Campeche is the capital and largest city inthe state of Campeche,Mexico. It has a population around 250,000 people and growing. It sits in the northwestern area of the state. Historically it has long been the second city of theYucatán Peninsula afterMerida roughly 155 km to the north, the capital of the neighboring state ofYucatán. Campeche a port city on the Gulf of Mexico, with relaxed atmosphere and a charming Colonial old town designated aUNESCO World Heritage Site. Campeche is one of only two cities in North America (the other beingQuebec City inCanada) to have its city walls still intact.
Campeche was founded in 1540 by the Spanish conquistadors as the city ofSan Francisco de Campeche (still its official name, though never used) on top of the old Maya town called Ah Can Pech (roughly, "place of snakes and ticks", supposedly for an ancient idol depicting a snake with a tick on its head). Campeche grew into the leading port in the Peninsula in the colonial era. The city's walls and a series of forts were built in the 16th century to guard against frequent pirate attacks. With independence from Spain at the start of the 1800s Campeche was at first part of the state of Yucatán, but separated with the creation of the State of Campeche mid century.
Today Campeche is a fast growing city, but has maintained its history with meticulously preserved walls and historic buildings. Especially outside of the city center, Campeche is a still fairly laid back place and can feel more like a small town. The city is still relatively compact and easy to get around, although as the city grows even bigger, that is slowly changing. The northeast side of the old town is especially interesting to explore, most notably along Calle 10, which passes a few parks and churches and has lovely colonial architecture. It is less preserved than the old town, but is very photogenic.
FromMerida
From the ADO "centro histórico" bus station in Mérida, buses leave almost every 30 minutes for the two and a half-hour drive to Campeche, which costs between M$190 (2nd class but comfortable) and M$350 for ADO bus booked last minute (Nov 2023).
buses to Campeche are also very frequent and cost roughly M$130. The trip is about 2 hr 45 min, longer by second class bus. From Cancun, the trip to Campeche takes 6½ hours to complete and costs roughly M$300. There are four buses to Campeche every day. From Mexico City, Campeche is a lengthy 17-hour drive and this trip costs from M$800-950. A first class bus is recommended.
Tren Maya is a new intercity rail system that covers five states in the Yucatan Peninsula, including Campeche. The train provides frequent service to major cities, beach resort areas, and tourist destinations. From Campeche, passengers can take trains towardMerida andCancun, or towardsPalenque (with onward connections toTren Interoceanico towardCoatzalcocos, Veracruz). Trains go toMerida and onward toCancun.
Because Campeche is still a small city, it can be easy to navigate on foot, although the oppressive heat and humidity that dominates most of the year may make this impossible. If you are staying in the historic center, this is the best option.
Otherwise or for visiting attractions away from the old town, it is best to get around the city by taxi or bus. Taxi fares are charged by zone; to go from the ADO bus station to downtown, the cost is roughly M$30. The city runs many public buses. They tend to be small, hot, usually cramped and in varying states of disrepair. The fare, however, is cheap at just M$6, so they're convenient for budget travelers or the adventurous. The bus driver will make change, but don't try to offer large bills as they likely won't be accepted.
(updated Dec 2020) (updated Dec 2020)There are tourist oriented shops in the historic center, although their prices are relatively high. The central market is quite small by Mexican standards and it doesn't offer handicrafts like many other do in the country. Outside the market, vendors hawk various items, the most interesting of which are hammocks, a Yucatan specialty.
For travellers looking for a piece of home or just wanting to buy clothing, there are several grocery/department stores located around the city. Super San Fransisco de Assiss has four locations in the city, one of which is on the Gulf of Mexico near the cinema. Another is located by the university, but it's not a central location. The biggest, and cheapest store, is Chedraui, located on Avenida Gobernadores about a 10 minute walk north of the old bus station. It features a full department store, a grocery store and a small restaurant, and has several banks in the vicinity.
Because Campeche is not very tourist oriented, knickknacks and handicrafts are hard to come by.
Campeche is well known for its seafood, especially shrimp (camarón) and shark (cazón) and both are widely available.
The only North American chains in the city are Burger King and Church's Chicken (located north of the cinema), so visitors have extra incentive to eat local. There are many small restaurants located in the historic center, all ranging in price, but try to watch food preparation before you buy. Outside of the historic centre, Avenida Gobernadores offers a plethora of eating establishments, but again, watch the food preparation and then decide.
Calle 59 is partly pedestrian between c. 10 & 12 and has a few bar/restaurants with outdoor tables
At the northern end of themalecon (about 4km) are severalcoctelerias that will serve the freshest seafood for lunch Competition is fierce enough that they will try to lure you with free drinks and/or a complimentary ride to the old town.
There are a few grocery stores outside the old town. All have a small restaurant, deli, bakery, grocery, meat and produce departments.
All these are in the city center:
If you have a sweet tooth, the Chedraui bakery is a must. Donuts, sweet bread, danishes, muffins and cookies are all sold in bulk and baked fresh in store, and the prices are cheap.
Casa vieja del Rio has the best views over the central plaza and church, excellent for relaxing and people-watching from the balcony. Enter from the stairs in front of the tourist train stop, on the southern side of the plaza.
There are a few hotels on the Malecon (Av. Adolfo Ruiz Cortines), which runs the entire length of the city along the Gulf of Mexico. Most are relatively expensive, but offer clean and comfortable accommodations. There are also a few hotels located in the historic center, particularly near the center square, and they are much cheaper in price. Unfortunately, because Campeche has a very small tourist industry, accommodations can be hard to find.
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