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City guide

Campeche, México

Campeche, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Campeche, is one of the 31 states which, with Mexico City, make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Located in southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the southwest, Yucatán to the northeast, Quintana Roo to the east, by the Petén department of Guatemala to the south, and by the Orange Walk District of Belize to the southeast.

Type City

Why go

  • State of Mexico.
  • Served by Campeche International Airport (CPE).

History

Campeche, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Campeche, is one of the 31 states which, with Mexico City, make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Located in southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the southwest, Yucatán to the northeast, Quintana Roo to the east, by the Petén department of Guatemala to the south, and by the Orange Walk District of Belize to the southeast. It has a coastline to the west with the Gulf of Mexico. The state capital, also called Campeche, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997. The formation of the state began with the city, which was founded in 1540 as the Spanish began the conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula. The city was a rich and important port during the colonial period, but declined after Mexico's independence. Campeche was part of the province of Yucatán, but split off in the mid-19th century, mostly due to political friction with the city of Mérida. Much of the state's recent economic revival is due to the discovery of petroleum offshore in the 1970s, which has made the coastal cities of Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen important economic centers. The state has important Mayan and colonial sites; however, these are not as well-known or visited as much as others in the Yucatán.

Airports

Campeche International Airport (CPE) 2.7 km to the centre
Campeche, CAM, MX — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (AeroMéxico, Interjet (ABC Aerolineas)) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Mexico City (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 1 direct destination
  • AeroMéxico AM (EMJ, Embraer 170) · 1 route: Mexico City*
  • Interjet (ABC Aerolineas) 4O (SU9) · 1 route: Mexico City

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
El Cayal Airport 37 km to the centre
Hopelchen, CAM, MX
Outdoor
La Laguna Airport 40 km to the centre
Campeche, CAM, MX
Outdoor

Where things are

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Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Campeche International Airport (CPE); 7 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: CPE has direct flights to 1 destination on 2 airlines (incl. Mexico City).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Campeche, México. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing
Sightseeing