 Ciudad
del Carmen was founded in the pre-Hispanic era and
from the beginning it was an important trading spot
for the Aztec and Maya cultures. Later on, during
the 16th to 18th centuries, when the City of Campeche
turned into the main port of maritime commerce between
Spain and New Spain, Ciudad del Carmen was occupied
by pirates and used as a strategic point for repairing
ships and planning attacks against Spanish galleons
and the recently-founded neighboring cities.
Carmen, as it is called by its inhabitants, is
a coastal city located in the southeast of the state
of Campeche, on the southern tip of Isla del Carmen.
The city got its current name on July 16, 1717,
in honor of the Virgin of Carmen (who is believed
to be the protector of the island), when the Spanish
forces, commandeered by Alonso Felipe de Andrade,
got the pirates off the island and took back the
city after a long period of occupation. Ever since
then, at the end of July, Ciudad del Carmen turns
into the very center of the region's social, cultural
and religious festivities, in a typical town fair
that celebrates the island's patron saint, the Virgin
of Carmen.
During your Ciudad del Carmen vacation this beautiful
and tranquil tourist destination offers you interesting
activities for you to experience. The green area
that surrounds Terminos Lagoon and the Calakmul
Biosphere Reserve are amazing jungles, great for
ecotourism. The white sandy beaches with their calm
waters, mostly surrounded by mangroves (where diverse
marine species inhabit, such as reptiles, birds
and mammals), are perfect for any kind of water
sports. Finally, the visit to the impressive archeological
zones is an experience you cannot miss.
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