 

This city was founded in 1540 by Francisco de Montejo as a new entrance to the Yucatan Peninsula, with time, it became a great commercial area with much wealth. This attracted pirates who raided the city, businesses, and inhabitants. To protect the city, a wall was constructed around it, and nowadays, it is the only walled city in Mexico.

Come and discover with us why this place is so important and appreciated by lots of visitors. 

Campeche´s Cathedral

We must visit the cathedral of Campeche, an icon of the city and a beloved monument for all its citizens. 

We will also visit the Black Christ of San Roman, an invaluable piece of art, to whom many miracles are attributed. 

Campeche´s Main Street

This has been Campeche´s main street since almost the city was founded. In the past, it was used to transport goods entering or leaving the city. Nowadays, it is a pedestrian walkway only with many restaurants and shops. 

Malecon de Campeche

One of the most important points of the tour is the Malecon of Campeche. You can´t leave without visiting it. Find the big letters of the city, some art pieces, spaces to walk or relax, and of course, see the ocean from the beginning to the end. 

Archeologial Museum Campeche

Along the way through the Malecon, we will find some forts. We will visit Fort San Jose and Fort San Miguel. During the small tour inside them, you will see how the forts were used in the past, the dynamic that worked for the watchmen, and how the structures were rescued by the city to what we can appreciate in the present. 

Nowadays, the Fort of San Miguel works as the archeology museum of Campeche. Before the Spanish conquer, this region was dominated by the Mayas. We will see many artifacts that belong to them and tell the history of their culture and its great legacy. 

Sub-aquatic Museum

We need to remember that the Yucatan Peninsula was under the sea for thousands of years until the meteorite impacted the area and modified the earth, making this peninsula go above sea level to what we can see nowadays. This event makes it possible for us to see many archeological findings to be presented in the submarine archeology museum.

Gate

After the city was walled, these were the only entrances to it. The gates you will see are restorations of the original ones that were partially destroyed in the 19th century. Take great pictures at these points and keep enjoying your tour. 

Architecture Museum

In this museum, we will continue learning about the Mayan civilization that lived here. Appreciate the stelae, vessels, and some stone engravings. We will even be able to see a Calakmul jade mask. It was found on December 12th of 1984 in Campeche by the archeologist William Folan and his team. Next to it were the remains of the body of the ancient ruler to whom it belonged.

Becal

Jipi Japa is the name of the fiber that is used to elaborate hats, bags, fans, and other elements. This comes from the Jipi fiber and the palm of "huano". The main handicraft that is made here is the world-famous Panamanian hats. All of this is hand-made in the caves of Becal, where the humidity softens the fibers. Almost all family members participate in the elaboration process, from the grandparents to the grandchildren. It is a tradition that has taken place many centuries ago. 

Hotel Drop-Off

The best way to know Campeche is through its people. traditions. history, and gastronomy. With us, you will have that and more. Going from the Mayan times, passing through the colonial era, until the modern life and the traditions that are strongly rooted in living Maya descendants. 

The last part of the tour is to take you back to your hotel, where you can rest and continue enjoying your trip to Mexico.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Pickup service provided in Merida. 2 cities · 10 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Private transportation
  • Certified tour guide
  • Guided tour through the city of Campeche
  • Entrance fees to San Miguel fort and museum
  • Entrance to the Baluarte de la Soledad and museum
  • Jipi Japa handicraft workshop
  • Snack: Handmade ice cream
  • Minibar & snacks
  • Travel insurance during transportation

What's Not Included

  • Food and beverages
  • Gratuities
  • Tickets to other attractions
  • Other insurance

Know before you go

  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • We pick up all travelers at the lobby or motor lobby of their hotel in Merida

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided in Merida.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in Merida.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 10 hours finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Merida..

Watch the tourHQ film Watch the film

Create your own adventure

Can't find the perfect tour? Tailor your dream trip.

  • Tell us your destination, dates and group size.
  • Our travel experts and local guides design a tailored itinerary, just for you.
  • Enjoy your trip with peace of mind, knowing everything is taken care of.
Plan my holiday

Say goodbye to travel stress.