Campeche Transportation

Telephone Code: 981
Time: Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Time
City Website: http://municipiodecampeche.gob.mx/
State Website: http://camp.gob.mx
Altitude: 10 m (33 ft)
Population: (2005) City, 211,671. State, 754,730
State Economy: Oil production, tourism, export of timber and salt, agricultural products including corn and sugar

When to go
Climate
Hot and humid with a rainy season from June through October. May is the hottest month. Average temperature: January: Low: 22 Celsius/73 Fahrenheit; High: 25 Celsius/78 Fahrenheit. July: Low 23 Celsius/75 Fahrenheit. High: 30 Celsius/86 Fahrenheit.

Holidays
January 1: New Year's Day
February 5: Constitution Day
March 15: Birthday of Benito Jaurez
June 1: Navy Day
September 16: Independence Day
November 20: Revolution Day
December 25: Christmas

Festivals
Carnival (Mardi Gras): late January or February
Candelaria: February 2
Virgen del Carmen: July 15-30
San Joaquín: August 15-30
San Román: September 14-30
San Francisco: October 1-15

Getting to and away
By Airplane: Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport (CPE) Address: Av. Lopez Portillo, off of Carretera Chiná-Campeche, Km 5.5 Tel: +52 (981) 823-4043, -4044 Airlines: Aeromexico, Mexicana

By Car: A Mexican government website will create detailed driving instructions between any two points in the country (although it is available only in Spanish). http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdEscogeRuta
North: Federal Highway 180 between Mérida and Campeche (192 km/119 miles, 2 hours), with connections there to Chichen Itza, Valladolid and Cancun (494 km/307 miles).
South: Federal Highway 180 between Ciudad del Carmen (212 km/132 miles, 2 ½ hours (Via toll road MX$110/US$11), Villahermosa (450 km/280 miles, 5 ½ hours), and points west. At Champoton Highway 180 connects to Highway 261, which leads to Escarcega (150 km/93 miles, 2 hours). From Escarcega Highway 186 heads south to Palenque (366 km/227 miles) or east across the penisnula to Calakmul (360 km/224 miles), Xpujil (290 km/180 miles) and Chetumal (422 km/262 miles).
East: Highway 261 runs east to Hopelchen (85 km/55 miles, one hour) from which you can head north to Uxmal or southeast to Xpujil and Chetumal.

By Bus: The most convenient source of information about all 1st class and some 2nd class buses is www.ticketbus.com.mx. Tickets can be purchased online by credit card also at Campeche's Edzna Travel. Most buses arrive and depart from the first-class station. Some 2nd class and economic class buses arrive and depart from the 2nd class station. Make sure that you ask which bus station is the one you need.

First Class Station Address: Av. Casa de Justicia and Av. Patricio Trueba de Regil (extension of Av. Central) Tel: ADO: +52 (555) 133-2424 Toll-free (within Mexico): ADO: 01 (800) 702-8000 Web: ADO: www.ado.com.mx Bus Lines: ADO, GL, UNO (+52 (999) 928-6230), ATS, SUR
Destinations:
Campeche: Hopelchen (Sur: 13 daily, 6:00 am to 5:00 pm MX$47/US$4.70, 1 hour) Ciudad del Carmen (ADO, ATS, OCC: many daily, 12:30 am to 11:45 pm, MX$139-210/US$14-21, 3 – 3 ½ hours), Escarcega (ADO, ATS, OCC: 12 daily, 2:20 am to 11:45 pm, two hours, MX$89-120/US$9-12), Xpujil (Sur: 5:15 and 8:15 am, 6:30 and 10:00pm, MX$154/US$15, 5 hours. ADO: 12:00 pm, MX$222/US$22, 4 ½ hours).
Yucatán: Mérida (many via Highway 180, 1:10 am to 10:30 pm, MX$94-182/US$9-18, 2 ½ hours), Chichen Itza (connect in Mérida), Santa Elena/Uxmal/Mérida via Highway 261 (Sur, 6:00 and 9:15 am; 12:00, 2:30 and 5:00 pm, MX$98/US$9)
Quintana Roo: Chetumal (2nd class, 8:15 am, 10:00 pm, MX$220/US$22, 7 hours; also ADO, 12:00 pm, MX$316/US$32, 6 ½ hours), Cancún (many connections through Mérida, but one direct daily, ADO, 10:30 pm, MX$418/US$42, 6 ½ hours), Playa del Carmen (two daily: OCC, 3:00 am, MX$464/US$46, 8 hours; and ADO, 10:30 pm, MX$464/US$46, 8 hours), Tulum (connections through Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Chetumal) Tabasco: Villahermosa (many, 12:10 am to 10:25 pm, about 8 hours, MX$446-684/US$45-68)
Chiapas: Palenque (ADO, OCC: 12:30, 2:20 and 11:00 am; 9:45 and 10:50 pm, MX$272-328/US$27-33, 4 ½ to 6 ½ hours), San Cristobal (ADO GL: 10:50 pm, MX$514/US$51, 10 hours; or travel to Palenque and connect there), Tuxtla Gutierrez (OCC, ADO: 12:55 and 1:20 am, 10:50 pm, MX$556-666/US$56-67, 10-11 hours)
National: Puebla (ADO: 4:00, 4:35, 9:00, 11:00 pm, MX$962-1,146/US$96-115, 14-15 hours), Veracruz (ADO: 8:10 pm, MX$692/US$69, 12 ½ hours), Mexico City (4:00, 4:35, 6:50, 10:26, 11:45 pm, MX$1,068-1,280/US$107-128, 17 hours)

Second Class Station: Av. Gobernadores and Calle 45, Col. Santa Ana Getting around (local transportation, buses, taxis, car rental)

Walking: Even numbered streets run parallel to the Malecon. Odd numbered streets run inland.

Bicycle: Rent at Monkey Hostel Buses: MX$5/US$.50, depart from Circuito Baluartes near the Baluarte de San Pedro and the public market. Signs in the front window display the destinations.

City Bus Tour: Tranvia (Street Car) daily, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Main Square, M$70/US$7. Several different tours, 45 minutes each, including one that visits the San Miguel and San Jose Forts.

Taxis: Taxi stand on Circuito Baluartes near the Puerta del Mar parking lot Taxis within Historic Center: MX$30/US$3, more at night. Taxi from airport: about MX$80/US$8, 15 minutes Shared vans: Colectivos, or combis, are mini-vans that travel a particular route, transporting passengers for a few pesos. The final destination should be on a sign in the front window, or you can wave one down and ask where it's headed. Most depart from Circuito Baluartes near the Baluarte de San Pedro and the public market.

Car rental: many, including Europcar Address: At the airport Tel: +52 (981) 152-1163 Web: www.europcar.com.mx

Parking: Limited street parking in Historic Center, parking lot near Historic Center on Circuito Baluartes outside the Puerta del Mar at Calle 59

Safety
Police: 060, +52 (981) 816-3635
Ambulance: 065
Fire Department: 066
Red Cross: +52 (981) 815-2376, -2411
Green Angels (Emergency Road Service): 078

Tourism Offices
Municipal Tourist Office: Hours: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Location: Calle 57 No. 3, between Calles 8 and 10 (on the Main Square next to the cathedral) Tel: +52 (981) 811-3989 Website: www.ayuntamientodecampeche.gob.mx Services: maps, brochures, guided tours, scale model of the Historic Center Additional Information: Students staff the office, like the charming and polite Guillermo Solub, who speaks English.
Main State Tourism Office: Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Address: Av. Ruiz Cortines, Plaza Moch Couoh, Col. Centro Tel: (Toll-free,México): 01 (800) 226-7324 Tel: (Toll free, USA and Canada): 01 (800) 536-5616 Tel: + 52 (981) 127-3520 and + 52 (981) 127-3300 Email: turismo@campeche.gob.mx Website: http://www.campeche.travel/en/


Money
Banks: Many branches and ATMs. On the Main Square: Banorte, at the corner of Calles 10 and 57. HSBC Calle 10, between Calles 55 and 57 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Saturday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Sunday, closed Money Exchange: many in Historic Center Travelers' checks: accepted at some hotels, restaurants and shops, or cashed at banks and money exchanges with proper identification.

Communications
Post Office: Address: in the Federal Building, at Avenida 16 de Septiembre and Calle 53, near the Baluarte de Santiago Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7:30 am to 8:00 pm Tel: +52 (981) 816-2134
Phone: On many street corners there are telephones that accept either coins or phone cards, which can be purchased at OXXO and other convenience stores. Long distance: Intertel Address: Calle 57 No 1 between 10 and 12
Internet: many in the Historic Center, including Ciber Chat Address: Corner of Calles 59 and 12 Laundry: La Antigua Address: Calle 57, between Calles 12 and 14 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Medical
Hospitals: La Clinica Campeche Address: Av. Central No. 65, between Trujano and Querétaro, Col. Santa Ana, near the Mega Comercial Mexicana Hours: Daily, 24 hours Tel: +52 (981) 816-5612 Email: available through website Web: http://www.clinicacampeche.com/ Additional Information: 24 hour pharmacy
Doctors: Name: Grupo Medico del Golfo Tel: +52 (981) 108-9136 Additional Information: will come to hotels Name: Dr. Ortiz Tel: +52 (981) 819-9615 Additional Information: speaks English
Pharmacies: Name: Farmacia Canto Address: Calle 10 No. 252, Historic Center Tel: +52 (981) 816-4100 Dentists: Ask at hotel front desk

Consulates
None. Many in Mérida and Cancun Mexican Immigration (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores): Address: Federal Building, Avenida 16 de Septiembre and Calle 53, First Floor, Room 2, Historic Center Hours: 08:00 a 15:00 Hrs. Tel: +52 (981) 811-3524, -1708 Fax: +52 (981) 811-3524, -1708 Email: available through website Web: http://portal3.sre.gob.mx/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=14

Gas Station
Pemex stations located throughout the city, including at Baluarte San Juan and Calle 16 Luggage Storage: at the first class bus station. 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, MX$5-12/US$.50-1.20 per hour, depending on size of luggage

Planning a Trip

Getting There & Departing

By Plane -- AeroMéxico (tel. 981/816-6656; www.aeromexico.com.mx) flies once daily to and from Mexico City. The airport is several kilometers northeast of the town center, and you'll have to take a taxi into town (about 65 pesos).

By Car -- Hwy. 180 goes south from Mérida, passing near the basket-making village of Halacho and near Becal, known for its Panama-hat weavers. The trip takes 2 1/2 hours. At Tenabo, take the shortcut (right, Hwy. 24) to Campeche rather than going farther to the crossroads near Chencoyí. The longer way from Mérida is along Hwy. 261 past Uxmal.

When returning to Mérida via Hwy. 180, go north on Avenida Ruiz Cortines, bearing left to follow the water (this becomes Av. Pedro Sainz de Baranda, but there's no sign). Follow the road as it turns inland to Hwy. 180, where you turn left (there's a gas station at the intersection).

If you're leaving Campeche for Edzná and Uxmal, go north on either Ruiz Cortines or Gobernadores, and turn right on Madero, which feeds onto Hwy. 281. To go south to Villahermosa, take Ruiz Cortines south.

By Bus -- ADO (tel. 981/816-2802) offers a first-class de paso (passing through) bus to Palenque (6 hr.; 178 pesos) four times a day and buses to Mérida (2 1/2 hr.; 89 pesos) every hour from 5:30am to midnight. The ADO bus station is on Avenida Patricio Trueba, a kilometer (a half-mile) from the Puerta de Tierra.

Information

The State of Campeche Office of Tourism (tel./fax 981/127-3300; http://campeche.travel) is in Plaza Moch-Couoh, Avenida Ruiz Cortines s/n, 24000 Campeche. This is in one of the state buildings between the historic center and the shore. There are also information offices in the bastions of Santa Rosa, San Carlos, and Santiago. It's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm and 4 to 7pm.

City Layout

The most interesting part of the city is the restored old part, most of which once lay within the walls. Originally, the seaward wall was at the water's edge, but now land has been gained from the sea between the old walls and the coastline. This is where you'll find most of the state government buildings, which were built in a glaringly modernist style around Plaza Moch-Couoh: buildings such as the office tower Edificio de los Poderes (Judicial Building) or Palacio de Gobierno (headquarters for the state of Campeche), and the futuristic Cámara de Diputados (Chamber of Deputies), which looks like a cubist clam.

Campeche's system of street numbering is much like that of other cities in the Yucatán, except that the numbers of the north-south streets increase as you go east instead of the reverse.

Getting Around

Most of the recommended sights, restaurants, and hotels are within walking distance of the old city, except for the two fort-museums. Campeche isn't easy to negotiate by bus, so take taxis for anything beyond walking distance -- they are inexpensive.