All about Campeche in Mexico: History, Culture & Travel Guide

Campeche - actually San Francisco de Campeche - is the capital of the state of Campeche in southeastern Mexico and the closest major city to Mérida. Campeche was founded on October 4th in 1540.

The city center of Campeche has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 due to the well-preserved colonial architecture of the old town and the fortifications with several bastions.

You will find an old town with beautiful colonial houses and authentic Mexican flair. Due to its somewhat remote location, there is not a lot of tourism. Campeche is perhaps something like an insider tip. It is definitely worth a visit and has some remarkable sights.

El Malecón (Shore Road)

The approximately three kilometers long and 8m high city wall was once built around the old town to protect of Campeche against pirates and is still quite well preserved.

You can take a walk on it and get a good overview of Campeche. And along to the sea leads a seven kilometer long boulevard with Cafes and restaurants, which is called by the locals El Malecón (shore road).

On Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00 and 9:00 pm, the light and water show "Fuentes Marinas Poesía del Mar" takes place at the Malecón. If you're in town, it's definitely worth seeing.

The Central Square

The central square is the "Plaza de la Independencia" - the Independence Square. From Friday to Sunday, every day at 8:00 PM, a free light and sound show takes place in the square. If you want a good seat, you should come early.

The square is at the heart of Campeche's historic center, surrounded by important landmarks. In the evenings, the area comes alive with locals and visitors enjoying the illuminated surroundings.

Where to Eat in Campeche

Campeche has a great mix of traditional and modern dining spots, from fresh seafood to regional Yucatecan dishes and international flavors. Many restaurants are located in the historic center. Here are five restaurants I highly recommend:

1. Aduana 59

   • Cuisine: Mexican, Contemporary

   • Address: Calle 59 #30

   • A modern take on traditional Mexican dishes, served in a lively atmosphere.

   
   

2. La María Cocina Peninsular

   • Cuisine: Mexican, Latin

   • Address: Calle 10 #252

   • Authentic regional, a great spot for Yucatecan cuisine.

     
     

3. Marganzo

   • Cuisine: Mexican, Latin

   • Address: Calle 8 #267

   • One of the best places in town for classic Campeche-style dishes.

     
     

4. La Pigua

   • Cuisine: Mexican, Seafood

   • Address: Avenida López Mateos #299

   • For seafood lovers (fresh and locally sourced fish and shellfish).

     
     

5. La Palapa del Tio Fito

   • Cuisine: Mexican, Latin

   • Address: Malecón de la Caleta s/n

   • Great seafood with a laid-back, beachfront setting.

Cathedral of Campeche

Right next to the main square is the beautiful Cathedral of Campeche, "Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción" which means "Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception".

The Cathedral's construction began in 1540 and was completed in 1760. Its Baroque façade features two slender towers, each built during different historical periods.

Inside, you'll find sacred art pieces, including "El Santo Entierro," a representation of Christ in a coffin, which is paraded through the city on Good Friday.

More Attractions

Another landmark of the old town is the bright yellow church "San Roque y San Francisquito" with the tower with four steeple bells. And also the baroque church "Ex Templo de San Jose" belongs to one of the most beautiful buildings of the city.

There are two historical entrance gates to the city, the "Puerta de Tierra" (the gate of the land) and the "Puerta de Mar" (the gate of the sea). Between the two gates is the car-free Calle 59, which invites you to stroll with its many small stores, cafes and restaurants.

Destinations around Campeche

If you're in the Campeche area, there are some great spots nearby that are worth visiting. One of them is the Mayan archaeological site of Edzná, located about 45 minutes northeast of the city (roughly 50 kilometers away).

One thing to keep in mind – although Campeche is by the sea, there's no beach in the city itself. For a swim or some beach time, head to Playa Bonita in the village of Lema, about 13 kilometers south. You can take a bus or grab a cab from the city.

How to Get to Campeche from Mérida?

Campeche is a long trip but very easy to reach by car from Mérida, just take highway 180 southwest.

There are also ADO buses that run directly between Mérida and Campeche (it's about 2.5 hours on the bus from Mérida), and they are perhaps the best way to get there (in Mérida at ADO TAME, Calle 69, No. 554, between Calle 68 and Calle 70).

The ADO bus station of Campeche is located outside the city center, so you will have to take a cab to get downtown (it is about a 15 minute taxi ride). There is also a small airport in Campeche. However, direct flights to Campeche are only available from Mexico City.

Image Source (letters): ©Sharon Hahn Darlin, flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

Image Source (cathedral): ©Ralf Roletschek, flickr, GNU Free Doc. License, Ver. 1.2, Link

The pictures were modified (resized, image improvements)