Campeche · Mexico
San Francisco de Campeche travel guide
San Francisco de Campeche is a city in Campeche, Mexico, home to about 250,000 people.
- Best months
- December and January
- Nearest airport
- CPE5 km · Ingeniero Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport
- Currency
- MXNpeso
- Time zone
- America/Mexico City
- Language
- Nahuatl, Spanish, Yucatec Maya
About
About San Francisco de Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche, 19th c., also known simply as Campeche, is a city in Campeche Municipality in the Mexican state of Campeche, on the shore of the Bay of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico. Both the seat of the municipality and the state's capital, the city had a population of 220,389 in the 2010 census, while the municipality had a population of 259,005.
Campeche was founded in 1540 by the Spanish conquistadors as the city of San Francisco de Campeche (still its official name, though never used) on top of the old Maya town called Ah Can Pech (roughly, "place of snakes and ticks", supposedly for an ancient idol depicting a snake with a tick on its head). Campeche grew into the leading port in the Peninsula in the colonial era. The city's walls and a series of forts were built in the 16th century to guard against frequent pirate attacks.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in San Francisco de Campeche
See
- Baluarte de Santiago
- Baluarate San Francisco
- Museum of Mayan Archaeology, Fort San Miguel
- Puerta del Tierra
- Baluarte de San Juan
- Baluarte de La Soledad
- Puerta del Mar
- Carvajal Mansión
- Municipal Files
- La Casa de las Artesanías Tukulná
- Pirate ship "Lorencillo"
- "Poesia del Mar" Fountain
Do
- Estadio Nelson Barrera Romellón
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of San Francisco de Campeche to stay in
There are a few hotels on the Malecon (Av. Adolfo Ruiz Cortines), which runs the entire length of the city along the Gulf of Mexico. Most are relatively expensive, but offer clean and comfortable accommodations. There are also a few hotels located in the historic center, particularly near the center square, and they are much cheaper in price. Unfortunately, because Campeche has a very small tourist industry, accommodations can be hard to find.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in San Francisco de Campeche
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| OYO Hotel Aura Del Sol OYO Rooms | 2.0 km | |
| OYO Hotel Puesta de Sol OYO Rooms | 2.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit San Francisco de Campeche
The most comfortable months for a city stay in San Francisco de Campeche are December and January. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; August is the wettest, with about 230 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 San Francisco de Campeche: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ingeniero Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport (CPE), about 5.2 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Because Campeche is still a small city, it can be easy to navigate on foot, although the oppressive heat and humidity that dominates most of the year may make this impossible. If you are staying in the historic center, this is the best option. Otherwise or for visiting attractions away from the old town, it is best to get around the city by taxi or bus. Taxi fares are charged by zone; to go from the ADO bus station to downtown, the cost is roughly M$30. The city runs many public buses. They tend to be small, hot, usually cramped and in varying states of disrepair.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CPE · Ingeniero Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in San Francisco de Campeche
Eat
Campeche is well known for its seafood, especially shrimp (camarón) and shark (cazón) and both are widely available. The only North American chains in the city are Burger King and Church's Chicken (located north of the cinema), so visitors have extra incentive to eat local. There are many small restaurants located in the historic center, all ranging in price, but try to watch food preparation before you buy. Outside of the historic centre, Avenida Gobernadores offers a plethora of eating establishments, but again, watch the food preparation and then decide.
Drink
Casa vieja del Rio has the best views over the central plaza and church, excellent for relaxing and people-watching from the balcony. Enter from the stairs in front of the tourist train stop, on the southern side of the plaza.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
San Francisco de Campeche: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit San Francisco de Campeche?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in San Francisco de Campeche are December and January. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 34 °C; August is the wettest, with about 230 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to San Francisco de Campeche?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ingeniero Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport (CPE), about 5.2 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in San Francisco de Campeche?
peso (MXN).
Nearby
Destinations near San Francisco de Campeche
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.