Get a glimpse of what Campeche was like in centuries gone by when you visit this 18th-century city gate, now the site of a dramatic light-and-sound show.
Puerta de Tierra is one of the four gateways to Campeche’s old city. Translating to “the Land Gate,” Puerta de Tierra was built in 1732 as an entry into the 16th-century walled city. In the 17th century, the Old City Wall protected Campeche’s townspeople from marauding pirates. Today they provide a great vantage point for views across the city. Come to the Puerta de Tierra part of the wall in the evening to discover the vivid history of the old city through a multimedia show.
Follow the curve of the centuries-old city limits when you walk along Campeche’s Old City Wall. Rising to a height of 26 feet (7.9 meters) and a thickness of 10 feet (3 meters), the walls that encircled the old city are remarkably intact today. Puerta de Tierra marks the entryway into the old city with a tall stone arch. Peer up at the crenellated walls and the imposing archway, mottled by centuries of weather. Of Campeche’s four gateways, Puerta de Tierra is the best preserved.
After nightfall, another side of Puerta de Tierra appears. Experience the gateway’s mesmerizing light-and-sound show, which depicts Campeche’s dynamic history. Projected on the walls and accompanied by stories and music, the multimedia show begins with the city’s Mayan heritage and early Spanish conquest. It then continues to tell the story of Campeche’s battles with pirates and the construction of the wall itself.
Climb up onto the viewing platform and check out the sweeping views across Campeche. The vista encompasses the constellation of city lights alongside the dark span of the ocean.
Puerta de Tierra is on the Ruta de los Baluartes (Bastions Route). The gateway is free to visit during the day however, there is an admission fee for the multimedia show and terrace access. Shows operate between Thursday and Sunday and run for approximately 1 hour.
