01 · Calakmul
Climb the great pyramid at dawn.
Drive into the biosphere before sunrise and climb Structure II for views over the forest canopy.
← All destinations
Campeche · Calakmul & Xpujil
CalakmulAncient. Wild. Newly connected.
One of the greatest Maya cities, hidden inside Mexico’s largest tropical forest reserve — now reachable by the Maya Train, with its own station at Xpujil.
Ideal stay2–3 nights
Best timeNovember–April
Best forArchaeology · Wildlife · Adventure
Works well forFIT · Groups · Families
GatewayMaya Train · CPE · CTM
Why Calakmul works
The Maya world as it was first discovered.
ArchaeologyWildlifeAdventure
01
A UNESCO double
Calakmul is one of few places listed by UNESCO for both its Maya city and its tropical forest.
02
Pyramids above the canopy
Climb temples that rise over an unbroken sea of jungle, often with very few other visitors.
03
Now on the rails
The Maya Train stops at Xpujil, linking Calakmul with Bacalar, Palenque and Mérida without long drives.
Signature experiences in Calakmul
Experience Calakmul from train window to jungle summit.
We combine the Maya Train with early jungle departures, specialist guides and quiet Río Bec sites, staying in small eco-lodges near Xpujil.
FITPrivate GroupsFamiliesSpecial Interest
02 · Maya Train
Arrive by train through the jungle.
Ride the Maya Train to Xpujil station from Bacalar, Palenque or the Yucatán, watching the forest roll past your window.
03 · Río Bec
Explore Becán and Xpujil.
Walk moated Becán and the towered temples of Xpujil, Chicanná and Balamkú with a local guide.
04 · Dusk
Watch millions of bats leave their cave.
At sunset, the Volcán de los Murciélagos releases a spiralling river of bats into the sky.
05 · Wildlife
Track monkeys, toucans and jaguar signs.
Walk with a naturalist to spot howler and spider monkeys, ocellated turkeys and hundreds of bird species.
More ways to shape the destination
Build these into my proposal →Balamkú stucco frieze · Chicanná ‘serpent mouth’ temple · Zoh Laguna village · Night jungle walks · Local Maya cooking · Maya Train links to Bacalar and Palenque
Could Calakmul be the most extraordinary stop on your Maya Train journey?
Plan it at the right time
When Calakmul comes alive.
The dry season makes forest roads and climbs easiest; the rains bring green jungle, more wildlife activity and occasional road closures.
Weather at a glance
NOV–FEBWarm and drierBest for climbs and birding
MAR–MAYHot and dryEarly starts; wildlife near water
JUN–OCTHot and rainyLush jungle; access can vary
NOV–APR
Birding season
Resident and migratory birds make the reserve one of Mexico’s finest birding areas.
Birds · Nature · Seasonal
NOV 1–2
Hanal Pixán
Maya families in nearby villages honor their dead with altars, candles and traditional food.
Culture · Tradition · SeasonalDAILY AT DUSK
Bat emergence
Millions of bats leave the cave every evening, one of the region’s great spectacles.
Wildlife · Sunset · Daily
YEAR-ROUND
Maya Train connections
Xpujil station links Calakmul with Bacalar, Palenque, Campeche and Mérida. Schedules vary.
Rail · Access · PlanningBe Mexico planning note
Build around a cultural moment →Calakmul lies about 60 km inside the reserve from the highway and opens early; we coordinate Maya Train times, private transfers from Xpujil, permits and dawn departures.
Continue the journey
Continue the story along the Maya Train.
Calakmul sits at the heart of the train route, between the Caribbean and the Maya cities of Chiapas and Yucatán.
Be Mexico Insight
Spend two nights near Xpujil: one full day for Calakmul at dawn, one for the Río Bec sites and the bat cave at sunset.
Work with Be Mexico
Build Calakmul into your Maya Train journey.
Tell us who is traveling, when, how long they have and what the program needs to achieve. We’ll shape the journey around them.
Send us the brief →