About the city of Campeche in the state of Campeche, Mexico

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"Campeche001" by César Landeros Soriano - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Campeche is located on the south shore of the Gulf of Mexico. Campeche's territory is filled with various archaeological sites, most of which are of Mayan descent. What makes this city special is that most of these archaeological sites and beaches go unvisited because of the other well known tourist towns close to this location such as Cancun. This means that when you go to explore this beautiful city you will not be overcrowded by other large tourist groups which provides for a more relaxed approach to visit the ruins and beaches.

A brief history of the city of Campeche

The city of Campeche was founded in 1540. The Pre-Colombian city was described as having 3,000 houses and various monuments, of which little trace remains. The city retains many of the old colonial Spanish city walls and fortifications which protected the city from pirates and buccaneers. Campeche was the  principal port of Yucatan until the mid 19th century, when it was overtaken by Sisal and the Progreso.
The city of Campeche which is the state of capital of Campeche was the most important port in the Yucatan peninsula during the colonial era. This city was a prominent commercial port for the Viceroyship of "the New Spain" which was what Mexico was once known, made it a strategic point that France and England used to take away the riches of the envied empire at the time. This was was one of the primary reasons pirates and corsairs appeared in the region, as they would attack and raid the Spanish ships.

In 1902, the President of Mexico Porfirio Diaz ordered Campeche to surrender a portion of its territory to create the province of  Quintana Roo. The discovery of oil fields off the coast of Campeche in the 1970’s transformed the regions economy and also increased it’s political volatility, requiring federal intervention occasionally to maintain order. Campeche’s chief sources of revenue became the oil industry, tourism and new financial and real estate services with all the oil wealth discoveries. Off shore wells in the Bay of Campeche produce over half of Mexico’s oil and one fourth of Mexico's natural gas. Other notable Campeche exports are wood, salt, corn, honey, silver, porcelain and wheat.

Campeche's tourism industry

When you walk the streets of Campeche you quickly realize that this beautiful town is actually a world historical site. "Old town" is where you will first notice this with its stone walls. Here you will discover many stories and legends of pirates, Mayan settlers and conquistadors and the city does a terrific job in conserving its historical buildings. You will also see temples, plazas and palaces that were all affected by pirate attacks.
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The originality of the neighborhoods in the city are well preserved. One of the biggest festivals in the state of Campeche is the festival of the Black Christ and is the oldest in Mexico and should not to be missed. This carnival has been celebrated for over 450 years. The carnival begins with a funeral procession and the burial of the bad mood. It is represented by a rag doll dressed as a  pirate which is paraded through the city streets and boardwalk finally to then to be placed in a coffin and burned. Once the bad mood is gone then the flower festival begins. This parade has many floats decorated with paper flowers and there is folk dancing that lasts day and night.
The food in the city of Campeche is some of the best in the entire state. Fresh seafood and fish are delivered to the local eateries and  restaurants on a daily basis. There is something to satisfy every appetite, whether you are craving fried oysters, squid  stuffed shrimp, ceviche or zesty lime salmon. A big draw to Campeche is its proximity to the rchaeological site of Edzna. This allows you to get away from the town and see the ancestral homes of the Mayan civilization. Around the large plaza of Edzna there are the Great  Acropolis, the Platform of the Knives, the Large House, a sac be or white road, a ball game court, and complex of temples. Each spring, on March 21st the Spring Equinox Celebration is performed.
When you start looking for somewhere to stay during your visit to Campeche there are many different options to explore. Haciendas which date back to the late 18th and early 19th century produced great riches, and are now offered to visitors to experience that link to that historical time of luxury in nature. If you are looking for something more private there are many rental properties available in the area that will provide you with more of a  “home” feel. 

Travel information when visiting Campeche

Suggested Airport: Campeche International Airport
Local airport name: Ing. Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport
Address: Av. Lopez Portillo SN, Aviación, 24570 Campeche, Camp., Mexico
Local phone number: +52 981 823 4059

Is a passport or travel visa required? This depends on your nationality and your country of origin. We recommend that you check with your travel agent or Mexican Consulate in your area to know what documents you need to travel to Campeche. 
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