Campeche Mexico: Yucatan Peninsula Coastal City

From Celestun head towards carretera federal Rte. 281 in the Easterly direction and follow closely all of the signs to reach Campeche. You will be driving through the following cities/towns to get to Campeche: Becal, Calkini, Tenabo. From Tenabo you will have to turn sharply towards south-west to arrive shortly at the ‘gates’ of the great city of Campeche.

Campeche in Mayan language is called Äh Kin Pech – or
“The Place of the Serpents and Ticks”.
Before-mentioned Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba by 1540, started to expand Campeche into a major trading port, building bulwarks, fortified churches, city gates and strongholds. As Campeche grew, it attracted buccaneers and pirates. The city is vibrant with its lights, its pastel facades, its hanging lanterns and beautiful cobblestone streets all built with colonial architectural undertones. Campeche use to be just another stopover on the way to Villahermosa (444km southeast of Campeche), but no more, today it’s a true tourist destination because of the city-sponsored entertainments, beaches, nearby haciendas along Ruta Chenes and Ruta Rio Bec, and the biosphere reserves of Calakmul.

Major routes: Circuito Baluastes, circumscribes the old city. All major roads come together on the Circuito Baluastes, in the city centre. Avenida Gobernadores comes in from Merida Highway northeast of the city, crosses the peripheral highway, and passes the airport, train station, and bus terminals on its way to the Circuito. In order to arrive at the park, catch catch the “Gobernadores” bus across the street from the terminal station.
You can get a taxi from your hotel to the park since the taxis are quite cheap. The city centre’s east-west streets have odd numbers that increase to the south. Calle 8 runs north-south between the principal and the western city wall. Parallel to Calle 8 to the east lies Calles 10 and 16. The principal lies near the sea, bordered by Calles 8, 10, 55 and 57. To the west, outside the city wall, Av. 16 de Septiembre and Ave. Ruiz Cortinez also run parallel to Calle 8. North of the centro, Calle 8 becomes Malecon Miguel Aleman, running past the Iglesia de San Francisco, uphill to Fuerte de San Jose El Alto. Avenida Resurgimiento, the coastal boardwalk south of the city, runs past the youth hostel and the Fuerte San Miguel on its way to san Lorenzo and Seybaplaya. The Buses do not enter the historic and colonial centers. The best time to enjoy Campeche is during the night when the city is light up by city lights.

The Sites to Visit During Your Stay:

Fuerte de San Miguel:

This fort houses exhibits which clearly describe nearby ruins and displays Mayan jewelry, pottery, vessels from Edzba and a jade mask from Calakmul. If you like weaponry, the top level of the fort, proudly displays 19 cannons which gloom over the sea and Campeche to the north of central watchtower. To visit the fort, you can take the “Lerma” bus from the eastern end of the Circuito Baluartes. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the Castillo parade and then walk up the steep hill on the left until you reach the fork on the road. Take the left turn leading up to the fort.

Fuerte de San Jose El Alto:

This fort was built in 1762, San Jose was well-designed for defense during its time. The great defensive tactic was in its design; the path leading to the portcullis winds deliberately so that battering rams could not be used on the gate. The fort’s moat was crowded by pikes hidden beneath the murky waters. Currently, the ships and armaments have moved inside the fort for an impressive exhibit. The view from San Jose spreads over kilometers of green shoreline giving way to the urban waterfront development. The “Bellavista” and “San Jose El Alto” bus from the market will drop you halfway up the hill: a five-minute walk will get you to the fort at the top. (Open Tu-Su 8-8, Sunday free admission.)

Museo de las Estelas Maya:

Inside de Baluarte de la Soledad, off Calle 8 near Calle 57 behind el parque principal, the museo houses a small collection of well-preserved Mayan stelae and reliefs taken from sites in the Campeche province. Visitors may climb the walls of the fort, which is surrounded by a park. A showroom across from the museum occasionally features free exhibitions. (museum open M 8-2, tu-sa 8-8 Su 8-6)

Jardin Botanico Xmuch’Haltun:

Enclosed by the walls of the fuerte Santiago at the northwest corner of the city on Calles 8 and 51, the garden is a great place to stop and rest. Over 250 species of plant thrive in a tiny open-air courtyard shaded by trees and marked by benches, fountains, and frogs. Open M-F 9-4 Sa 9-1 and Sun 9-1

La Purisima Concepcion:

This glorious cathedral served as a second refuge gathering place for the Maya and Spanish communities. Right below it you can see El Parque Principal. The construction of the cathedral was ordered by Francisco de Montejo in 1540. However, the cathedral has not been fully constructed until 1705. The cathedral’s main attraction is its façade. Inside, you will find the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial), a sculpture of Christ in a carved mahogany sarcophagus replete with gold ornaments inside a glass case with silver trim. (open daily 7-noon FREE)

Iglesia de San Francisco:

This church can be encountered a rather farther distance from the city center. It was built in 1546 and is the first official place where the first Mesoamerican mass was held. This church was also a baptismal site of Hernando Cortes’s grandson. The three bells toll for humbleness, obedience, and chastity. Inside, yellow Corinthian arches project toward an ornate altar. (Open daily 8-12)

Right now, you can own a condo in Mayan Riviera, use it as home-base and explore parts of Yucatan Peninsula such as Campeche. The best thing is that this condominium property can be rented out as a vacation spot and generate income to off-set your mortgage payments.
For more information visit: Luxury Condominiums Mexico

Other sights: Sand and Beaches. The closest stretch of sand is at Playa Payucan – great for snorkeling. Fauna, flora and ecotourism escapades are well programmed in Calakmul, which is the largest biosphere reserve in Mexico covering 1.7 million acres. This reserve in Campeche was a former Maya ceremonial powerhouse containing over 6000 ruins. From Campeche go south on 261 towards Escarcega-Chetumal until you reach Rte. 186 Go 95 km on Rte. 186, the town of Conhuas. The entrance is on the right, through a 60 kilometer one-lane road.


Tomek W. Copyright © Ottawa sellers

Own a condo in Mayan Riviera

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Right now, you can own a condo in Mayan Riviera, use it as home-base and explore parts of Yucatan Peninsula such as Celestun. The best thing is this condominium can be rented out as a vacation spot and generate income to off-set your mortgage payments.

Tomek W. Copyright © Ottawa sellers

Celestun: Rio Celestun Biosphere Reserve - Own a condo in Mayan Riviera

Own a condo in Mayan Riviera

Celestun is one of many beautiful places which I have visited in the Yucatan Peninsula. It offers an excellent variety of seafood and seafood restaurants located right by the sandy waters of the Mexican Gulf. The great thing about this place is the tranquility and stillness which awaits you after long hours of travel. The ocean floor in Celestun is quite shallow which is great for those afraid of deep Caribbean waters. The main attraction that should not be missed when visiting Yucatan peninsula (between Merida and Campeche) is Rio Celestun Biosphere Reserve, which is a spectacular forest housing over 200 species of birds, including pelicans, cormorants, the occasional stork, and hot pink flamingos. Many Mexican and international tourists as well as biologists take refuge in the Reserve during the months of July and August. When travelling during those months make sure to book your inexpensive hotel well in advance of your trip.

Celestun’s estuary is quite popular with kids and tourists who want to see pink flamingos which are plenty in this region. There are two main trips available. The first heads north to Isla de Pajaros, an avian playground. The second tour heads south through petrified forests and a river tunnel of intertwined tree branches and vines before winding through the abandoned fishing village of Real de Salinas. The tours are quite inexpensive and can be negotiated with local lancheros which can be found at the bridge before the entrance to the town. You can hook up with few people whishing to do the same tour and negotiate a price. The best solution is to combine the two tours; some fisherman will gladly provide you with their lanchero services for around 550 pesos. If you are in Celestun during the weekend, be sure not to miss many performances near the zocalo, taking place usually Saturday night.

City Map: The main street, Calle 11, in Celestun, touches the western shores of Yucatan, and connects with the main carretera federal Rte. 281 which leads to or from Merida (approximately 150 km). Odd numbers increase to the south, while even numbers decrease moving away from the ocean. The zocalo, where the events take place, is bounded by Calle 11, 13, 10 and 8. There is a bus service, Autobuses de Occidente, which provides travel service to Merida; it can be found by the intersection of Calles 8 and 11 right by the zocalo. Schedule may have changed: (2hr trip to Merida, 12 per day betwen 5 am – 8:30 pm.) As I had the rented car, I have never used this service.

Accommodation: One of the most inexpensive waterfront hotels I found in Yucatan Peninsula. Most hotels are found on Calle 12. I stayed in Hotel San Julio which faces a sand patio and it is almost right on the beach. There are three hotels, in addition to San Julio, worth to book your nights in: Hotel Maria del Carmen, Hotel Gutierrez, and el Pelicano.

Right now, you can own a condo in Mayan Riviera, use it as home-base and explore parts of Yucatan Peninsula such as Celestun. The best thing is this condominium can be rented out as a vacation spot and generate income to off-set your mortgage payments. Condo hotel Mexico investment opportunity 8% Discount on the asking price.

Tomek W. Copyright ©

Dzibilchaltun – “A Place Where There is Writing on Stones”: Yucatan Peninsula Real Estate Investments

Last week, I have shared my journey itinerary leading from Mayan Riviera to the city of Merida, followed by a description of places visited within the city limits.

This week, I would like to share my experience on one of the side-trips which I have made while staying in Merida.

This was a my trip to Dzibilchaltun. Dzibilchaltun is located approximately 20 kilometres north of the city of Merida. This is a humongous place which spreads over 60 square kilometres in a pure jungle setting. According to historians, Dzibilchaltun was a part of administrative and ceremonial network which thrived from approx 300 B.C. until the beginning of “La Conquista”. The excavated portion of the whole area incorporates a 300-meter ecological path which is a home to over hundred different species of birds, reptiles and plants. The plants have been scrutinised and meticulously labelled by famous botanists.

Another part of Dzibilchaltun incorporates “El Museo del Pueblo Maya” or the Museum of Mayan Society. The museum can be found by heading left right after passing the gates of the main entrance area. This site proudly displays carved columns from Dzibilchaltun and Mayan ceramics. The road leading to this section shows all-star gallery of Maya stelae with original sculptures from Chichen Itza and Uxamal. (Both sites will be discussed in the following weeks). As you enter the museum, you will be bombarded with several colourful and informative displays. In the main room of the museum, we expanded our knowledge about the Maya calendar and Pantheon. In this section we found a through explanation of the origins of the Maya calendar and the impact it had on the Mayan history. The second room in the museum is dedicated to show historical events surrounding the Spanish arrival and the bloody conquest which followed. The pictures presented here are very drastic in nature, not for the faint of heart, so-to-speak. Another interesting feature in this museum is a glass floor that reveals an under-the-sea display.

In the central axis of Dzibilchaltun, there is a path you can follow in two directions; called Sacbe No.1 which leads to a well preserved Temple of the Seven Dolls. The dolls found here are made of clay and are quite proportionate and bare a close resemblance to the real human form. One of the grand Mayan constructions, within the temple, shows a huge shadow mask of the rain god Chac. This event only occurs in two instances, at the time of the spring and autumn equinox and only when the sun’s rays pierce the temple.

If you follow the path Sacbe No.1 in the other direction it will lead you to quadrangle, which in my view wass a grotesque abuse of Mayan people from the Spaniards; here, the Maya temple was converted into a Franciscan chapel of that era. To the east of this monstrosity we find the Xlacah cenote, characteristic for its oval shape, enveloped by a freshwater lagoon. It is quite interesting to know that this particular cenote served as a sacrificial place as well as source of water for the local Mayan people. Contracted divers have descended this forty-four meters deep cenote and have discovered many ceremonial artefacts and human bones. I took a dip in the waters of Xlacah and swam among the water lilies, erect daisies, and various species of fish. This was a truly wonderful experience, and I did not worry about the human bones underneath my feet. Exiting the cenote, a path to the south leads past a handful of smaller structures to the site’s exit.

How to get to Dzibilchaltun from Merida:

If you have a car is quite easy (this is what I have done, drove right to the site)
However, you can get to Dzibilchaltun directly from Merida by a means of Conkal-bound combis which leave the Parque de San Juan in Merida right after they fill up, and this really depends on the tourist season. Usually, within 30 minutes people were getting a ride, very cheap too, 10 pesos one way. The combis don’t go right to the site; they will drop you off at the access road to the ruins away from the entrance. On the way back, autoprogreso buses and Merida-bound combis can be found right on Rte. 261 which is 5 km from the site. These buses pass quite frequently in the direction of Merida. (Site opens daily between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Museum is open between Tuesday-Sunday 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. AND Open at 5:30 a. m. during the equinox. Admission 50 pesos, parking 7 pesos)

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