It’s not easy having to compete for attention when your neighbors are powerhouses like Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Chiapas. So it’s no surprise Campeche is the least-visited state in the region, which means it’s a great time to visit!

Most travelers are surprised to find that Campeche City has a gorgeous city center, first-rate museums, and a nascent arts and music scene. (The lodging and restaurants are still a bit disappointing, but are definitely improving.)

Even more startling are Campeche’s fantastic Maya ruins: in the Río Bec region, a half-dozen ruins pack plenty of wow-factor, yet see only a fraction of the tourists that Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, and Palenque do.

The United Nations named Campeche City a World Heritage site in 1999 and a visit here is a chance to partake in Campeche’s slow emergence from the shadow of its better-known neighbors.

The Best of Campeche

• The City’s Walls
• Outlying Forts
• Edzná Archaeological Zone
• Calakmul Archaeological Zone and Reserve
• Becán Archaeological Zone