Getting Oriented

Yucatán State's topography has more in common with that of Florida and Cuba—with which it was probably once connected—than with central Mexico. Exotic plants like wild ginger and spider lilies grow in the jungles, and vast flamingo colonies nest at coastal estuaries. Human history is evident everywhere here—in looming Franciscan missions, thatch-roof adobe huts, and the majestic ruins of ancient Mayan cities. Campeche State, the Yucatán Peninsula's least-visited corner, is the perfect place for adventure. Its colonial communities have retained an air of innocence, and its protected biospheres, farmland, and jungles are relatively unspoiled. Campeche City, the state's most accessible spot, makes a good hub for exploring other areas, many of which have only basic restaurants and primitive lodgings.