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From watching the water fountain show to enjoying a beach day at Playa Bonita, here are all the best things to do in Campeche with kids!
When planning our trip to the Yucatán, I really had to sell Campeche to Chole. It’s a bit out the way and very similar to Mérida as an old colonial town with a big square in the middle, but I’m really glad we came here.
Campeche is actually a UNESCO World Heritage city, and as soon as you arrive you can see why. The historic centre is surrounded by old fortified walls, and inside you’ll find rows of pastel-coloured houses, quiet cobbled streets, and hardly any tourists compared to other places in the Yucatán. It’s one of those places that’s perfect for just wandering around without any real plan.
It’s also an amazing city for kids with plenty to keep them occupied. Our son was 3 when we visited Campeche, so factoring in playground trips became a part of our daily itinerary. There are loads of activities specifically aimed at kids though like the light show and water fountain show. Also, I’ll tell you about an activity that only locals really know about – more on that later!
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Campeche with kids, then this is the article for you. I’ll tell you everything we got up to in Campeche, plus where we stayed too as it was a bit of a find. I really hope you enjoy this city – I promise you it’s well worth making the journey here!
Contents:
Wander around the cathedral
Like numerous cities in Mexico and Latin America, Campeche has a very grand cathedral with a leafy square dotted with cafes and street sellers in front of it. This is used as the centre of Campeche, and it is a hive of activity at all times of the day.
The best time to visit Campeche Cathedral is around sunset when the square comes alive with locals and other kids playing around. My recommendation is grab an iced coffee and watch the world go by. It really is an idyllic spot!
There’s also a little market just around the left-side of the cathedral as you’re facing it selling local produce and souvenirs.
Watch the evening light show
Surrounding Campeche Cathedral are a few really ornate buildings. Once the sun sets, these buildings are transformed as the backdrop of an amazing light show.
Projected across the historic facades, the show tells the story of Campeche through colour, music and animation. Even though our little one probably didn’t follow the history side of things, he was completely mesmerised by all the changing lights and sounds. It’s one of those easy family-friendly activities that feels a bit magical, especially after dinner in the square. The Puerta de Tierra light show is on Thursday to Sunday at 8pm.
Watch the water fountain show
You can’t beat a water fountain show as a fun family activity, can you? Down on the Malecon, Campeche has a water fountain display called Fuentes Marinas (Marine Fountains). This show is on every day at 8pm and it’s completely free.
The fountains dance around with different colours and it’s all timed with music. It’s a bit like a Mexican version to the ones you get at Disney, just a lot more budget. A lot of the music isn’t exactly kid friendly (it’s mostly classical music) but our son still loved seeing how high the water jets went. The whole show lasts around 20 minutes, and there’s seating too.
Eat churros or a marquesitas
Just by the water fountain show are a number of street vendors selling churros, marquesitas (Mexican pancakes) and elotas (corn). We grabbed some churros dripping in chocolate sauce (because hey, it’s a holiday) and watched the fountain show.
These street vendors are dotted all over the city too in case you’re looking for a snack. We also went to one by Puerta del Mar (one of the gates into the city). Also, for some reason elotas seemed really popular in Campeche. They were the most popular street stall by a long way, so do like the locals do and chow down on some corn.
Go on a trolly bus tour of Campeche
One of the top things to do in Campeche is go on a trolly bus tour. This is a great way of seeing the city and learning about its history. The trolly bus tour leaves from Campeche Cathedral and takes you on a tour to some of the most popular sites and attractions.
For families, this is such an easy win. Kids love the novelty of riding around on the open-sided trolley, and it saves little legs from getting too tired in the heat. It also gives you a much better sense of the city walls, forts and neighbourhoods outside the old town. Tickets cost $120 per person, and the tour lasts about 45 minutes with a stop off at a church.
Play around at the splash park (weekends only)
This was the little local secret I mentioned earlier. Along the Malecón, there’s a swimming pool / splash park with loads of slides and fountains. This place is made for kids (obviously), but it’s shallow and it feels really safe. There’s even a splash park section for toddlers to run around in.
Now this place is only open on weekends, and it has three timed slots – 10-12, 12-2 and 2-4. What you have to do is queue up before the park opens, get a token, and then present the token when you walk in. This might sound a little complicated and confusing, but just make sure you’re there 5 minutes before your timed slot and go with the flow.
They use timed slots to control the number of people inside, ensuring it stays safe given the number of lifeguards on duty. Also, the splash park is only open on Saturday and Sunday because it is completely free! We were the only tourists there, so it definitely felt like a secret spot that only locals know about. Luckily I’ve done the research for you!
Enjoy the day at Playa Bonita
If you fancy a beach day, then Playa Bonita is about a 20-minute drive from the centre. It’s not quite the same powdery white sand and turquoise water you’ll find on the Caribbean side, but it’s still a great spot for a relaxed day by the sea, especially with kids. All you need is a spot of sand and some water to play around in, and the kids are happy.
A bit like the splash park, Playa Bonita can be a little confusing. First you have to pay $30 for parking, then $100 per person, then you have to rent sunloungers ($60 per person), or tables and chairs ($30 per person). I don’t know why they can’t just do one ticket and include everything, but that’s the way it is.
Anyway, the beach is really nice and chill, and there are two restaurants you can order food and drink from. We had the ceviche, knocked back a few micheladas, and watched the kids play in the sand. What more can you want from a day out than that?
Explore the ruins of Edzna
Another highlight is visiting the nearby ruins of Edzná. This is about an hour’s drive away and is far less crowded than the more famous sites in the region. I thought Uxmal would be hard to beat (I’ve written all about Uxmal here), but I actually preferred Edzná in the end as it was so quiet – it felt like we had the place to ourselves.
The main pyramid here is seriously impressive too, and you can still climb parts of the ruins for some amazing views over the jungle. It felt like a bit of a hidden gem and was one of those places where you could really let your imagination run wild. Also, the fact that our son could climb all over the pyramids and look for lizards made the day out really easy.
Play around at the playgrounds
One thing Campeche does really well is playgrounds. There are a few dotted around the city, but the ones along the Malecón were our favourites. They’re fairly basic but well-maintained, and usually filled with local kids in the early evening. As you can see in the photo, a few playgrounds have street food dotted around, so you can usually grab something to eat while the little ones play.
For us, this became part of the rhythm of each day. We’d do a bit of sightseeing in the morning, head back for a nap during the hottest part of the day, and then let our son burn off some energy at the playground before dinner. Honestly, these little moments were some of our favourites.
Meader along the Malecón de Campeche
One of our favourite things to do was stroll along the Malecón de Campeche in the late afternoon. This seafront promenade stretches for miles and is ideal for walking, cycling, or just letting the kids run wild as the sun starts to set. There’s a really local feel here with families out and about and street vendors selling snacks like corn and marquesitas.
This is also one of the best places in the city for sunset. Watching the sky turn orange over the Gulf of Mexico while everyone is out enjoying the cooler evening air was such a simple but special family moment.
Walk along the old city walls
If you time it right (basically not during the middle of the day when it’s baking), walking the old fortified walls is a great family activity. Our little one loved climbing up the steps and peeking out over the city, and it really does spark the imagination when you start talking about pirates attacking the city hundreds of years ago. It’s also a great way to see the colourful rooftops from above.
Where to stay in Campeche
One of the things I think we do really well is find the best accommodation for families. We only ever recommend places that we’ve stayed. Well, in Campeche we found a bit of a gem. The Historic Green House Campeche is like having your own little colonial retreat right in the heart of the city.
The two-bed apartment – one en-suite double and one twin room – has everything a family would need for a few days. There’s even a little splash pool in the garden that our toddler absolutely loved. We had a couple of lovely dinners outside in the garden too. You’ll find it in one of Campeche’s peaceful historic neighbourhoods, just a short walk from the Malecón and the cathedral – ideal for exploring on foot.
Overall, Campeche was one of the biggest surprises of the trip. It might not be on everyone’s itinerary, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. It’s colourful, calm, and completely unspoilt – a perfect little stop before heading back to the Caribbean coast.
If you’re travelling around the Yucatan, then make sure you check out my comprehensive 3 week itinerary. This guide is packed full of all the best things to see and do in the Yucatan. It’s perfect for families too!
