Playa Bonita, Campeche: a visitor's guide

Do you know Playa Bonita in Campeche? Intimate and small, it’s a reference point for rest. Enjoy this incredible place and all the beauty of the peninsula.

On the Yucatán peninsula, facing the Gulf of Mexico, is Campeche.

It is the only walled fortress city in Mexico. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its old town is an urban landscape of colonial heritage, dating from the 16th century and perfectly preserved.

Campeche is not yet a mass-tourism destination, but it has an international airport and is close to Mérida and Cancún.

Beaches in Campeche? Yes, and they’re beautiful!

Many think there’s nowhere to swim in the sea in Campeche. But Playa Bonita in Campeche is the exception.

Read: Outfit ready for the beach! Women’s swimwear trends 2020.

In the small fishing village of Lerma, this Campeche beach resort is ideal for a weekend or holidays, thanks to its closeness to Mérida.

Playa Bonita is one of the most wonderful places on the Campeche coast — a quiet spot on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

A day at the sea

At Playa Bonita, Campeche natural beauty is the main entertainment. The blue of the sea is extremely relaxing, and the sea breeze comforts you the moment you feel it on your face. On the fine white sand you can walk or lie down to take in the fabulous natural scenery.

Playa Bonita has everything you need to enjoy the sun and sea. The resort has palapas, toilets, changing rooms, a restaurant area, parking, security, lifeguards and chair and umbrella rental. So you don’t need to bring your beach kit — just your swimsuit.

A family-friendly, accessible resort

Playa Bonita’s advantage is that it’s a resort you can visit with the whole family. It’s accessible and children will be very happy: it’s a safe beach with a playground and a water park with inflatables.

Read: Beautiful sunsets on the beaches of Yucatán.

If you have reduced mobility, Playa Bonita lends wheelchairs and amphibious chairs.

How to get to Playa Bonita Campeche?

Head to Lerma, a fishing village 15 kilometres southwest of Campeche — about 15 minutes by car.

Food and prices at Playa Bonita

There are several restaurants at Playa Bonita, all specialising in seafood and fish. Try pan de cazón, a state classic, and of course the traditional habanero and tomato salsa.

Opening hours are Monday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Entry fees: locals 2 pesos; nationals 20 pesos; foreigners 40 pesos; cars 10 pesos; motorbikes 5 pesos.

Several hotels near Playa Bonita. We recommend:

Hacienda Puerta Campeche

This luxury hotel is a Mexican tropical retreat near Playa Bonita. Set in a restored 16th-century hacienda, it has a spa, first-class facilities, pools and a prestigious restaurant. Address: Calle 59 No. 71 x 16 y 18.

Hotel Boutique Casa Don Gustavo

Casa Don Gustavo has fabulous interiors, combining 18th-century pieces with modern elements. It has a pool and a luxury terrace. Address: Calle 59 No. 4.

Other options near Playa Bonita: Hostel Viatger Inn (Calle 51 No. 28) and Casa Balché (Calle 57 No. 6).

Isla Arena, Pedro Infante’s paradise

Isla Arena is another of Campeche’s prettiest beaches. The talented actor Pedro Infante used to spend long spells there. Everything on Isla Arena recalls him — in fact, there’s a museum dedicated to the popular actor and to Mexican cinema, with a statue, the Silver Globe that the film Tizoc won at the Berlin Film Festival, costumes, newspaper clippings and posters. The museum is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A charming village

“A charming village” is what Pedro Infante called this small fishing village of fine white sand on the Campeche coast. And no wonder — what won the film star over was the simplicity and warmth of the people of this remote place, surrounded by fabulous nature.

Read: The most beautiful beaches near Mérida.

Besides the museum, there’s a palapa area, a pier and a playground.

Other things to do on Isla Arena

Don’t miss La Casa del Cocodrilo, which raises crocodiles, releases specimens and sells hide and meat while respecting environmental rules. You can also hike and admire the mangroves on a kayak trip.

Don’t miss the local cuisine, with seafood and crocodile-meat dishes. And stop at the El Remate tourist stop, with a spring up to 4 metres deep — a perfect place to swim among monumental mangroves, 14 kilometres from Isla Arena.

How to get to Isla Arena?

Isla Arena is 70 kilometres from Campeche. From the capital, head towards Calkiní and the Petenes Biosphere Reserve. On the way, stop at:

Ex-Haciendas de Santa Cruz: buy local crafts made with regional stones, and handmade hats.

Tankuché: visit the former henequen hacienda, built in the 19th century.

And since you’re in Campeche… visit the capital!

Campeche could be part of a fairy tale: pirates, colourful houses, fortresses. Every corner is a perfect picture for a photo walk.

The wall that surrounded the city was built in the 17th century against pirates. About 500 metres of wall survive in very good condition, along with the Sea Gate and the Land Gate. You can also visit two forts: San Miguel and San José el Alto.

Campeche’s buildings are painted in beautiful pastel colours. Walk block after block within the walled part of the city and keep admiring the colonial architecture. Don’t miss Calle 59, a central pedestrian street with colourful houses, small shops and boutiques, and many cafés, restaurants and bars.

Sunsets in Campeche are unforgettable. The perfect way to end the day is at the seafront: head to the “La novia del mar” sculpture and fall in love with the view.

Two incredible archaeological sites: Calakmul and Edzná

The state of Campeche has 17 archaeological sites, including Calakmul, the largest Maya city in the region.

Calakmul is a spectacular nature reserve, the second largest in Mexico, and its jungle is home to jaguars, birds and butterflies — all living among more than 6,000 archaeological structures.

The Calakmul ruins aren’t known to many. Compared with Chichén Itzá, which gets more than 3,850 people a day, Calakmul gets around 60! That’s quite surprising, because Calakmul is bigger and in some ways more astonishing.

If you think Chichén Itzá’s iconic “Castillo” is big, compare it with Calakmul. Chichén Itzá’s pyramid is 30 metres; Calakmul’s main pyramid is 45 metres tall.

Other interesting things about Calakmul: the amount of wild animals you can see — wild turkeys, tropical birds, tarantulas, foxes, monkeys and more. You’ll probably never feel so far from civilisation.

Edzná, simply wonderful

Very close to Campeche is the Edzná archaeological site, which will leave you speechless. The impressive 5-storey pyramid is 39 metres tall. Edzná is southeast of Campeche, just 1 hour away.

The city was founded around 600 BC as a small farming community. It had many religious, administrative and residential buildings, but the most interesting was its advanced hydraulic system: the Maya built a network of canals that drained the valley and led water to a lagoon while irrigating the fields. Because of the humidity in the soil, they could produce large harvests and, in the canals, abundant fish. Their drainage system was impressive, and they channelled rainwater into artificial reservoirs called chultunes.

At its peak, the site had up to 25,000 inhabitants; it declined gradually until it was fully abandoned in 1450.

What to see in Edzná:

• The Grand Acropolis. A large square space with several monumental structures; the Five-Storey Building is the most impressive.
• Five-Storey Building. A spectacular five-storey pyramid (31.5 m tall) with many rooms.
• Main Plaza. A large space with the site’s greatest number of buildings. To the north and south are two Maya roads, or sacbés, used to move within the city.
• Temple of the Great Masks. The masks have anthropomorphic features with elite aesthetic attributes such as dental mutilation, nose rings, ear ornaments and large zoomorphic headdresses.
• Ball court. Two parallel structures at the top and two giant rings.

A natural paradise

Campeche is a natural paradise. Mangroves and lagoons stretch north along the Mexican coast, home to countless flamingos. To the south, narrow strips of white sand beach are home to thousands of turtles.

The town of Hopelchén brings together many points of interest and natural destinations — archaeological sites such as Dzibilnocac, Hochob and Santa Rosa Xtampak. And 34 kilometres from the town, you can enter an underground cave with impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations: Cueva Xtacumbilxunaan, which in Maya means “hidden woman” — a must for nature lovers.

Now you know: Campeche is a great destination. Playa Bonita in Campeche is waiting for you. Discover this treasure!