Campeche was once an important port and trade center, surrounded by a fortress to guard against pirate attack. Much of the wall and the bastions still exist to this day.
For those who prefer the sounds of the jungle to the bustle of the city, a converted eighteenth century hacienda, called Hacienda Uayamon sits close to the archeological site of Edzna and makes the perfect place to spend a few nights.
Campeche is a very small city, built on a grid system, so it is very easy and pleasurable to navigate on foot. Do keep in mind that Campeche can be very hot however, so it is worth taking breaks and keeping hydrated. Streets in Campeche are numbered. Streets running north to south have even numbers, streets running east to west have odd numbers and street numbers ascend towards the south and east.
To explore outside the historical city, the city taxis are the best option, with set prices by zones. There is also a bus system for the more adventurous but the buses are small and can get very hot and cramped.
If you plan to visit the archeological site of Edzna, located about 40 minutes outside of town, the easiest option is to take a taxi (arrange the price before setting off). The site can also be reached using the colectivos (shared taxis) that leave from just outside the market. Be sure to double check with your driver that you are headed to the right destination.
Restaurants in the city range from small hole-in-the-wall eateries to more elegant dining options. Most restaurants offer local dishes such as Pan de Cazon (tortillas stacked with refried beans and dogfish), sweet green papaya, papdzules (tacos filled with boiled eggs and covered in a pumpkin seed sauce), various octopus dishes and coconut shrimps all of which go well accompanied by a traditional drink called a campechana (rum and coke with mineral water and lime).
Trancas are a local snack of French bread filled with roast pork or turkey. Tranquerias selling these tasty treats are found all around the city and are open until about 4pm.
Campeche’s beaches are often forgotten due to the popularity of beaches in the more northern parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, however the quiet, virgin beaches are certainly worth visiting if you have time.
If you decide to explore the beaches take the coastal road between the city and Ciudad del Carmen, along which many quiet beaches can be found. Some beaches are nicer than others so just keep going until you come you want to stop at.
Campeche is a relatively quiet and laidback city but there is usually something going on after night falls. After dark the buildings in the historic center are lit up and a light and sound show at the Puerta de la Tierra tells the story of Campeche’s history every Thursday through Sunday at 8pm.
There are a number of bars and restaurants on Calle 59, which runs through the center of the city and by night there is often live music and lots of people enjoying the cool night breeze. Head here for dinner and a few al fresco drinks after sunset.
For those who really want to dance, Lafitte’s Boulevard Café at the Hotel del Mar has a disco from midnight to 3am most days of the week.
The Center: The area within the wall that surrounded the city, which was inhabited by the Spaniards.
San Francisco: Located to the north of the wall, where the Mayan population was concentrated.
San Roman: Located to the south of the wall, where the Mexican natives established themselves with people from the Caribbean Islands such as Cuba.
While these zones still exist, the population of Campeche is no longer divided in this way and all zones make up the city.
The buildings in Campeche’s historical center are painted in a variety of pastel colors, but it is worth noting that the buildings are repainted every four years so the municipal building might be yellow one visit and pink the next.
While the beaches adjacent to the city are not great for swimming and relaxing, some pretty beaches can be found just a few kilometers away.
You can find tourist information at the Cultural Center House #6, which is on Calle 57 between 10 and 8 or at the State Tourist Office located on Av. Ruiz Cortines on Plaza Moch Couoh in the historical center.
Campeche and has two kinds of climate: the humid warm and the sub-humid warm. The sub-humid warm climate has periods of rain in the summer and beginning of fall over most of territory. In the dry season it is characterized by the convergence of warm winds from the east and the southwest. The humid warm climate is prevalent in the southwest part of the state by the Tabasco border.
Check out Campeche Weather Review [For each month of the year].
For vacationers, many of your questions could probably be answered if you read these pages:
Mexican Embassies
Legalization Documents
Travel Complaints
Yucatan FAQ
Mexico Travel Tips
Losing Money
Emergency Departure
Medical Services
Emergency Phone Numbers
Campeche’s history dates back to the third century when it was the principal town of the Mayan district Ah Kin Pech. In 1517 the Spanish led by Francisco de Montejo attempted to invade the town but were defeated by Mayan warriors led by Moch Couoh. Further invasion attempts were unsuccessful in 1527 and 1537, however in 1540 Montejo’s son and his men returned better equipped and massacred their way into the Mayan homeland.
Precious metals, slaves and a dye found in logwood became chief commodities that were exported out by the Spanish at high prices. The dye in particular was highly prized in Europe and when news spread about its availability in Campeche the city came under constant pirate attack for the next century. Finally after almost 100 years of attacks, the King of Spain was forced to act, ordering the construction of a thick wall around the city. Construction took 20 years and Campeche became a fortress city.
As attacks began to wane and inhabitants began to bemoan the fact that the wall served to create a breading ground for disease in the hot and humid city, parts of the walls were dismantled. However, to this day the fortress bastions are still intact along with short sections of the wall.
Ah Kin Pech is believed to mean the ‘place of the serpents and ticks
