Hecelchakán

Hecelchakán is the site of a Tren Maya station in northern Campeche. The site is visited principally for access to the multiple nearby archaeological sites, most prominently Xcalumkín although there are many others. The town is the site of numerous points of interest for visitors. The name of the town dervices from the Mayan language and means simply savanna of rest.

The deep surrounding history is vividly presented within the Museum of Mayan Archaeology of the Royal Road of Hecelchakan. The name of the museum refers to the old Royal Road that linked the cities of northern Campeche and Mérida. The road itself eventually fell into disrepair with the arrival of the railroad and other roads after the colonialist period. The museum collections come from the many ancient Maya cities across the northern part of the state. The collection of figurines from Jaina Island is especially prized, and the courtyard holds an invaluable collection of sculptures, architectural details, and stelae from northern Campeche.

People get off the Tren Maya here as much as anything just to stroll the center of a small Campeche town. The church is dedicated to San Francisco de Asís and dates from the 18th-century. Not far away, the public market is easily among the best places to eat. The entire center of town makes a terrific place to stroll and enjoy colors, and to sample everything on offer. Representative dishes include pibipollo, panuchos, and of course the cochinita pibil.  

Near to the train station, visitors can find a whole variety of accommodation options, from small family-run inns to mid-range hotels. From the station, it's also easy to access taxis and local transport to the nearby archaeological sites and other points of interest.  

From the Campeche Tren Maya station, the trip to Hecelchakán is only about 35 minutes. Arriving from Cancun takes just a little more than five hours, although it is a beautiful and restful trip. Most people will arrive to Hecelchakán from any of the multitude of transit options within the Campeche capital city. ​