Chetumal
Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean · Mexico
Did you know?
- The Museum of Mayan Culture is a central cultural attraction.
- Kohunlich's Maya ruins are known for stone masks.
- Nearby Calderitas is a fishing village known for seafood.
See also
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Bacalar
Mexico18.68°N 88.39°W · 11 m
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Kohunlich
Mexico18.40°N 88.80°W
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Mahahual
Mexico18.71°N 87.71°W · 1 m
Overview
Chetumal combines Maya heritage with the bustle of a border city. Quintana Roo's capital offers a quieter base than the major resort towns and a gateway toward Belize.
Languages: Spanish
Why go?
Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo, is a quieter alternative to Cancún or Tulum. It offers a blend of Mayan history, border-town bustle, and easy access to Belize. The city is quite safe and affordable, with many budget accommodations and local eateries.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Understand
Lying by the border of Belize, Chetumal is more than a travel hub. It offers many tourist attractions. English is fairly generalized, while Spanish coexists with Maya, Criole, Lebanese Arabic. The city has about 260,000 residents and is the capital of Quintana Roo and Municipio of Othón P. Blanco.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Get around
Taxis for a short hop cost about M$25-30 (April 2022). Buses to the border depart from a small office on Av. Primo de Verdad between 16 de Septiembre and Miguel Hidalgo, costing M$14 (Dec 2018). The Bulebuzz small bus runs along Avenida Héroes to Boulevard Bahía.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
Top attractions include the Museum of Mayan Culture (Tu-Th Su 09:00-19:00, F Sa 09:00-20:00), the Fine Arts Cultural Center (Tu-Su 09:00-19:00), and the Malecón coastal walk. For nature, visit Calderitas fishing village 6 km north, the Taam Ja' Blue Hole (deepest sinkhole), or the Maya ruins Oxtankah, Kohunlich, Dzibanché, Kinichná, and Chacchoben. Reef diving and snorkeling are available in Mahahual (140 km).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Work
Chetumal is increasingly becoming a center for environmental-friendly technologies, with private sector efforts showing signs of success.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Buy
Low-withdrawal-fee ATMs are available at Banca Inbursa, BanCoppel, Banjercito, Banco Azteca, banamex, and Santander. For groceries: Oxxo, tiendas, Dunosusa, Super Willy's, Waldo's, Super Aki, Soriana, Bodega Aurrera, and Chedraui. Butcher shop Maxicarne is in the center. The Belize Free Zone (11 km away) offers duty-free shopping with clothing, perfumes, liquors, electronics, and casinos.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
Typical local joints are scattered around the city; fancier places line Boulevard Bahía. Calderitas is known for seafood. Backpacker favorites: Hot Dogs Parque Del Queso 2 (hot dogs from M$15), Hamburguesas Las Mismas (tortas from M$30), and Cafetería Chetumal Cocina Económica (menu del dia M$85). The bar scene is thin; Boulevard Bahía has some bars, including El Horno Creativo (biergarten café, open Tu-Su 20:00-02:00).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to sleep
There are at least 20 places to sleep. Budget options include Downtown Hostel Chetumal (dorm M$280), Hotel Ucum (double with fan M$270, A/C M$450), and Hostel Manik (dorm M$250, private from M$480). Other hotels: Hotel El Dorado, Hotel Rosa del Alba, Hotel Hospedaje Don Cuco, Hotel Xcalak Boutique (temporarily closed April 2022), Pause Hostel, Capital Plaza, Hotel los Cocos.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Connect
Information not available in the article.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stay safe
Chetumal is quite safe. Since there are not many tourists, you can easily go a week without anyone trying to fool you. Taxi drivers generally do not overcharge.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day trips
Popular day trips include Calderitas (6 km north, fishing village with seafood), Xul-Ha (20 km, tranquil village on Bacalar lake), Balneario Obregon Viejo (50 km, natural water park), and Maya ruins: Kohunlich (65 km west, famous for stone masks), Dzibanché (75 km west), Kinichná (2 km from Dzibanché), and Chacchoben (60 km north). The Taam Ja' Blue Hole can be visited for diving. For reef diving, head to Mahahual (140 km).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
Your next destination can be anywhere from Chetumal. It is a transport hub to Belize and other parts of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
Capital Plaza Hotel
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Downtown Hostel Chetumal
It features A/C, a terrace, lockers and free drinking water. The price for a dorm is M$280 (April 2022). It can be booked on booking.com.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hostel Manik
Opposite of the bus station. Quite modern looking inside. All rooms have A/C. The hostel offers private rooms, and a 4 bed dorm with only flat beds (no bunk beds). The dorm can be booked on Hostelworld and is for M$250 (April 2022). A private room is from M$480 (April 2022).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel El Dorado
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Hospedaje Don Cuco
A basic hotel with private bathroom and without hot water. Some rooms have A/C, others are with fan.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
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Hotel Rosa del Alba
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Ucum
Clean and well located budget hotel. A double room with private bathroom and fan and without TV is M$270 (April 2022) for 1 or 2 persons. With A/C it's M$450 (April 2022).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Xcalak Boutique
A simple boutique hotel. It looked temporarily closed in April 2022.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Accommodation
At least 20 places to sleep, from hostels (dorm M$250) to budget hotels.
Food
Street food: hot dogs from M$15, tortas from M$30, menu del dia M$85.
Language
English is fairly common; Spanish and Maya also spoken.
Money
Low withdrawal fees at Banca Inbursa, BanCoppel, Banjercito, Banco Azteca, banamex, Santander. Cash is king.
Safety
Chetumal is quite safe; tourist scams are rare.
Transport
Taxis for a short hop M$25-30. Bus to border M$14. Bulebuzz bus runs through center.