'''Campeche''' has a population around 300,000 people and is growing rapidly. It sits in the northwestern area of the state, roughly 155 kilometres from Merida in Yucatan. The city is still relatively compact and easy to get around, although as the city grows even bigger, that is slowly changing. Campeche was founded in the early 16th century at the site of a Mayan village called Ah Kim Pech (roughly, "place of the ticks"). The center of the city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its meticulously preserved walls which were built in the 16th century to guard against frequent pirate attacks. The rest of the city is a fairly laid back place and feels more like a small town than a fast growing city.

Get in

By plane

Campeche City has an airport, although it only has daily flights to Mexico City. Ciudad del Carmen, two hours to the south, has flights to Mexico City as well as to Houston Texas. Neither are cheap. The best bet is to fly into Merida, Yucatan and bus to Campeche. This can also be done from Cancun, although it may take an extra day just to get to the state.

By bus

From the Autobuses del Oriente (ADO) station in Merida, buses leave almost every hour for the two hour drive to Campeche, which costs roughly 100 pesos (US$10). Since it is a short run, second class buses can also be taken, although this offers only small savings (10 or 20 MXM).

From Ciudad del Carmen, buses to Campeche are also very frequent and cost roughly 130 pesos (US$13). The trip is about two hours and three quarters, longer by second class bus.

From Cancun, the trip to Campeche takes six hours and a half to complete and costs roughly 300 pesos (US$30). There are four buses to Campeche every day.

From Mexico City, Campeche is a lengthy 17 hour drive and this trip costs from 800 to 950 pesos (US$80-US$95). A first class bus is recommended.

Get around

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, it is best to get around the city by taxi. Taxi fares are charged by zone; to go from the ADO bus station to downtown, the cost is roughly 30 pesos, or $3 US.

The city also runs many public buses, although these are small, hot, usually cramped and in varying states of disrepair. The fare, however, is cheap at just 3 pesos. The driver will make change, but don't try to offer large bills as they likely won't be accepted.

See

Do

Buy

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.

Unfortunately, because Campeche is not very tourist oriented, knickknacks and handicrafts are hard to come by.

Eat

The only North American chains in the city are Burger King and Church's Chicken (located north of the cinema), so visitors will definitely have to step out of their comfort zone when in the city. The 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.

Campeche is well known for its seafood, especially shrimp (camaron) and shark (cazon) and both are widely available.

As noted above, there are a few grocery stores in the city. All have a small restaurant, deli, bakery, grocery, meat and produce departments. 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. You can also pick up bread from the bakery and meat from the deli to make your own sandwiches. These grocery stores, especially Chedraui, are impressive and offer all of the variety of an American store. For travellers on a budget, or those not comfortable with food from small establishments with questionable cleanliness standards, these stores are a godsend.

Drink

Sleep

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.

  • '''Monkey Hostel''' [http://www.hostalcampeche.com] describes itself as "Mexico's Alternative Destination." It is located in the Centro Historico, in front of the cathedral on the Plaza Principal. It has both dormitories and private rooms, and is not affiliated with any international hosteling organizations.
  • '''Pirate Hostel''', Calle 59, #47 in the Centro Historico.
  • '''Hostal La Parroquia''', Calle 55, #8 (between Calles 10 and 12) in the Centro Historico.
  • '''Hotel Plaza Campeche''', Calle 10 No. 126 A Colonia Centro C.P., [http://www.hotelplazacampeche.com/]. The Hotel offers quality, elegance, comfort and security. It is located in the historic centre of the city and port of campeche, in front of San Marttins Park, strategically located in the tourist, cultural and commercial area where every activity of the city is performed.
  • Get out