It is located 302 kilometers in the Southeast of Campeche, on kilometer 146 of the federal highway Escárcega- Chetumal (México 186), in Calakmul municipality.

The archaeological zone was named after a close water deposit named Xpuhil, which in Maya it is related to an abundant herb known as "cola de gato" (cat’s tail). The first human occupation evidence of the site is dated on 400 B.C. during the Late Preclassic period. It reached its most important years, which is clearly reflected on its architecture, during the Late Classic (A.D. 600-800) and its decadence during the Early Postclassic, in the year 1200 aproximately.

Xpuhil is integrated by aproximately 17 architectonic groups and numerous platforms for lodging purposes disperse along a 5 square kilometers area. The first four edifices located in the north of the highway, are Structures I, II, III and IV.

Structure I, also known as the Tree Tower Edifice, erects over a rounded corners platform of 53 meters long, 26 meters broad and 2 meters high, with an 18 meters broad stairway to climb to the platform on the east side. In the north and south sides there are two rooms, each one with its own entrance.

The edifice over the platform has got 12 lodgings in a rectangular shape orientated to the four PUNTOS CARDINALES. The main facade is located on the east side facing two of the building’s towers, which have three accesses to the edifice flanked by masks cascades low carved with partial zoo-morph porches.

The third tower is oriented to the west. These towers once had eleven superposed bodies and where crowned by false temples with crests, the false access was surrounded by a great mask of the Monster of the Earth. Above the towers there are non-functuional stariways which have on their central axis three masks of the monster of the Earth symmetrically distributed.

Structure II is located to the east of Structure I, and over its facade there are foundations of small rooms which once had false vaulted roofs. Structure III seems to have had a lodging purpose because it has got benches inside. Structure IV has two levels of lodgings, its benches are decorated with cross shaped figures, somehow as a "T" shape, an element that symbolizes the wind, refering to the "breath of life".

The fifth edifice, known as Xpuhil 2 or the Crest Temple, is located one kilometer in the south of the paved road, it’s a 19 rooms structure, and the central ones once had horizontal sashes with hieroglyphs.

Such Structure is erected over an artificial platform and on its south section there are several rooms with the typical Maya vault. The main facade of the building characterizes for its top end or crest, which has several rectangular cavities or fret work and remains of stilized masks such as in the Río Bec Style.

Schedule from 8:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs

Visiting time required: 45 minutes

Visiting time required departing from Campeche City: 4 hours

Transportation: Bus or car

Recommendation: If you travel through the Chenes via you could visit all the colonial churches of the communities along the way. If you drive through the Escárcega highway, you can take a recess and visit Balamkú.

SOFT DRINKS: Xpujil village

RESTAURANTS: Xpujil village

LODGING: Xpujil village

GAS STATION: Xpujil village

TELEPHONE: Xpujil village

MEDICAL SERVICES: Xpujil village

In Spring and Summer time, wear light clothes because the temperature is over 30° C. During June, July and August, wear mosquito repellent and suitable clothes for a rainy weather.

Andrews, George F. "Estilos Regionales: Arquitecturas Río Bec y Chenes". Arqueología Mexicana. 18 (1996): 16-25.

Benavides C., Antonio. Xpuhil. Documento inédito. Centro INAH Campeche, 1997.

Piña Chan, Román. Cultura y Ciudades Mayas de Campeche México: Gobierno del Estado de Campeche, 1985. 35-44.