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Archaeological site · Xpujil, Campeche
Zona Arqueológica de Becán
Maya city surrounded by a moat and a wall, about 7 km from Xpujil, with Río Bec–style towers, plazas and a vaulted tunnel.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Zona Arqueológica de Becán
Becán is about 7 km west of Xpujil, beside the federal highway. It was a Maya city inhabited roughly between 550 BCE and 1200 CE, and reached its peak between 600 and 1000. The name, in Maya, means ravine formed by water, referring to the moat that surrounds the city.
The moat, about 2 km long, was accompanied by a wall and crossed by seven passages, one of the few examples of a fortified Maya city. Inside are plazas surrounded by palaces and temples.
The buildings display the Río Bec style, with tall towers and false stairways that imitate pyramids, decorated with masks. A vaulted tunnel links two plazas, and from the top of Structure IX, the tallest, you can see the surrounding jungle.
Near Becán are Chicanná, with a façade shaped like a monster’s mouth, and the ruins of Xpuhil, with three towers, which can be visited the same day.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 hour to 1 hour and a half.
Best time
In the late afternoon on the return from Calakmul, or early in the morning. Check opening hours before going.
How to get there
It is about 7 km west of Xpujil, with access from the federal highway. You go by car or taxi.
Tip
Combine it with Chicanná, a few kilometers away, to see the monster‑mouth façade.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Zona Arqueológica de Becán
Why does Becán have a moat?
It was part of the city’s defenses, together with a wall; it’s one of the few examples of a fortified Maya city.
What is the Río Bec style?
A regional style with tall towers and false stairways that imitate pyramids.
Is Becán far from Xpujil?
About 7 km to the west.