Palizada is a nice and cozy Magic Town Campechano and this is your complete tourist guide for you to fully enjoy.
1. Where is Palizada located?
Palizada is the head of the Campeche municipality of the same name, located in the western sector of Campeche, near the Laguna de Terminos and separated from Ciudad del Carmen by the body of water and a stretch of the Palizada River. In its architectural landscape its buildings with French tile roofs are distinguished and it also has natural, archaeological and gastronomic attractions, which earned it its elevation to the category of Mexican Magic Town in 2011.
2. What are the main distances there?
The closest major city to Palizada is Ciudad del Carmen, which is 228 km by land. due to the layout of the road network, but by water it is much closer, navigating the Palizada River and the Term Lagoon. The important archaeological city of Palenque is 138 km away. from Palizada, while Villahermosa, the capital of the state of Tabasco, is located 183 km. The city of Campeche is 356 km away. from the Magic Town and Mexico City at 938 km.
3. How did the town arise?
Palizada has a Hispanic name, due to the abundance in the Palo de Campeche area, a tree that was exploited until the early 20th century to obtain a dye that was used in the dyeing of fabrics. Palizada was part of the state of Yucatán until the state of Campeche was created in 1857. It obtained the titles of town in 1850, of municipality in 1916 and of city in 1959.
4. How is the climate of Palizada?
Palizada has a tropical climate and an unusually long rainy season. The annual average temperature is 27 ° C and the warmth rises to 28 or 29 ° C between April and September. In the less warm months, from December to February, the thermometer shows between 23 and 25 ° C. The long rainy period goes from May to January, in which 92% of the 1,856 mm of water that fall annually falls.
5. What are the main attractions of Palizada?
Palizada is a beautiful town of colorful houses with high French tile roofs. In its architecture, the historic center, the Parroquia de San Joaquín, the Capilla del Señor de Tila, the Malecón and the so-called Casa del Río stand out. Other places of interest are the archaeological site of El Cuyo and the Palizada River, which connects the Magic Town by river with the nearby Laguna de Terminos. The observation of biodiversity and the somewhat exotic local cuisine complete the attractive tourist offer of Palizada.
6. What is the Historic Center like?
Palizada is a town of picturesque masonry houses, painted in bright colors, that adorn the streets of the historic center. One of the main traces left in Palizada by the culture of France were the roofs of the town houses and buildings, covered with the elegant French tile. The inhabitants of Palizada exchanged logs for tiles, taking advantage of the abundance of Palo de Campeche, an arboreal species that grows very well in Yucatán and which was very important because of the red dye that was extracted for dyeing fabrics.
7. What is the interest of the Parroquia de San Joaquín?
In a cobbled block in front of the main square of Palizada, officially called Parque Benito Juárez, the red facade of the Parroquia de San Joaquín stands out, the church dedicated to the town's patron. The temple completed in 1773 has a single nave and a bell tower with a spiral staircase. In the facade the clock and the choral window are distinguished.
8. Who is the Lord of Tila?
It is an image of Jesus crucified about half a meter high, also called Christ of Tila, which is highly venerated in Palizada and the surrounding towns. The Señor de Tila Chapel was built with the financial contributions of the Paliceños, under the supervision of the priest José Dolores Muñoz and the Bishop Joaquín Cerna y Cerna. Inside there are some images of saints that have been donated by parishioners in gratitude for favors received.
9. What can I do on the Malecón?
The Palizada boardwalk invites you to stroll in pleasant company, especially at night, when it is lit by small spotlights. A beautiful spectacle to enjoy on the boardwalk is the overflight of flocks of white herons that depart at sunset to spend the night on the slopes of the nearby hills. On the boardwalk you can admire the Monument to the Mother, at the height of the Municipal Palace, while a few meters beyond there is a replica of the Statue of Liberty.
10. What is Casa del Río like?
This splendid house was built in an architectural style somewhat different from that of the rest of the main buildings in the town, although it is roofed with French tiles, which still read the word "Marseille", city of origin on the roof. The house located in front of the old boardwalk of the Palizada River, is on two floors and has Renaissance and neoclassical details. It was built by order of the prestigious doctor Enrique Cuevas.
11. Where is El Cuyo?
El Cuyo was a settlement of the Chontal Mayans approximately one kilometer from Palizada, of which a mound lined with fired bricks is preserved. The site functioned as an astronomical observatory, shrine and ceremonial center belonging to the Acalán region. The technique used by the Mayans to raise these mounds consisted of making a framework with sticks from the dye tree, which was filled with earth and then lined with bricks to preserve it from erosion.
12. What can I do in the Palizada River?
By the Palizada River the logs of Palo de Campeche used to be shipped to Europe in order to extract their appreciated ink used in the textile industry and that was the main solution before the invention of artificial dyes. The Palizada River is a branch of the Usumacinta River that extends for 120 km. to pay its waters to the Laguna de Terminos. On one of the river banks the Palizada boardwalk was erected, which is one of the vital spaces of the town. In the river you can swim, kayak, fish and observe manatees and other species.
13. What is in the Laguna de Term?
This Campeche lagoon receives the waters of the Palizada River and from the Magic Town you can go to Ciudad del Carmen, crossing the body of water in a boat. The lake trip is very pleasant and on the way you can see several species of birds and the pigua fishermen extracting this small shrimp with cages that they submerge in the water. From the boat there is also a nice view of the picturesque houses of Palizada located in front of the river bank.
14. Is it true that I can observe crocodiles?
If you are fond of observing large lizards, in Palizada you have a unique opportunity to see some crocodiles. They are on a farm in the community of Santa Isabel, located just 12 km away. of the Magic Town. There are specimens of crocodiles of different ages, as well as turtles and pejelagartos, beautiful fish with the curious characteristic that their meat is a gastronomic delicacy, while their eggs are extremely toxic.
15. What are the main town festivals?
El Señor de Tila is celebrated in March with a fervent party attended by hundreds of people from Palizada and other Campeche towns, when the Christ of Tila is strolled through the streets and along the river. The festivities of San Joaquín, the patron of the town, are the most important in Palizada, a festival that is celebrated during the second half of August. During the patron saint festivities the Agricultural and Livestock Fair is held, which includes dairy farms, dances, popular contests, gastronomic and artisan shows.
16. How is the gastronomy of Palizada?
The star dish of Paliceña gastronomy is the turtle in its blood, prepared with hatchery chelonians, so as not to affect the wild species that lives in the Laguna de Terminos. Do not be inhibited by the blood, because most of all it is a red sauce. Mojarras and shrimp caught in the lagoon are also eaten. The best place to taste these delicacies is the Municipal Market. The pirates that ravaged Campeche bequeathed a drink that is prepared with gin and coconut. For dessert, be sure to eat a sweet Manila mango, which is very good at Palizada.
17. Where can I stay?
Palizada only has some modest accommodations, so most visitors go to visit the Magic Town from Ciudad del Carmen. As an important tourist area of Campeche, Ciudad del Carmen is endowed with a wide and comfortable hotel offer, which includes the Courtyard Marriott, the Fiesta Inn Loft, the Corintios Hotel, the Stay Ok Hotel, the Hacienda Real Hotel, the Holiday In Express and the City Express.
18. Where can I go to eat in Palizada?
Apart from the Municipal Market, in Palizada is the El Grillo Marino Family Restaurant, a house worth visiting. Located in the center of town, facing the Palizada River, it is a typical place, with a high tile roof, specialized in fish and seafood from the river, the lagoon and the sea. In Ciudad del Carmen there are restaurants with different cuisines, both Mexican and international, highlighting OV Vaquero, Mosto Beer, La Pigua and Picanas Grill.
Ready to go tour the charming attractions of Palizada? We wish you a happy stay in the beautiful Campeche Magical Town.
