Becan, Chicanna and Xpujil

A Group Of Maya Sites In The Rio Bec Style, With Twin Towers And Carved Monster Mouth Doorways, Around The Roadside Village Of Xpujil: Becan (A Ditch Fortified City), Chicanna (A Richly Decorated Small Palace) And Xpujil Itself. Quiet And Shaded, A Stop On A Southern Campeche Route Toward Calakmul · Xpujil, Campeche

Becan, Chicanna and Xpujil are three small Maya sites strung along Highway 186 in southern Campeche, close to the roadside village of Xpujil. They belong to the Rio Bec style, known for steep twin towers with false stairways, and each site has its own draw: Becan is ringed by a dry moat and trenches that once fenced the city, Chicanna has a doorway carved as the open jaws of a monster, and Xpujil has a temple with three towers rising over the jungle. Crowds are thin, the forest is loud with birds and howler monkeys, and each ruin takes 30 to 60 minutes. This stretch suits travellers who like jungle ruins without tour buses, people driving between Chetumal and Campeche, and anyone using Xpujil as a base for Calakmul. It is worth the long drive if you have a full day and a car. It is not worth it for a short trip, for visitors who want big pyramids to climb, or in the hottest, wettest months when mosquitoes and mud take over. Bring repellent, water and cash.

The Rio Bec Maya sites around Xpujil on Highway 186 in southern Campeche, about 300 km south of Campeche city and 55 km from Calakmul; coordinates approximate, Xpujil, Campeche, Mexico

Each site normally opens in daytime hours, commonly from morning to late afternoon, with the last entry well before dusk. Times and fees are set by the national institute and can change, so confirm in Xpujil before you drive out. Many INAH sites close one day a week, often Monday, and a closed gate is a real risk at small sites. Driving Highway 186 and seeing the Xpujil towers from the road is FREE. Entry to Becan, Chicanna and Xpujil usually costs a small ticket at each site, and Sundays are often free for Mexican nationals. Tower tops and fenced stairways are CLOSED to climbing, and the sites shut by late afternoon.

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