Ciudad del Carmen

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 train 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 570 pesos, and fares to Campeche are 168 pesos. By boat Get around See the Iglacia del 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. Learn Work Buy Eat There are a variety of budget and mid-range restaurants in town. Local specialties include fresh seafood, pork & bean dishes, and tamales colorados. Budget Mid-range Splurge Drink Carmen has a very lively night scene, so don't miss all the clubs. 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 Mid-range Splurge Contact Stay safe POLICE NUMBER 3820205 OR 060 FROM ANY PHONE IN THE STREET. RED CROSS 3823130 Cope Get out To the west on Highway 180 is Villahermosa and Tabasco. To the east is Champoton, Campeche, and Yucatan. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!