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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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