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Your destination: Campeche
Located on the Western Yucatan, looking toward the Gulf of Mexico sits the town of Campeche. Currently a virtually unknown destination to the world of global tourism, featuring more that 80 miles of mangrove coast, hundreds of creeks, and numerous channels, making the region Mexico’s most prolific baby tarpon fishery. Campeche has been off the beaten path and gets as many tourists in one year as Cancun gets in a month. With flats style sight fishing for high numbers of festy tarpon in the 5 to 40 pound class and a wonderfully quaint town with Mayan and Spanish history, Campeche is now the ultimate venue for avid tarpon anglers.
The town of Campeche has a population of 380,000 and because of its rich Mayan culture and Spanish conquest influence it has been labeled a UNESCO world heritage site. Three blocks in from the bay the 17th century colonial city was constructed, now downtown, behind stone walls built to protect it from pirates attacks and it has been well preserved.
Location
How to get here
flying from North America
Merida Airport (MID)
United Airlines serving through Houston (IAH)
American Airlines serving through Dallas (DFW), Miami (MIA)
Aeromexico serving through Miami (MIA)
Cancun Airport
Most airlines serve this airport
flying from anywhere else
Campeche Airport (MID)
Aeromexico serving through Mexioco City (MEX)
Interjet serving through Mexico City (MEX)
One of our drivers will greet you at the gate with a printed sign with Tarpon Town Logo and/or last name on the booking.
Airport Shuttle Rides duration to Campeche Hotel
1:50 hr
From Merida
5:00 hr
From Cancun
10:00 min
From Campeche
more on campeche
Heritage city
Campeche city feels like a less inhabited place, and has its origins in the Mayan civilization. The culture is rich in traditions, handicrafts, regional food, folklore, military architecture, Mayan sites and much more, preserving the roots of the Spanish conquest. The old walled city has been titled by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with the Mayan city of Calakmul which is on a 5-hour drive south from the capital.
Clients agreed Campeche is a clean and safe city and campechanos hospitality makes it a unique venue in southern Mexico. Even though it is located on the gulf shore, Campeche is not known to be a beach destination—in fact, there are no public beaches. The sea bottom is mostly shallow and full of turtle sea grass and white sand beaches are not easily found. But these conditions make it an ideal fishing destination for species like tarpon, barracuda and snook.
Campeche is one of the safest places in Mexico with an extremely low crime rate. They want you to feel safe walking from the hotel to banks, regional food and fast food restaurants, Sam’s Club, movie theaters, hospitals, supermarkets, shopping malls, car rentals, etc. and most important. NO CRIME AS HEARD AND READ IN THE NEWS. YOU CAN FREELY WALK ANYWHERE IN TOWN.
Mangrove preserve
The Biosphere Reserve of Los Petenes is a vast system of mangrove and back country wetlands. It is a complex ecosystem of turtle grass banks, marshes, fresh water springs and three kinds of mangrove barrier distributed along 80 miles northeast of the City of Campeche and borders with the Reserve of Celestun. This environment brings constant streams of freshwater into the Gulf of Mexico, making it the perfect brackish water for baby and juvenile tarpon, snapper, jacks and barracuda. All of these species of fish are in depths ranging from one to nine feet. Even though it is a good place for light tackle fishing, fly-fishing is widely practiced and baby tarpon is the main target.
It is the second wetlands system after the Everglades and Cienega Zapata in Cuba. The importance of the reserve lies on the amount of wildlife, vegetacion and the interaction of them in favor of the biodiversity. A still unspoiled part of the world.
Sightseeing & attractions
Historical Downtown: walking distance or shuttle from the hotel a wall surrounded city nowadays Downtown emerges as the hub of the city´s economy. This is a delightful place to walk around and visit the old style architecture with a Baroque influence. Don’t forget to take pictures of each different style of doors and ironworks. Every building has a different design. A contrast of colors and lights helps you picture how old Campechanos lived. Cathedral and main square plaza and arc buildings are the most representative sites.
Casa 6 Museum: Across the main plaza, an original old lifestyle construction furnished with original designs has been open like a living museum of a rich family lifestyle.
Forts and Wall: Touring the city, don’t forget to visit the defense system that was built against the piracy. Fortifications built on top of two hills of the city and others on the valley are now Mayan museums and art galleries. The remains of the original old wall still stands north and south of the historical downtown with a length of more than 100-yds and 20-ft tall on each side. The Land Gate and Sea Gate are the main entrance to the city and are facing each other on 59th street which is now the pedestrian street where to find restaurants, bars and souvenir shops.
Mayan City of Edzna: an amazing Mayan city well preserved and restored, emerges as part of the Campeche history and culture. You cannot leave without visiting Edzna. It is a short and safe 40-minute ride southbound through the state on well paved roads. There are travel agencies offering transportation services or you can ask their head guide to set up a visit to the site.
Seafood Restaurants: There are various seafood restaurants in town, most of them in downtown area and some others you’ll need a cab. Morgan Cocktails, Marganzo, La Parrilla, Tio Fito Restaurant and their original Cantina, and Langostinos are our suggestions where you can enjoy fresh seafood like fried snapper or pompano, cobia fillet, shrimp salad or dish, octopus, squid, sea snail, stingray, and international food too.
Land Gate Light and Sound Show: Some weekdays and all weekends there is a light and sound show with a 30-minute pirates representation at night where the history and stories are told under the magic influence of the 40-foot tall Land Gate.
City Stroll: An easy way to get a glimpse of the city is to take a one hour tour on the motor strollers (representing the old railway) and tour the city passing by fortifications, traditional neighborhoods, churches and some other interesting sites.
Malecon & Fountains: That is the word in Spanish that describes the oceanfront drive. It was built a few years ago and brought a new look to the city. Lighted tracks for jogging or biking and a separate track for a relaxing walk of more than 4-kilometers. There is a new state of the art water show with projections over the water. Coordinated Fountains Bellagio style are now part of the attractions during fresh evenings at the Malecon.
Mayan City of Calakmul: This city was discovered in the early 50’s, but when the exploration started, it was declared as a backbone site for the Mayan civilization. It has been declared as the largest Mayan site of the world. Its unique beauty is given by its location. It is in the middle of the Mayan jungle and its main building is taller than any other Mayan structure including Chichen Itza. Its dimension is not well appreciated until you are on top of it, where you can see the border of Guatemala and Howler monkeys jumping from the tops of trees. It is the largest biosphere reserve in Latin America after the Amazon and has been titled by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is a long five hour ride. There are hotels and eco villages to stay, but you can take a camping service from operators in the region and spend a night in the WILD. Please note that you may need an extra day or two to visit the area.
Campeche Country Club: The only golf course in town merges with a first class development of residential lots, apartment tower, clubhouse, restaurants, pools and marina. Eat, Golf and relax one day is an option. Charges apply from their public rates for Golf rentals, Green fee, lunch and daypass to beach facilities.
Kin-Ha Jungle Bike Trail & Rentals: the best MTB-Jungle Bike trail of the Peninsula. An incredible in-town jungle trail with three levels of skills, from a fast beginner to a 5 miles technical slope. Bike rentals can be arranged.
Safety
Campeche City belongs to the Yucatan Peninsula in southeastern Mexico which is considered by far, the most pleasant and safe region for locals and visitors. We are in a city where you can freely walk along the water boardwalk at midnight with no harassments at all.
Check this third party links to know about what’s going on with safety. Information on each website is responsibility of their own sources and editors.
- https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/yucatan-peninsula/safety
- https://www.frommers.com/destinations/yucatan-peninsula/planning-a-trip/safety
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html