The legend of the underground tunnels in the Historic Center of the city has persisted over time, generating various theories about their existence and purpose.
The belief in the presence of these tunnels is based on oral stories passed down from generation to generation and some historical references.
Legend suggests that the tunnels could have served as escape routes during pirate invasions, and it is speculated that the drilled nature of the Yucatan Peninsula may have contributed to their natural formation beneath the rock.
The visit of the French traveler Frederick Waldeck in 1834 provides one of the first references, where he stated that the city of Campeche rested on underground dug by the Mayans. However, the connection with the Mayans could be due to the presence of sahcab benches used in the first viceregal constructions.
Additional stories point to discoveries of human remains and dishes when part of the streets collapsed in 1910-1911, as well as the construction of buildings on rock columns, evidenced by collapses during floods in 1869. Historian Manuel Arcadio Lanz adds that, in 1686, during After a pirate attack, the inhabitants of Campeche took refuge in the cathedral, where it is said that there was an underground road that led to the Eminencia hill.
In 1940, in commemoration of the fourth centenary of the founding of the city, excavations were carried out in the San Carlos bastion in search of these tunnels, without success. Despite accounts and investigations, the actual existence of the tunnels remains uncertain. Some older people claim to have entered the tunnels during their childhood, finding remains of pottery.
The question about the authenticity of the tunnels remains open, leaving room for speculation and mystery surrounding this intriguing legend.
