Few places in Mexico let you sleep inside a UNESCO World Heritage city and, the next morning, glide through the mangroves of a Biosphere Reserve. Campeche does. North and south of the city stretch two natural sanctuaries — Los Petenes and Xpicob — that reveal the state's other face: of water, mangrove and birds.
For the traveller who wants nature without giving up culture, they are the perfect complement to the walled city.
Flamingos lifting off over the wetland.
Los Petenes: a record-breaking wetland
The Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve is one of the most extensive protected areas in the country. Its name refers to the petenes: islands of taller vegetation — palms, fig trees, mangrove — that rise from the wetland wherever freshwater springs surface, like oases within the mangrove. It is a Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site, and an extraordinary refuge of biodiversity.
Here flamingos, herons, storks and ospreys nest and rest, among hundreds of species; crocodiles and a flora adapted to brackish water inhabit its channels. Boat tours at dawn, with an authorised guide, are the best way to venture in without disturbing the balance of the place.
Mangrove channels you can only explore by boat.
Xpicob: nature at the city's doorstep
Closer in, by the coast at Lerma, the Xpicob ecological reserve offers a half-day experience: mangrove, crocodiles and deer in a conservation setting, easy to combine with a morning in the city. A good introduction for those with less time.
Herons and waterbirds populate the estuaries of Xpicob.
How and when to visit
Dawn is the golden hour: more birds, less heat. Book a guide and boat in advance and check when to visit Campeche to coincide with the bird seasons. If heritage appeals as much as nature, combine this outing with the trip to Edzná and Hacienda Uayamón, and lean on our tailor-made experiences to arrange it all. The contrast says it all: a walled city and a biosphere, on the same trip.
Stay in the heart of the walled city and head out to discover Campeche's nature.
Discover the homes →Frequently asked questions
What is the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve?
One of the largest protected natural areas in Mexico, north of the city of Campeche: a mangrove wetland dotted with "petenes," islands of taller vegetation fed by freshwater springs. It is a Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site, a refuge for birds, crocodiles and singular flora.
What animals can you see at Los Petenes?
Flamingos, herons, storks, ospreys and many migratory birds, as well as crocodiles and, with luck, raccoons and other mammals. It is one of the great birdwatching destinations of the Gulf.
What is the Xpicob reserve?
An ecological reserve closer to Campeche, by the coast at Lerma, with mangrove, crocodiles and deer in a conservation setting. It is a half-day option, ideal when time is limited.
What is the best time to visit them?
Dawn, when the birds are most active and the heat is lower. Boat tours through the mangrove channels are especially rewarding early in the morning.
Do you need a guide?
Yes, it is strongly recommended. Both Los Petenes and Xpicob are best visited with authorised guides and boats, who know the channels and ensure a responsible visit around the wildlife.
