About an hour and a half from the walled city, a single route brings together two faces of Campeche: the state's most celebrated craft and a freshwater haven to cool off in. Becal and the Ich Ha Lol Xaan ecological park combine into a perfect day trip for anyone who wants to go beyond the historic centre without straying too far.
It is the kind of day, culture in the morning, nature in the afternoon, that turns a trip to Campeche into something memorable.
The fine weave of a true jipijapa hat. · Photo: Andrea Castro
Becal: the cradle of the jipi hat
In the municipality of Calkiní, in the north of the state, with its own Tren Maya station, Becal is synonymous with a single object: the jipijapa hat, known worldwide as the "Panama" (the fibre and weaving technique are Ecuadorian in origin, but Becal's fine hatmaking gave them an identity of their own in Mexico). What is extraordinary is how it is made. The artisan families weave underground, in damp caves and cellars dug beneath their houses, because the humidity keeps the jipijapa fibre supple and allows a weave so fine and tight that the best examples can be rolled up without cracking.
On the plaza, monuments to the hat announce the town's pride. Several workshops open their doors: you can watch the whole process, descend into a weaving cave and buy directly from the maker. To understand where this craft sits among the state's traditions, it is worth first reading about the five handcrafts of Campeche.
Ich Ha Lol Xaan: the day's cool reward
Close to Becal, the Ich Ha Lol Xaan ecological park offers the natural counterpoint: freshwater pools, palapas and bathing areas ringed by greenery. After a morning among caves and workshops, it is the ideal place to eat, swim and let the hottest hours pass in the shade.
Ich Ha Lol Xaan, the day's cool reward near Becal.
How to plan the day
It pays to leave the walled city early, give the cool morning to Becal and keep midday for the park. A driver or a rental car handles the route with ease. On the way back, the heritage home awaits for a quiet afternoon. This excursion pairs beautifully with our tailor-made experiences, and to choose dates it helps to know when to visit Campeche.
Make a heritage home your base for exploring Campeche, inside and beyond the walls.
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The plaza and church of Becal, in the Calkiní municipality.
| Time | Place | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | On the way to Becal | Early departure along the Camino Real, heading north |
| Mid-morning | Becal | Descend into a weaving cave, watch the process, buy from the maker |
| Midday | En route | Local lunch |
| Afternoon | Ich Ha Lol Xaan | Swim in the freshwater pools, eat, rest in the shade |
| Sunset | Walled city | Back in time for the malecón |
The full day, step by step
The trip works best as a rounded day. Morning departure north along the Camino Real, about an hour and a half to Becal. There, the visit you never forget: descending into a weaver's cave, where constant humidity keeps the jipi fiber supple and hands work at the speed of patience. Buying directly from the artisan is half the point of the trip: the fair price stays where the hat was born. Then lunch on the road and the afternoon at Ich Ha Lol Xaan, the spring-fed park where fresh water does what the Gulf cannot: invite a calm swim. Back to the walled city before dusk, in time for the malecón.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Becal and how do you get there?
Becal belongs to the municipality of Calkiní in northern Campeche, about an hour and a half by car from the walled city along the road toward Mérida. It makes a comfortable half-day or full-day trip.
Why is Becal famous?
For its jipijapa hats, the celebrated "Panama" hats, hand-woven inside damp caves and cellars. The humidity keeps the fibre supple and allows an extremely fine weave; the best hats can be rolled up without breaking.
What is the Ich Ha Lol Xaan park?
An ecological park near Becal, with freshwater pools, palapas and bathing areas surrounded by greenery. It is the perfect natural counterpoint after the cultural visit to the hat workshops.
Can you visit the hat workshops?
Yes. Several artisan families open their workshops and show how they descend into the caves to weave. You can see the whole process and buy directly from the maker.
Can you buy the hat directly from the weaver?
Yes, and it is the best way: in Becal many families sell from their own home workshop, beside the cave where they weave. The price reflects the fineness of the weave, measured in the thinness of the fiber.
How long does the full trip take?
A natural day: morning departure, Becal and its caves, lunch on the road, a freshwater afternoon at Ich Ha Lol Xaan and return before dusk.
Reviewed and fact-checked in July 2026 by the Casonas MX editorial team in Campeche. In Becal (Calkiní municipality) the jipijapa hat is woven inside humid caves that keep the fibre flexible; the technique is Ecuadorian in origin and has flourished in Campeche for over a century. We design the excursion from your casona inside the walled city.
