Hopelchén

Hopelchén is a small community of some 9,000 people in the very east of Campeche. The town of today dates from a center for Christianization established here in about 1621. The population was notoriously resistant to that process and some of that spirit of independence survived even well after the Mexican Revolution (1810-1820). Today, it's mostly an agricultural center with an increasing flow of visitors arriving for the adventure and intrigue of the surrounding jungles, ruins, and ancient civilizations.

The many surrounding archaeological and cultural sites are formidable. The Tohcok site is less than 10 minutes from the center of Hopelchén, but visitors also set off for Dzibilnocac to the southeast, and El Tabasqueno, just about directly south. The town also sits on the fault line between the Puuc and Chenes regions, and visitors can learn both styles from here, and even see some works, such as those at Tohcok that combine the two.

Hopelchén makes a good central base for exploring multiple ancient sites in the same trip. Within town though, you get a fantastic selection of colonial era and later sites to explore. The town center itself is a thriving little cavalcade of colors and sounds and usually someone cooking too. The big municipal market is about five minutes walk from the grounds of the main cathedral, and the best regional cooking is always on offer there. The town also offers a modest selection of hotels and lodging establishments to those who've worn themselves out scaling the ancient ruins.

From the city and Tren Maya stations of Campeche, both FUTV and Autobuses del Sur make the trip to Hopelchén in about 90 minutes. The Edzná station on the Tren Maya is a little bit closer at just over an hour's drive. There are increasingly numerous bus and combi services serving the region, too.