Campeche Beaches & Coastline
Campeche Sabancuy
Due to the extension of its coastline, a variety of natural landscapes with beautiful ledges and coves highlight, such as Champotón which also has a wide strip of sand like Punta Xen, Sabancuy, Chenkan, Port Royal, Isla Aguada, Tortugueros, Xicalango and North Beach.
Punta Xen Beach Campeche
Puerto Real Campeche
Isla Aguada Island Campeche
Campeche Isla Tortugueros
Campeche Playa Norte Beach
It stands out the Carmen Island, which separates Terminos Lagoon with the Gulf of Mexico, with beautiful beaches and resorts such as La Manigua, Punta San Julian and Bahamitas.
Bahamitas Beach Campeche
Campeche Mayan Ruins, Archaeological Areas
Hacienda San Luis Carpizo
Among the sites of interest are the cities and colonial towns such as the estates where agriculture and forestry industry were initially promoted in Campeche with varied crops such as corn, sugar cane, sisal and logwood. These places are scattered throughout the state of Campeche and many have been rebuilt and restored for tourism.
Hacienda Uayamon
Some examples are the estates like Uayamón, San Luis Carpizo, Blanca Flor, San Jose Carpizo, Tankuché and Chunkanán
Campeche Hacienda Blanca Flor
Hacienda Tankuché
There are several archaeological sites in Campeche, for example in the south, Hormiguero and Rio Bec, in the middle, Dzibilnocac and Tabasqueño, and in the northern coast Jaina.
Archeological site Hormiguero
Archeological site Dzibilnocac
Archeological site Tabasqueño
Archeological site Isla Jaina
It has also several archaeological sites open to the public, faithful expressions of the Mayan culture and its classical period, as the City Calakmul, which has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Archaeological Ruins Calakmul
Mayan Ruins of Calakmul
Archaeological Site Calakmul
Steps to Mayan Ruins of Calakmul
The visitor can also find the majestic temple of the five-floor of Edzná City, located in the valley of the same name, with its main square, the big house or Nohochná, the Temple of the South, the Temple of the Masks, the Temple of the North and the Great Acropolis.
Campeche Mayan Ruins of Edzna
Archaeological site of Temple del Norte
Campeche Temple de los Mascarones
Archaeological ruins Gran Acropolis
In addition, the Jaina Island is a place of much interest due to its archaeological values, and its calcareous nature which contains one of the most visited archaeological sites, the Necropolis. Furthermore, Uaymil Island with traces of Puuc style architecture offers ritualistic attractions as well as the archaeological places of Xpujil and Chicanná.
Uaymil Island Mayan Ruins
Mayan ruins at Chicanna
Chicanna Temple Doorway
Xpujil Mayan Ruins Campeche
Hochob located in Los Chenes, with its Palace of the East and its Main Palace, seems to be made for people’s pleasure, similarly, the recently discovered Balamkú temple offers interesting views and charms.
Balamku Mayan Ruins Campeche
Mayan Ruins at Hochob Campeche
The state of Campeche has natural temptations such as Palizada, “Magical Towns”, which are reached by the river of the same name. This denomination was received in 2010 for showing its traditions and customs. The picturesque village has tiled colonial houses with French style architecture, making it attractive for its varied colors and cute portals where people will find shops and restaurants with typical food. Wood carving of various object is also typical of this site, which for years, was the cutting and milling place of precious woods from the New World to the Old World.
To those sites above mentioned are added uncountable places, many of them in the process of being open to the public and some still unexplored. In Campeche, there are over 130 underwater archaeological sites discovered in recent years facing its coasts, covering a broad period from the prehistory to the present; they are mainly shipwrecks in shallow coral reefs, and other are very sought wrecks, such as Nuestra Señora del Juncal, a galleon of the fleet of New Spain which sank in 1631 having flows of gold and silver coins.
The area of Campeche is an ideal place for diving, because of the Campeche Bank Reefs, about 100 km off the coast in front of the city, formed by emerging coral zone containing little Cays as Cayo Arcas and coral Triangle, consisting of the Triangles of the West, East and South, and the Bishop Bank, a reef bank submerged in the coasts.
Campeche Petenes
It also has forests, wetlands, ponds, streams, rivers, cenotes and caves, because more than 40% of the territory is a protected natural area, a situation that in 2008 allowed Campeche entering in the UNESCO list of next Mexicans sites that will become part of the World Heritage, as well as the wetlands of the Terms-Centla Lagoon and the ecoregion Petenes-Ria Celestun.
Things to do in Campeche Mexico
Mayan Sites Campeche
The state has natural and historical attractions that allow visitors to enjoy a wide variety of landscapes and see the legacy of the Mayan culture and the colonial epoch. Walking its archaeological sites causes a unique sense of magic and joy, making the entire path an adventure to the past. The mix with attractive beaches and Campeche modern facilities make it an ideal place for relaxation and partying.
Among the main attractions are the Feria de la Candelaria in the city of Campeche, the Honey and Corn Fair and the Escárcega Expo Fair.
Black Christ Campeche
It is also famous the Fair of Ciudad del Carmen, held every year in July at the fairgrounds of North Beach in honor to the Virgin of Carmen; furthermore Saint Roman Fair takes place annually from September 4 to 30 in Saint Roman neighborhood. It begins with the descent of the Black Christ.
Excellent attractions are the festival of San Juan and the expected Carnival of Campeche City between February and March.
Campeche Carnival
This festivity is known as the oldest in Mexico, and gives everyone a rich culture on festivities.
Campeche Malecon
It takes place in a modern and clean waterfront and its acoustic shell, among other places. Visitors can enjoy activities such as the coronation of the ugly queen and king, the parade of symbolic cars and the costume contests; moreover, there are typical Mexican food stands, accompanied by bands and dance groups.
Campeche Concha Acustica
Main Cities in Campeche Mexico
San Francisco de Campeche
The main city is San Francisco de Campeche, known as Campeche, declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, due to its military constructions from the seventeenth and eighteenth Centuries, its traditional houses with Andalucian and Caribbean influence, and an urbanization model of baroque colonial city. It still has some ruins of the old wall which surrounded the city at its early ages, in addition to its historical bastions, gates, forts, its center and traditional neighborhoods.
Ciudad del Carmen
Ciudad del Carmen, it is situated in the main city of the municipality of the same name, located to the west of the Isle of Carmen, between the Gulf of Mexico and the Terminos Lagoon.
Laguna de Terminos
It is one of the most important centers of Mexican Petroleum; besides, it has a great touristic potential due to its natural attractions, elements that make it the most economically important city of the state.
Since 2008, it is being implemented the Regional program for the development of tourism in the coastal corridor, from the City of San Francisco de Campeche to Ciudad del Carmen, promoting the development of tourism in this coastal strip, thus fomenting beach tourism, cruise tours and sport fishing, in order to encourage real-state services and nature beyond the traditional sun-and-beach tourism. It was also formulated the Regional program of Urban-touristic development of Escarcega –Xpujil Corridor, aimed at tourism projects that favor the orderly growth of population density and the impact of their economic activity in the region.
Palizada, it is a peculiar town of neoclassic architecture located at the shore of Palizada River.
Becál Campeche
Becál, small town where neoclassical constructions are combined with Mayan huts.
History of Campeche Mexico
About Mexico Campeche
Campeche is one of the three states of Yucatan Peninsula. It is located to the Northeast of the state of the same name, between Quintana Roo and Tabasco, bordering Belize, the Republic of Guatemala and the Gulf of Mexico in the West. It has an area of 57 924 km ², with a population of 822 441 inhabitants.
There are different theories as to the origin of the word Campeche, the most accepted is the detachment of the word into Can and Peche, whose union could be understood according to the Mayas as “Place of God and Priests”.
In its territory, the Mayan people lived and developed for more than a millennium, before the Spanish conquest during the sixteenth Century. The first settlements could be the result of either migratory waves from the low lands of the South, or groups coming from the interior of the Peninsula.
The early inhabitants carried knowledge and a wisdom that places them as part of an advanced culture for their time. They worked in agricultural tasks both extensive and intensive, and they use marine resources, with a development in pottery. To learn more about Mexico Campeche please visit our other pages and official information.
With the Spanish conquest, missionaries arrive to Champoton port, among them Fray Diego de Landa, Fray Luis de Villalpando, Fray Juan de la Puerta, Fray Melchor de Benavente and Fray Diego de Béjar. They imposed both their evangelizing function and the knowledge of letters and numbers on native peoples.
By the year 1543, Spanish people begin to populate Campeche, local people seek refuge in rural areas like the Chenes and the Campeche jungle. In 1564, it was founded the General Captaincy of Yucatán, the first Governor and General Captain was Mr. Luis de Céspedes and Oviedo, who established the fortification of the village of San Francisco de Campeche.
Concluding the Conquest of the Yucatan Peninsula in 1548, this territory joined the viceroyalty of the New Spain, being part of the General Captaincy of the Province of Yucatan, which later was divided in four states: Merida, Valladolid, Campeche and Bacalar.
Due to its geographical position, the place was a constant target of sea and land conflicts, it was attacked by pirates for the first time in 1557. These events prevented the population to develop with a proper order, suffering a hard colonization. Pirates turned this zone of Campeche into the most dangerous strip of sea. They were mostly of British origin and among them stand out Henry Morgan, William Parker and Jacob Jackson; there were also of other nationalities, like Dutch Cornelius Jol, “Stick foot” and Rock Brasiliano, and French Juan David Nau, the Olones and Gramont.
Campeche Culture
Within the local culture, Ciudad del Carmen and its island stand out, where visitors can get natural materials for their crafts like shells, snails and fish scales. These are used for making lamps, ashtrays, vases, earrings, pins, key chains, jewelry boxes and other souvenirs related to the sea. Also miniature boats and animal figures are done using these resources.
In Campeche Culture some of the crafts include woodcarving pieces such as spice rack, ashtrays, key chains, jewelry boxes, cigarette cases, checkbook holder, salt shakers, kitchen boards and meat tenderizers; while others are dedicated to the carving of bull horn for creating bracelets, earrings, hair brooches and letter openers.
Hipil Campechana Dress
Identifying Campeche, it is found the regional costume of Campeche, with its typical blouses for women like the peninsular hipil and the “Campechana” identify Campeche Culture. In its most elaborated form, the hipil is usually a white dress of the same dimension from top to bottom, stitched by both sides, with openings for the arms and head, and a rectangular hole for the neck. Both sleeves and bottom of the dress is decorated with colorful embroidery. Below the hipil, it is used a long petticoat known as fustan.
The men’s suit consists of a Filipina in white linen, with white pants and espadrilles, plus a stylish hat. Another typical male costume which is part of Campeche Culture is white pants, wide at the hips and a long white shirt fastened with gold buttons joined by a chain, a hippie japa hat and leather sandals with medium heels.
Campeche Extreme Sports & Adventure Tourism
Along with tourism, Campeche allows visitors to practice “extreme sports” such as sport fishing with excellent boats, water sports on the beaches where tourists row on boats and canoes and most attractively, people can enjoy the magnificent underwater exploration, since there is a diving center specialized in deep-seas archeology, which also offers courses for beginners.
There are also extreme land sports, which allow the adventures such as rappelling cliffs or mountains.
Campeche Nightlife & Restaurants
In Campeche, visitors will have many nightlife options for fun, like popular festivals in the historic center of the city every weekend, an excellent and romantic show with musical trios that make nights in this town very pleasant. It also has formidable nightclubs and bars that are set in in the city center, with a good music that goes with the attractive tranquility and safety of its streets.
Discos and nightclubs are opened until dawn, with excellent drinks and light foods that help dancing the best beats in a pleasant night that promise to be unforgettable. Among the clubs are IGUANA AZUL, which is also a restaurant bar, LAFFITE’S at the Hotel del Mar and KY8 DISCO located in 8th Street. Other options are CHUPIS BAR in Lopez Portillo Avenue in Colonia Lomas del Pedregal. Campeche.
Most popular bars and restaurants: MEDITERRANEAN, with outdoor seating in front of the seawall. SOLË, stands out for its exquisite drinks and cocktails, and the possibility to enjoy the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico. TERRACE LOUNGE BAR PUERTA CAMPECHE in Hacienda Puerta Campeche Hotel, PETIT TAPAS BAR, Montes de Oca Col., SHOOTERS, Ave. Resurgimiento # 87. LA BALLESTA, interior bar of Hacienda Puerta Campeche Hotel, 59th Street, No. 71. EL BONETTE, interior restaurant Bar of Hotel del Paseo.
Campeche Business & Economy
Campeche’s economy is sustained on dissimilar productive sectors, including oil, tourism, agriculture, fishing and manufacturing, which together with the services and trade contribute to the state domestic product. It is the leading national producer of sapodilla, pumpkin seed and paddy rice, however, other tropical fruits are cultivated such as orange, lemon, papaya, mango manila, sugarcane, watermelon, guava and almond.
The extraction of crude oil is the most important activity in the state of Campeche, representing more than 45% of the GDP of the state, which is mainly concentrated in Ciudad del Carmen.
Regarding the livestock, mainly cattle and pigs are raised, using an operating system of extensive type with rotational waste land. Fishing is very important since many people in the region depend on aquatic resources for their livelihoods, these shores host several species of high demand for domestic and international consumption as shrimp and shark, besides it is the state with the largest catch of mackerel and sea bass.
The manufacturing industry consists of companies dedicated to the packaging and conservation of marine species. However, there are others for the production of drinks, biscuits and flour as well as for packaging and filtering of honey.
As for the commercial sector, it is traditional and composed of small establishments, most of which are family businesses, but in recent decades malls and plazas have been introduced. Regarding the services sector the most important activity is tourism, with spectacular natural and historical attractions that make visitors enjoy a variety of landscapes and get close to the legacy of the Mayan culture and the colonial epoch.
Car Rental In Campeche
Book your rent a car in Campeche from all of the operators below at our car rental booking link for Campeche Airport Car Hire and multiple models available for car rental in Campeche.
- MAYA CAR RENTAL. Car rental in the city of Campeche. Chauffeur service, transfers to any part of the peninsula. 4 categories of cars. Av 16 De Septiembre 118 Num Dept. January 5 th floor With Prolong Esq. Calle 57. 24072 Campeche
- Europcar MEXICO (CARMEN-CENTER CITY). Network of more than 130 locations around the country. Reservations worldwide in more than 118. Justo Sierra S / N Col. Justo Sierra, 29166 Ciudad del Carmen
- Europcar MEXICO (CIUDAD DEL CARMEN-AIRPORT). End of Av 31 S / N Col. International Airport, 24190 Ciudad del Carmen
- Europcar MEXICO (CAMPECHE-AIRPORT). Avenida Lopez Portillo x Chiná Col. Carr Aviation Campeche International Airport, 24072 Campeche
- TRAVEL INTERMAR LESSOR CAMPECHE, SA DE CV Late model vehicles. Quality services and professionalism in tour, transfers in the City of Campeche and / or elsewhere. Av Pedro Sainz De Baranda, Mod B, Local 224, Col. Centro, Next To Craft Bazaar, Ahi Square Kin Pech, 24000 Campeche.
- SIXT RENT A CAR. Car and truck in Campeche, wide variety of vehicles. All rates include taxes, insurance and free mileage. Campeche International Airport, Avenida Lopez Portillo By Chiná S. Carr Campeche N, 24072 Campeche
- JAINA CAR RENTAL. Comfortable and economic cars, compact cars, media vans, delivery service in hotels, airports and bus service 24 hours a day. Calle 17 N6, Campeche 24080
- ALAMO RENT A CAR CARMEN. Opera in the country with more than 67 offices in 29 cities and airports always integrated with recent model vehicles, from the most prestigious brands in the country. Calle 50, 3, 24170 Ciudad del Carmen.
- CAMPECHE CAR RENTAL. Col. Revival No.85 Lazaretto Av Cp: 24040, Campeche
