Why Honeymoon in Campeche
It feels like a secret. Campeche's walled center is one of the best preserved colonial towns in Mexico, yet it rarely feels crowded. You can walk the streets in the evening and have entire blocks to yourselves.
The setting is unusual. Sunset over the Gulf from the malecón, the long seafront promenade, is a local ritual, with joggers, families and couples out in the cooling air.
Nearby haciendas add romance. Former henequen and cattle estates have been turned into hotels with pools set among old stone walls and gardens. Add Maya ruins, quiet museums and fresh seafood. Campeche makes a relaxed, cultured stop on a longer honeymoon.
When to Go
November through March is the best time, with warm, mostly dry days in the 80s Fahrenheit and pleasant evenings for walking the walls.
April and May are very hot, often in the upper 90s, so plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon. The rainy season runs from about June through October, with heavy afternoon storms and high humidity. September and October carry the highest hurricane risk.
Campeche stays quiet most of the year, but Mexican holiday weeks such as Christmas and Easter bring more domestic visitors. The local carnival, usually in February or early March, is one of the oldest in Mexico and fills the streets with parades.
Where to Stay
Inside the walls, Hacienda Puerta Campeche is the most romantic option in town, a set of restored 17th-century houses with a pool set inside old stone ruins. Other small hotels in colonial homes offer courtyards and high ceilings at lower prices.
About half an hour outside town, Hacienda Uayamón is a restored estate surrounded by jungle, with ruined walls, a pool built into the old machine house and rooms set among the gardens. It is a good choice for couples who want privacy and quiet.
Approximate rates: about US$70 to US$150 a night for good hotels in town, with the luxury haciendas costing several hundred dollars a night.
Romantic Things to Do
Walk the remaining walls and bastions at sunset, then watch the evening light-and-sound show at the Puerta de Tierra, the old land gate built in 1732.
Rent bikes and ride the malecón along the Gulf, stopping for coconut water or a seafood cocktail. Return as the sun sets over the water.
Visit Edzná, a Maya city about an hour from town, with a five-level pyramid and few other visitors. Go early in the morning before the heat.
See the Calakmul jade masks at the Museum of Maya Architecture in the Baluarte de la Soledad, then take a taxi to Fuerte San Miguel, a hilltop fort with a museum and wide views over the city and the sea.
Getting There and Around
Campeche International Airport (CPE) has flights mainly from Mexico City. Most US travelers connect there, or fly into Mérida International Airport (MID), which has nonstops from a few US cities, then drive about two and a half hours.
The Tren Maya stops at Campeche, linking it with Mérida and other Yucatán towns. Schedules have changed since the line opened, so check before you plan around it.
In town, walk everywhere inside the walls. Taxis are inexpensive for trips to the fort or the malecón. A rental car or a driver makes it easy to reach Edzná and the haciendas. Use toll roads and drive in daylight.
Food and Drink
Campeche is known for seafood. Try pan de cazón, layered tortillas with shredded shark and black beans in tomato sauce. Shrimp in coconut batter, seafood cocktails and fresh pompano are local favorites.
The central market and small cocinas serve cheap, good breakfasts and lunches. In the evening, the streets around the main square fill with cafes and restaurants serving regional dishes in colonial buildings.
For dinner with a view, look for restaurants near the malecón for sunset. Drink bottled or filtered water. Smaller places may take only cash, so carry pesos.
Honeymoon Tips
- Do your sightseeing early and late. Midday heat is intense, especially from April to September.
- Campeche is a city, not a beach town. The Gulf here is shallow and not great for swimming, so book a hotel with a pool.
- Mosquitoes are common in the rainy months. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
- The State Department rates Campeche state at "exercise normal precautions." The town feels relaxed and safe at night.
- Pair Campeche with Mérida, the Riviera Maya or Bacalar for a balanced trip.
- Dress is casual and light. Linen and sandals fit almost everywhere.
