Ciudad del Carmen (sometimes just Carmen) is a city in Campeche, Mexico. The population is about 100,000. Its economy is mainly based on oil, though there is also still a significant fishing industry.

Understand

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.

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. It is not a real tourist place, although there are a few attractions and facilities for those passing through.

Get in

By plane

There is an international airport here that has daily flights to Houston, Texas.

By car

Highway 180 connects to Villahermosa to the west and Campeche to the north east.

By bus

Ciudad del Carmen is accessible from a number of cities through the ADO bus line. First-class fares to Cancun are M$570, and fares to Campeche are M$168.

See

• the Iglesia de la Virgen del Carmen or Cathedral and a few buildings nearby date back to the Colonial era. On Parque Principal Zaragosa, Calle 33, about 6 blocks east of the city's west coast, about a dozen blocks north of Highway 180.
• the Museum in the old Victoriano Nieves Céspedes Hospital building (Calle 22 between 41 and 41B) is small, but has some interesting ancient Maya ceramic artwork, in addition to other aspects of local history including pirate attacks.

Do

• Fishing. Between the Gulf and the Lagoon, there is a variety of salt water fish in the area.
• Beaches. There are several around the island near town.
• The Parque Principal Zaragosa (across from the Municipal Palace, near the waterfront north of the Highway) has free live band concerts Thursday and Sunday evenings.

Buy

• HandCraft Market, Downtown (Calle 20). 
• Plaza Real, Av Periferica Norte SN, Malibran, ☏ +52 938 384 4559. 
• Plaza Palmiras, Carr. Puerto Real Km 2.5, Col. Palmiras. 
• Zentralia, Av Corregidora, Santa Rosalía. 

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 shop and small bars or just have a walk there in from of the Mexican Gulf.

• Casa Blanca, Malecon. 
• Cafe La Fuente, Malecon. 

In Playa Norte, don't miss the nightlife in from of the main beach of the city.

• Mangle Roof Bar, Plaza Punta Norte. 
• Jack Pub, Plaza Punta Norte. 
• Terraza "La Choperia", Playa Norte. 

On Concordia Avenue:

• Lapa Lapa, ☏ +52 9382860185. 
• Mc Carthy's Irish Pub. 

Sleep

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.

Budget

Microhotel, good, cheap and comfortable, contact joviedo@hotmail.com

Stay safe

• Police 3820205 or 060
• Red Cross 3823130

Go next

To the west on Highway 180 is Villahermosa and Tabasco. To the east is Champoton, Campeche, and Yucatan.