Mérida and Campeche are neighbors but very different: one a large, lively capital, the other a walled city on the Gulf that you explore on foot. Many travelers visit both. This article covers only the road between them; for how to combine the two cities, read Visiting Campeche? Don't forget Mérida.
Direct, with a stop in Becal
The fine weave of a true jipijapa hat. · Credit: Andrea Castro
About 180 km (112 miles) and two hours and fifteen minutes. You can take the faster toll highway or the free road, which runs through Tenabo and Hecelchakán.
A little over an hour from Campeche, Becal keeps alive a craft tied to one material and one technique: weaving jipi hats. Many homes have a cave dug into the limestone at the back, where the humidity keeps the fiber supple as it is woven. The craft passes from parents to children and grandchildren. You can stroll the center and see the hat fountain and the Franciscan church. To watch the process, arrange a visit with a workshop: not all of them receive visitors at any time. More in Becal and the Ich Ha Lol Xaan park.
Via Uxmal: a day for Maya architecture
Stacked Chaac masks and stone latticework, the refined Puuc style of Uxmal and Kabah. · Credit: Héctor Montaño
Uxmal lies about 80 km (50 miles) south of Mérida, in the Puuc region, off the direct road. Set aside the whole day and leave early.
Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the finest example of Puuc architecture: mosaics of carved and fitted stone, masks of the rain god and geometric patterns. The Pyramid of the Magician rises 32 meters (105 feet). The Nunnery Quadrangle, four buildings around a courtyard, and the Governor's Palace, with its long carved façade, help you plan a visit of two to three hours.
This option includes Uxmal only: the other Puuc Route sites need more time.
By Tren Maya
The train links Campeche station with Teya station in Mérida. Travel time between stations depends on the service: check the timetable for your date with the operator. Both stations are on the outskirts: add the transfer from where you're staying (about 20 minutes by taxi in Campeche) and the lead time the operator requires. Tickets are issued in the passenger's name and ID is required. We explain it step by step in Getting to Campeche by Tren Maya.
Credit: Las Casas de la Península
See the route and plan the stages
If your trip continues north
If you'd like to continue through the interior of the peninsula, the trip can link the Ring of Cenotes, Espita and Holbox, with their houses. We tell that story in From Campeche, Heading North: Cenotes and the Towns of Yucatán.
A journey from house to house
Casonas MX is part of Las Casas de la Península, which connects five independent projects in Holbox, Espita, Seyé, Campeche and Bacalar: island, village, cenotes, walled city and lagoon. Each keeps its own identity, team and booking system. Together, they offer different ways to discover the Yucatán Peninsula. Choose just one house or combine several, in the order and at the pace that suits your trip. Each house is a destination. Together, they make the journey.
Discover the route and its five houses · What Las Casas de la Península is
FOR THIS TRIP
Your house in Campeche
Casonas MX brings together nine 18th-century casonas (large traditional houses) within the walled city of Campeche. Seven are booked whole, and two house the four Narrativ Lofts; all have hotel services and one local team. On arrival or before you leave: a courtyard, a pool, and the city on foot from your door.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Campeche to Mérida?
About two hours and fifteen minutes for roughly 180 km (112 miles), without stops. The same from Mérida to Campeche.
What is there to see between Campeche and Mérida?
On the direct road, Becal and its jipi hats. With a full day, Uxmal.
Can I go by train?
Yes. The Tren Maya links Campeche station and Teya station in Mérida. Travel time depends on the service: check the timetable for your date and add transfers between the stations and where you're staying.
Is there a time difference between Campeche and Mérida?
No. Campeche and Yucatán are in the same time zone.
How many days should I spend in Campeche?
Two or three nights let you see the city without rushing, with a trip to Edzná if you have time. See our Campeche itinerary.
Distances and times are approximate road estimates. Confirm schedules, transport and visiting conditions before you go.
