| Campeche History | Campeche Today | News About Campeche |
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The city of Campeche is the capital of the state of Campeche, and is located in the southern Gulf Coast region of Mexico, 240 miles northeast of Villahermosa, Tabasco, and 110 miles southwest of Merida, Yucatan.
The climate is tropical, with an average year-round temperature of 79 degrees. The city gets rainfall during the summer and autumn. The state of Campeche coastline runs west to east through the municipalities of Palizada and El Carmen, then turns northeast and goes through Champoton and Campeche then continues north through Tenabo, Hecelchakan and Calchini ending at Punta Ninun.
From 600 B.C. until about 1420 A.D. the State of Campeche was occupied by several Mayan tribes. In 1517 the Mayan city of Can Pech, now Campeche, the capital city, was spotted by the Spanish. In 1540 the Spanish founded the city of Campeche, making it the region's first port city. A giant wall that once protected the city from pirate attacks in the 17th and 18th centuries is a main tourist attraction in the downtown historical center. Also part of the walled city are two forts, seven bulwarks and two main gates, some of which now house museums.
Present Campeche has one of the most well preserved historic centers in all of Mexico. The city government and the people of Campeche have spent the past few years renovating the city, and making it one of the most photographed and beautiful cities in Mexico. Approximately 1,600 building facades were renovated in the late 90's. Stately mansions with high ceilings, ornate balconies and majestic arched doorways line the city's cobblestone streets. The state of Campeche currently has a population of around 700,000 with the capital city boasting a population of about 191,000.
Things To Do Make sure to visit the Museo de la Cultura Maya, housed in the San Miguel Fort, and the Museo de las Estelas Mayas, which exhibits regional art in the San Pedro Bulwark. At night, don't miss the fascinating light and sound show at the Fort of San Jose El Alto. After the show, you can take a walk along the Historic Center's cobblestone streets, where you'll see a wide variety of stores, restaurants, bars and cafes. You can also take a stroll down the beautiful 2-mile malecon (boardwalk), which leads to a tourist walkway, parks and a bicycle track.
Outside of Campeche, you can enjoy outdoor adventures in the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve, which is the habitat of hundreds of pink flamingoes and other wildlife. In addition, you can check out Calakmul, one of the largest biosphere reserves in the nation, which also has an interesting Mayan archaeological zone. Calakmul is a great spot to go camping, mountain biking and hiking. During your visit to Campeche, don't forget to try the tamales with chaya leaves and the pan de cazon (tortillas stuffed or layered with shark, beans and salsa), among other regional Mayan cuisine.
For all that and much more, Campeche is an excellent destination to discover history, traditions and exciting adventures. Check out Local Resources page for links to other websites with information about Campeche.
Today Campeche is full of exciting development and opportunity. Companies from Spain, Britain and the United States (among others) are investing heavily in large residential and mixed-use developments along the coast between Champoton and Ciudad del Carmen. These companies are not just building condominiums, retirement and vacation homes, they are also building boat marinas, bridges, shopping centers, transportation infrastructure and much more. For more detailed information on private developments in this area, go to our Investment in Campeche page.
In addition, the Mexican and Campeche State governments have large planned investments in the area, including building new roads, marinas, waterways, tourist destinations and much more. Check back to this page periodically for news of the latest developments in the area.
