Becan is easy to find - it is right outside of the town of Xpujil. The towers of Structure I are visible from the main highway. It is a marvelous place to visit - it is not at all crowded, and you can climb onto all the pyramids and temples. We spent a few pleasant hours here exploring all the buildings. It is not a large city, there are about 10 main excavated structures to see.

The original name for the city of Becan is unknown. The archaeologists called these ruins "Becan", which means "ditch" in Mayan, because this city had a moat dug all around the city center, protecting about 60 acres of temples and structures. The city was first founded around 250 B.C. This is what the entrance sign for Becan said:

"Becan was the political, economic and religious capital of the province known today as Rio Bec, to which the sites of Xpuhil, Chicanna, Puerto Rico, Okolhuitz, Channa, and Ramonal belong. It is strategically located at the base of the Yucatan peninsula, on the route which unites the river and lagoon zone of southwestern Campeche with the territories of Chetumal Bay. The sites in the Peten Region are found to the south of Becan and to the north, the Chenes (wells) settlements in northeastern Campeche, with whom it also maintained relations. The earliest archaeological evidence from Becan dates from 550 BC, a period in which the Olmec culture was declining at sites such as La Venta, Tabasco. The apogee of Becan, reflected in the construction peak and population density, took place between 600 and 800 AD. At this time, Cholula recovered importance while Tajin reached its splendor. Becan was abandoned around 1200 AD."


Here is a short video taken from the top of Structure IX at Becan. It starts out with a view of Structure X, pans to show the staircase of Structure IX, then ends with a view of Structure VIII.

Becan video


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Becan