BECAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE

HOW TO GET THERE

Campeche is located on the southwestern end of the Yucatan Peninsula. It
borders north with the State of Yucatan , south with Tabasco and the
Republic of Guatemala Republic, and east with Belize and Quintana Roo; to
the west is the Gulf of Mexico. You can arrive to Campeche by air in one
hour and twenty- five minutes flying from Mexico City and by land,
traveling 1,306 kms. from Mexico City as well. To get to the archaeological
zone of Becan, leaving from the city of Campeche, it will take no more than
four hours. You have to take federal highway 80 to Champoton, or the toll
road which provides safety and saves time. Once you have passed Champoton
you should take federal road 261 to Escarcega, then federal road 186 which
goes to Chetumal, Quintana Roo. This route will take you to the
archaeological zone which is a few minutes from Chicanna, another important
archaeological zone of the region.

BACKGROUND

The discovery of the oldest human remains goes back to the Preclassic
period from 600 B.C. to 250 A.D. Its decadence started between 800 and
1,200 A.D., with a notorius demographical fall around the year 1450.

DESCRIPTION

Its name means "the way of the snake or deep hollow made by water". The
entrance to Becan is by going across a bridge. The central area is
surrounded by a depression and a contention city wall. Its perimeter was,
more or less, oval shaped, with the main buildings of the ancient city in
its interior. It covered around 25 acres, although it later extended mixing
its borders with other settlements like Chicana, just two kilometers
southeast and with Xpujil, seven kilometers east. The Mayans built their
city in Becan, and chose a calcareous headland partly surrounded by a
tropical forest and low terrain. This terrain flooded periodically, to the
point of contributing to the formation of a nearby source of water that
ensured water supply for the settlers. This headland has an oval shape that
dictated the space distribution of the city, and the opening of the
surrounding depression. The buildings distributed over the Becan headland
can be divided into three groups: the A Square Group or East Square; the
Intermediate Terrace Group, B Square or Central Square and the C Square
Group or West Square. The highest part, occupied by the A Square Group or
East Square is formed by four structures surrrounding a square. The B
Square Group or Central Square is made up of three buildings. Finally, the
C Square or West Square, in its southeastern end, the Ball Courts, are
still preserved. It is formed by two parallel buildings located in a
north-south direction (as most Ball Courts in Meso-America) forming a 32
meter long by 9 meter wide patio. No stone rings on the inclines nor
markers in the court have been found, nonetheless, there is no doubt it is
a courtyard for the Ball Game.

ACTIVITIES

Once at the archaeological area, you can tour the pyramidal bases. You can
ask for a ecotouristic guide at the zone or before leaving the City of
Campeche. If you wish, also in the town of Xpuhil, a few kilometers away
from the zone, you can also find accredited ecotourism guides. You can also
take pictures and participate in recreational activities.

RECOMMENDATIONS

You will most likely not be able to camp in the zone since it is a
restricted area and permissions are not issued by the National Institute of
Anthrophology and History with an office in the City of Campeche If you are
looking for comfort, you will find lodging, meals, gas, a bus station and
ecotourism guides in Xpuhil.