CHETUMAL TRAVEL GUIDE

Places to Stay - Click here for price key

Gran Marlón ($$, Calle Juárez 88 between Calle Ignacio Zaragoza and Plutarco Elías Calles, tel. 983/285-3279 or 285-3287, www.hotelesmarlon.com), offers Wi-Fi, firm beds, cable TV, a restaurant, parking, and a small swimming pool. Across the street, the “regular” Marlón is only slightly cheaper; it offers a murky pool and street parking only as well as cable TV and Wi-Fi.

Casa Blanca ($$, Calle Alvaro Obregón 312, tel. 983/832-1248 or 833-5735, www.casablancachetumal.com), is a nice-looking property offering pleasant rooms with Wi-Fi, cable, flat-screen TV, and parking. It’s across the street from the Municipal Palace and about one kilometer from the Museum of Maya Culture.

Hotel Los Cocos ($$$, Calle Av. Héroes 134, tel. 983/835-0430, www.hotelloscocos.com.mx) is popular with business people and travelers. There’s a small pool and a temperate whirlpool spa. Rooms have good Wi-Fi, tiny cement balconies without furniture, cable TV with English-language movies, and a small fridge. The restaurant has fruit milkshakes as well as the usual burgers, arrachera, and breakfast dishes, with large coffee mugs that waiters will refill free of charge. Most days you can take a free city tour as part of your stay.

Places to Eat - Click here for price key

The folks at the tourist department recommended the seafood eateries at Calderitas as well as restaurants called Baccus and El Emporio. We ate not once but twice at Marisquería Taco Loco ($$, Calle José Maria Morelos 87, tel. 983/832-1213). Locals pack the place in search of fabulous shrimp tacos and tortas as well as high quality octopus and other seafood snacks prepared in a variety of ways. Drinks include fresh fruit waters, sodas, iced tea, and beer. Open daily from 8AM to 6PM, "The Crazy Taco” offer takeout as well.

Things to Do & See

Museo del Mundo Maya: Av. de los Héroes at Calle Cristóbal Colón, tel. 983/832-6838, closed Sunday.

More Info

The tourism office (Calle Carmen Ochoa at Calle 5 de Mayo, tel. 983/833-2465) is open weekdays 8AM to 4:30PM.

How to Get There & Away

Chetumal is 378 kilometers (235 miles) south of Cancun, about five hours by car. From Xpujil, in south-central Campeche, the distance is 426 kilometers (265 miles, six hours) and another 156 kilometers (97 miles, 2.25 hours) from Escárcega, Campeche.