Xpujil Explained

Official Name:Xpujil
Pushpin Map:Mexico Campeche#Mexico
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Campeche
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Calakmul
Established Title:Founded
Population As Of:2010[1]
Population Total:3984
Population Urban:3984
Timezone:CST
Utc Offset:-6
Coordinates:18.5056°N -89.3972°W
Elevation M:260
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:24640
Area Code:983
Blank1 Name:Demonym
Blank1 Info:Xpujilense

Xpujil (in Mayan languages pronounced as /ʃpuˈxil/) is a town in the Mexican state of Campeche. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of Calakmul. As of 2010, Xpujil had a population of 3,984.[2]

Xpujil is located in the south-east of the state, close to the border with Quintana Roo to the east and Peten, Guatemala, to the south. With Escárcega, Campeche 153km (95miles) to the west and Chetumal, Quintana Roo 120km (80miles) to the east it is a useful midway point on Federal Highway 186. Close to the town are the Maya ruins of Xpuhil (1km (01miles)) and Becan (8km (05miles)), Chicanná, Balamcan, Hormiguero. Further to the south-west is the major Maya site of Calakmul, in the 7230km2 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

Highway 186 was, as of February 2009, undergoing a major refurbishment to a multilane highway that will improve access to the zone.

In addition to providing services for the local community, Xpujil has a paved runway and serves as the gateway for tourists visiting those areas, with restaurants, transportation services, modest hotels, etc. Currently many tourists travel by road from Cancun to Palenque, and stop to visit the many Mayan sites in the region.

There are plans to increase room availability and other services for eco-tourism and other activities within the Calakmul Ecological reserve.

XEPUJ, a government-run indigenous community radio station that broadcasts in Spanish, Yucatec Maya and Ch'ol, is based in Xpujil.

Notes and References

  1. http://mapserver.inegi.org.mx/mgn2k/?s=geo&c=1223 2010 census tables: INEGI
  2. Web site: Calakmul. Catálogo de Localidades. Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL). 23 April 2014.