LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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A GUIDE TO CAMPECHE FOOD BEACHES AND BEYOND.

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We weren’t sure what to expect when we visited Campeche City. This made what we found an exciting surprise. Campeche is like an open history book, with ancient walls framing the city and colonial architecture.

Yet, it is a modern and vibrant city, with colourful streets and blue water surrounding. The best bit of Camepche for us, was food and enjoying plenty of relaxing drinks in the city.

Read on to find our what Campeche is full of hidden gems and how the laid back spirit makes it so special.

Don’t have time to read the full post?

What is Campeche known for?

Campeche, in southeastern Mexico, is super famous for its historical legacy and well-preserved colonial architecture.

The capital city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has some seriously cool fortifications, like walls and forts, built back in the day to keep out pirates. What makes Campeche so special is its charming streets filled with colorful buildings, creating a totally stunning setting for checking out all the cultural treasures.

Campeche’s coastal beauty, diverse ecosystems, and tasty food are all part of what makes it so amazing, blending history, culture, and natural beauty into one awesome destination.

Is Campeche worth visiting?

Campeche is a stunning city, compact in size but delivering food, nightlife and fun that far surpass expectations. We loved late nights spent in the pedestrianized streets, days spent meandering along the promenade and visiting beautiful designed coffee shops. There are delightful boutique shops, many restaurants and an understated but fun food market.

There’s not that much to do in Campeche if we are completely honest. It’s much more about food, drinks and catching a vibe, than it is about attractions.

Although there are a few museums and some Mayan ruins that can be visited for a day trip. There is no beach in Campeche, many people make the mistake of thinking there is one as it’s a sea front city. But you can get to a beach within 15 minutes drive.

It is an accessible city, easy to walk around and navigate. It feels vibrant but by no means chaotic or busy and it feels safe.

If you’re still not decided between Campeche, Merida and Valladolid. You can find our comparison of the three cities here.

Does Campeche have nice beaches?

The short answer is that Campeche city does not have a beach. It is a city surrounded by water, you can watch the sun setting on the ocean. You can spend time walking the promenade (Malecon) but Campeche city is not the place to enjoy La Playa.

As luck would have it, there are beaches close to Campeche that are possible for a day trip. The closest is Playa Bonita which is around a 15 minute drive.

If you don’t have a car, a taxi from Camepche to Playa Bonita should cost you around 50 to 70 Pesos. Alternatively, there is a local colectivo style bus – look for vehicles with ‘Lerma’ written on front. You may have to walk a little way after being dropped off on the bus.

The one draw back with Playa Bonita is that you will be charged to enter the beach and rent a Cabana (this is mandatory.) Prices seem to range depending on the time of year and whether you’re a tourist or not. You can expect to pay between 50 Pesos and 100 Pesos.

If you’re looking for alternative places to enjoy the beach in and around Campeche, you can try Progreso (near to Merida). Or, of course the coast of Quintana Roo such as Holbox and Tulum.

Best things to do in Campeche

A glorious colonial city with bejeweled buildings, artful design features and pedestrianized streets. Campeche city is relatively small. There are a few museums – for example the Archeology museum which is well rated and a little walk out of town.

The city walls make a popular tourist attraction and you can visit the City Museum which is housed in the old wall. Finally, the glorious Cathedral stands tall on the Plaza de la Indepencia. You can enter the Cathdral freely at most times during the day. After a short visit, take in the various craft stores in the square selling jewellery, soaps and other souvenir items.

Campeche is a city to wander and get lost in, but really, the best things to do in Campeche revolve around food.

Famous food in Campeche

Food in Campeche is similar to food in the Yucatan area. But with one big addition that makes Campeche food special – fish and seafood! Sure, you can find that anywhere in the Yucatan area, but Campeche fish seems to have the “just off the boat” freshness.

It’s like it jumped out of the sea and straight onto your plate, stopping only to allow a chef to artfully cover it in garlic (Mojo de Ajo) or bread it (Empanado.) Look out for Cazon – Dogfish – on the menu in many Camepche restaurants and Camarones al Coco (Prawns in a delightful coconut batter.)

Many cafes in Campeche make excellent coffee, including cold brew. Brunch dishes are also delicious, with many serving eggs (huevos) in a multitude of fantastic ways and Chilaquiles, a tortilla dish topped with various meat, veg, cheese and salsa combinations.

Other foods to look out for in Campeche are Sopa de Lima, a tangy and mildly spiced lime soup with tortilla bits in the soup. Empanadas are oft found in Campeche too, look out for cheese, chicken or pork filled pastry delights. And of course, Cochinita Pibil is not to be missed – a pork taco in which the pork has been cooked slowly to achieve melt in the mouth softness.

If you’re looking for something sweet, be sure to try a Marqueista – a crispy crepe filled with salty cheese and chocolate (sounds weird, but it works!)

Read on to find out where to get the best food in Campeche.

Where to get the best food in Campeche?

There are four main areas to explore if you want to find the best food in Campeche.

Palapas y Parador Turístico

This is the best area in Campeche if you want to eat fish or seafood. Along the sea front, you’ll find a handful of small and local restaurants serving fresh fish and ice cold beverages. The eateries are rustic, fun and vibrant. They close around 19:00, so it’s best as a lunch spot.

Around a 40 minute walk along the famous Malacon promenade, you can find the Palapas y Pardor Turistico. You could also take a taxi here, or enjoy one on the way back to your hotel after filling up on delicious food and drinks.

Campeche market

Like all Mexican cities, Campeche has a municipal market that is well worth a visit. Pop by here to browse the beautiful and colourful fruit and veg or stop at one of the market stalls for a bite. Here you can find well priced Empanadas, Tacos, Tortas and more. Don’t be afraid to take a seat, order up, eat up and move on to another stall for another bite. Your very own food tour! Come at lunch time as it’s not an evening market.

Calle 59

Calle 59 is the main pedestrianized street in the historic centre of Campeche. This long street runs from the back of the historic wall all the way to the front and it is filled with tables and people enjoying wine, pasta and all sorts of delicious things. There are Mexican restaurants, Asian and a few Italian places too. Cruise along and browse the menus before you choose your table for the evening.

Parque de Las Banderas

Parque de Las Banderas is a small park just outside the city wall, but not quite on the sea front – found here. By day, it doesn’t look like much but at night it comes alive with food trucks and stalls. Most sell sweet Marquesitas, but there are also one or two taco trucks as well.

Best bars in Campeche

You have MANY options for bars in Campeche. For a small city, the nightlife is really good.

Our top picks for best bars in Campeche are:

Nuevo Regis Cantina which is a traditional Mexican style Cantina. These are low key and informal bars, frequented by locals to enjoy a beer or so, normally in the afternoon or early evening. Nuevo Regis is one of the most welcoming of the Cantinas that we tried in the area, plus it serves up snacks with our giant beer. Prepare for some great songs blaring from the duke box and some spontaneous dancing.

La Choperia is on the famous pedestrianized street of Calle 59 in Campeche. To be honest, all the bars along this street are quite similar and waiters vie for your attention to bring you in. We were drawn to La Choperia and ended up returning a few times as they sell draft beer by the litre – going up to 5 litres which is served with your very own beer tower. A fun place to go with friends.

Bodega 59 is a little further down from La Choperia, but probably the best place to go on the main street if you’re seeking a Gin & Tonic, Tequila based drink or a glass of wine. A little more upmarket than the others on the street.

Campeche day trip to Edzna

Escape the buzz of Campeche City and venture into the ancient Mayan realm by taking a short journey to Edzna, an archaeological wonder that whispers tales of a bygone civilization. Located about 61 kilometers south of Campeche, this archaeological site is easily accessible and promises a captivating day trip for history enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

Where to stay in Campeche

If you’re going to visit Campeche, it’s best to stay within the old city walls. This way, the main tourist attractions and more importantly restaurants and bars are close at hand.

Hotels in Campeche present great value for money compared to further South in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. You can expect to pay around $30 for a budget room, $45-60 for a mid-range and around $100 for somewhere really special.

Here are a few recommendations.

BUDGET: We stayed at Budget friendly Hotel Edzna and found a great value hotel right in the centre of the historic city of Campeche. We were a stroll home from bars of an evening and our room was bright, clean and had all amenities we needed.

MID-RANGE: Castelmar Hotel is an excellent mid-range choice in the centre of city. The beautiful colonial style property has a courtyard with swimming pool to cool off on hot days.

LUXURY: For something more high end in Campeche, there are a few choices – Hacienda Campeche is a luxury hacienda style property with a beautiful pool, large rooms and excellent decor. Bajo las Hojas offers more understated luxury. A boutique style hotel with only a few rooms, but super attention to detail.

How to get to Campeche from Merida

Bus from Merida to Campeche

The bus from Merida to Campeche is easy to get and they run very regularly, at certain times of the day even every ten minutes.

We used Bus Bud to book our Ado bus connections. You can check rates and bus times below. Travel time on the Ado bus is around 2 hours 30 minutes with good traffic.

Where to next in the Yucatan?

• Cancun – beaches & food
• Tulum – beaches, yoga and nightlife
• Holbox – island paradise
• Bacalar – paddle boarding and relaxing
• Celestun – flamingos & laid back beach
• Progreso – fun beach town
• Sian Ka’an – nature reserve
• Merida – gastronomic city & culture
• Campeche – glamorous historical city
• Valladolid – history & culture

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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