Campeche · Mexico
Ciudad del Carmen travel guide
Ciudad del Carmen is a city in Campeche, Mexico, home to about 191,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- CME4 km · Ciudad del Carmen International Airport
- Currency
- MXNpeso
- Time zone
- America/Mexico City
- Language
- Nahuatl, Spanish, Yucatec Maya
About
About Ciudad del Carmen
The city is on an island between the Laguna de Terminos and the Gulf of Mexico. Until the 1980s it was connected to the rest of Mexico only by boat; it is now connected to the mainland on either end by bridges and causeways on Highway 180. The population is about 191,000 (2020). Its economy is mainly based on oil, though there is also still a significant fishing industry. For centuries Ciudad del Carmen was a sleepy fishing town. In the 1970s, petroleum was discovered in the area and it became an oil boom town. The city is dominated by workers of the oil industry.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Ciudad del Carmen to stay in
A number of hotels and pensions of various price ranges. Prices are higher than in most smaller Mexican cities, but still reasonable compared to the USA or Europe.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Ciudad del Carmen
Ciudad del Carmen has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 270 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Ciudad del Carmen: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ciudad del Carmen International Airport (CME), about 4.2 km from the city centre in a straight line; Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport (VSA, 126 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Taxis are plentiful with a price about MX$50 within town, also there are colectivos (MX$7) and city buses (MX$8) on fixed routes (2025 March). InDrive is also available.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CME · Ciudad del Carmen International Airport
VSA · Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Ciudad del Carmen
Eat
There are a variety of budget and mid-range restaurants in town. Local specialties include fresh seafood, pork & bean dishes, and tamales colorados.
Drink
When night falls on Ciudad del Carmen, the city streets come alive as locals and tourists go out for an evening in the many bars, restaurants, public parks, plazas and clubs of this beautiful island. Carmen has a very lively night scene, so don't miss all the clubs. The locals "carmelos" know how to party, and they’re good at it. In the Malecon you can find many coffee shops and small bars or just have a walk there in front of the Mexican Gulf.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Ciudad del Carmen: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Ciudad del Carmen?
Ciudad del Carmen has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 270 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Ciudad del Carmen?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ciudad del Carmen International Airport (CME), about 4.2 km from the city centre in a straight line; Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport (VSA, 126 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Ciudad del Carmen?
peso (MXN).
Nearby
Destinations near Ciudad del Carmen
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.