Guide To Campeche

About Campeche

Campeche ("Kam-Peh-Che") has been one of Mexico's best kept colonial secrets for many years; despite being one of its most picturesque colonial centers, it is still largely undiscovered by a large number of foreign tourists.

An old Mayan trading port, Campeche is the capital city of the State which bears its name. Although the Spaniards arrived here in 1517, the opposition they were greeted with kept them from settling here until 1540, when Francisco de Montejo (who founded nearby Merida) gained sufficient control to establish a settlement in the area. With its exports to Europe of local timber, silver and gold, the port prospered and became the primary trading port of the Yucatan.

The success did not arrive unaccompanied; pirates, eager to capitalize on the wealth being created here, often attacked this port. Following a particularly gruesome massacre, when rival pirate groups co-operated in a coordinated attack on the city, the Spanish took action to secure the facilities at Campeche, building huge bulwarks, each one over 10 feet thick. By 1668, 18 years after they began building them, the fortress-like structures were in place. The walls between them have either decayed or been demolished; however most of the bulwarks are still standing.

Wealthy merchants and traders built stunningly beautiful houses and haciendas here; today hundreds of these have been carefully restored to their former glory and repainted with the original soft pastel colors used in the past. In 1999 UNESCO declared Campeche a World Heritage Site.

Campeche's appeal is enhanced by the long and broad waterfront it has stretching along the Gulf of Mexico. It's a popular place in the evenings for people who want to watch the sunsets and also an extraordinary stage from which to experience thunderstorms roll in off the Gulf.

This old walled city with its narrow streets, pastel colored houses and old colonial feel is one of colonial Mexico's best kept secrets, although as traveler's begin to venture further south from Merida and the Mayan ruins nearby, they are beginning to discover this true gem. Next time you find yourself in Mexico's Yucatan region, be sure to visit this colonial wonder: your time spent here will be well rewarded.

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Key Attractions

Colonial Center

The city's Cathedral, Catedral de la Concepcion Inmaculada stands just off the main Zocalo (Parque Principal); it was completed early in the 18th century.

The Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace) is an ultra modern building, built on reclaimed land, northwest of the Parque Principal just off the Plaza de la Republica.

Fuerte de San Miguel (St Michael's Fort) on the southwest side of the city is host to a fine archaeological museum, housing Mayan artifacts from the archaeological ruins at Edzna and Jaina.

The city's narrow streets and pastel coloured houses are a major attraction. In the famous neighborhood of San Roman, you can visit the church where the Black Christ is hosted; a 6ft ebony statue brought to Mexico from Italy in 1575. The Tram can take you here (see Trams, below).

The Bulwarks ("Baluartes")

The city's Bulwarks (7 of the original 8 still stand) can be toured on foot, along Avenida Circuito Baluartes (Baluartes is Spanish bulwarks); some of them now house visitor attractions.

Baluarte de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is host to the Museo de Estelas Maya; offering a collection of Mayan artifacts.

Baluarte de Santiago hosts the miniature Jardin Botanico Xmuch Haltun, a collection of tropical plants and fountains.

Baluarte de San Pedro, situated in the middle of an intersection is a local crafts exhibition and sales centre.

Baluarte de San Carlos has the Museo de la Ciudad (city museum) which includes a scale model of the old city. There are sea views from the roof.

Baluarte de San Francisco, Baluarte de San Juan and Baluarte de Santa Rosa are the last three of the Bulwarks which can be visited.

Nearby Beaches

Campeche is a coastal city, and although the beaches immediately adjacent to it are not ideal for beach-goers, there is a small fishing village a few kilometers away called Lerma near where you'll find some beaches to relax on at Playa Bonita ("Pretty Beach")

Campeche's Trams ("Tranvias")

One of the best ways to see the delights of the city is to take a ride on one of the Tranvias (Trams) which offer bi-lingual commentary (English and Spanish). The Tranvia de la Ciudad passes by most of the main attractions and picturesque colonial neighborhoods in Campeche including San Roman; while El Guapo ("The Handsome One") takes a route along the seafront to the Fuerte de San Miguel (see above). Both trams start the Zocalo (Parque Principal).

Campeche by Night

To enjoy a wonderful walking experience around Campeche's narrow colonial streets, wait until the sun goes down. As the temperature cools, the lights come on an illuminate the pastel colored houses, streets and courtyards. Evening walks are a popular pastime with locals and visitors alike.

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Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air - You can get to Campeche by plane from Mexico City, and Cancun. The airport is just a couple of miles away from the city.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines.

By Bus - Regular long distance buses make the journey from Mexico City to Campeche daily; the journey takes 18 hours, sometimes stopping at Villahermosa en route. Regional buses travel daily and frequently from Merida and Cancun and Villahermosa.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses.

By Car - There are now fast roads connecting this region to Merida, Cancun, Oaxaca, Mexico City. The drive is a long one from Mexico City, but you'll be rewarded by some stunning scenery. Most people tend to fly to the region and rent a car locally (see Getting Around, below). See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Getting Around

From the Airport - You can either hire a private taxi, or a Collectivo Taxi (a minibus that drops each of the passengers at their required destination in geographical order) from the airport to town. The latter is considerably less expensive.

Local Buses - Local buses are available to take you around town and are very inexpensive.

Taxis - Local taxis are widely available and have set rates posted on an official label inside. Even so, it may be a good idea to agree your price before you get in, or insist that the official rates are adhered to. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage! Another good reason to Learn Spanish!

Rent a Car - Renting a car locally will be the most effective way to see all of the surrounding attractions, including the many archaeological centers in this area, without having to drive the long journey from say, Mexico City.

See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

See the Mexperience Travel Center for Car Rental in Campeche

The Tram - Campeche's Tram System is an effective way to get around and there are also tourist trams which offer bi-lingual commentary and excursions around the key attractions of the city (see Key Attractions, above, for more details).

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Local Events Calendar

On September 14th, Campeche celebrates its Feast Day, with parties, processions and celebrations throughout the city, including the procession of the Black Christ, an ebony sculpture brought to Mexico from Italy in the 16th century (see Key Attractions for further information).

Between September and May, you can experience regional music and dancing at the Plaza de la Republica every Thursday and Saturday night; check locally for exact times. The performances are free, and very popular, so arrive in good time if you want a good seat.

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Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area of Campeche. During business hours, they and the Casas de Cambio will buy traveler's cheques and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico - new ones open and old ones close all the time - but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.

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Accommodation

• Find a Hotel in Campeche

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Restaurants

Campeche: Local Mexican food. Calle 57, #2A, Col. Centro. Tel:. (981) 8162128.

La Pigua: Seafood. Av. Miguel Alemán 179A. Tel: (981) 8113365

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When Night Falls

Locally Hosted Parties - Check with yours and other Local hotels about public parties they may be hosting during your stay. Hosted parties usually include dinner, dancing, a show and / or live regional music and dancing plus all drinks for a fixed fee and are always excellent value for money! Ask at your hotel to find out what is happening locally.

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What to Buy in Campeche

Local arts and crafts are sold locally and you can also visit the artisan exhibition and sales centre situated at the Bulwark named Baluarte de San Pedro (see Key Attractions, above).

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Local Climate

Drenching, hot, humid, sticky... this is jungle weather. Wear light and breathe-able clothing, avoid synthetic materials (e.g. polyester) in favor of natural ones (e.g. cotton), wear sunscreen and protect young children's skin especially, wear a hat to protect your head and face from the intensely hot sun. Carry plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated, especially when you are out and about exploring this magnificent city.

Live Weather Report:

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