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Mexican Caribbean
Chetumal

Chetumal

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Chetumal

The historical capital of Quintana Roo.

Chetumal is the capital of Quintana Roo and the gateway to Grand Costa Maya: a city on a bay declared a manatee sanctuary, with monuments, museums and seafood restaurants.

Half an hour away are Bacalar and Calderitas; an hour away, Kohunlich, Dzibanché and Oxtankah, and the Hondo River marks the border with Belize.

Right now
26°Partly cloudy
Best for
Maya culture, the bay and nature
When to come
All year round; the most pleasant weather from November to May
Calderitas
Fish and seafood on the bay shore

Getting here

Airport

Facade of Chetumal International Airport, with its colored lattice screen

Airport

Chetumal International Airport

Although the airport is in the city, you will need a short transfer of about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the hotel zone or the historic center. Here's how you can do it:

  • Private Shuttle Services: Exclusive vehicles available at the arrivals area for a direct transfer to your accommodation.
  • Car Rentals: A practical choice at this terminal for those wanting freedom of movement to visit museums, local archaeological sites, or the waterfront.
  • Local Transport: Outside the terminal, colectivos and taxis take you downtown in a few minutes.

Maya Train

Maya Train running along the track through vegetation

Maya Train

Chetumal Airport station

Ideal for those seeking a modern and comfortable route from the north of the Mexican Caribbean.

  • Station Location: Located near the airport area, approximately 15-20 minutes from the Bay Boulevard and the city center.
  • Reaching the City: Upon arrival, a ground transfer is required. You will find official transport units and shuttle services linking the station with the capital's main attractions and hotels.

Bus

Intercity bus parked beside the sea, its door marked Entrance

Bus

Chetumal bus terminal

The central hub for those traveling by road. The main terminal is located at the city's entrance, on the main avenue connecting to the center. To access this, you have the following options:

  • Local Transport: Due to the distance (about 2-2.5 miles, 3-4 km), it is recommended to take the community transport units waiting at the deboarding area; they will take you to the Boulevard in less than 10 minutes.
  • Walking: Not recommended with luggage due to high temperatures and the distance to the bayfront hotels.

Chetumal in motion

The bay

Stroll Boulevard Bahía at sunset

Chetumal Bay is shallow and calm, and it is declared a manatee sanctuary. Boulevard Bahía runs along it past the Fisherman's Fountain, the Renaissance Monument and the Flag Obelisk, with cafés, restaurants and parks; you can paddle it by kayak or board, and the sun rises and sets over the water.

Aerial view of Chetumal Bay at sunset

Maya heritage

Kohunlich and the masks of the sun god

An hour or two from the city, Kohunlich, Dzibanché, Kinichná and Oxtankah keep temples, acropolises and plazas in the jungle; at Oxtankah, by the bay, there is also a 16th-century Spanish chapel.

Pyramid at the Kohunlich archaeological site in the jungle

Museum of Maya Culture

Three levels around a ceiba tree

The museum covers Maya cosmology, writing and daily life on three levels arranged around a ceiba, the sacred tree; nearby are the City Museum and the Payo Obispo scale model, the early-20th-century Chetumal of wooden houses.

Lit Maya stucco mask in the museum

Jungle and rivers

Calderitas, Laguna Milagros and the Hondo River

Minutes away, Calderitas serves fish and seafood in palapas facing the bay, with boats to Tamalcab island; Laguna Milagros and Xul-Há are paddled by kayak and board, and at La Unión, on the Belize border, the Cocodrilo Dorado cenote is rappelled. Farther on, already in Campeche, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

Aerial view of the jungle and rivers of southern Quintana Roo
Boulevard and monument facing Chetumal Bay
Discover the south

Discover the south

Discover experiences, accommodations, local cuisine, transportation, and everything you need to plan your journey through the southern Mexican Caribbean.

Explore the South

Chetumal gallery

Fountains at the Chetumal waterfront monument at sunset
Pyramid at a Maya archaeological site near Chetumal
Divers over a coral reef off the Chetumal coast
Sunrise over Chetumal Bay
Family on a wooden dock at Laguna Milagros
Family with a boat on a bay beach
Room at the Museum of Maya Culture in Chetumal
Chetumal's letters on the waterfront at dusk

More about Chetumal

Aerial view of Laguna Bacalar in the southern Mexican Caribbean

June 16, 2026

Discover the Magic of the Southern Mexican Caribbean

Bacalar, Chetumal and Mahahual: a guide to the southern Mexican Caribbean, from the Lagoon of Seven Colors to the Mesoamerican Reef and Banco Chinchorro.

Read the article
A cook in an embroidered huipil turning corn tortillas on a comal over a wood fire

September 30, 2024

The culinary delights of Chetumal: a taste of the Mexican Caribbean

The culinary delights of Chetumal: queso de bola, Rice and Beans, queques, tikin xic and machacados by the bay. A taste of the Mexican Caribbean.

Read the article
Boulevard Bahía waterfront in Chetumal

September 29, 2024

10 reasons to stop and stay in Chetumal

Ten reasons to stop in Chetumal: the Museum of Maya Culture, Oxtankah, the manatee sanctuary, seafood in Calderitas, sunsets on Boulevard Bahía and more.

Read the article

Chetumal

26°Partly cloudy
86%11 km/h
Climate month by month
  • Fri31°23°

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