Travel Guide Champotón

This small town on the Gulf of Mexico is the result of a long history that goes back to pre-Hispanic times. It was occupied long before the beginning of our era by fishermen, then the Itzáes invaded the area during the Classic Period, before it came under the domination of the Maypan League in the Postclassic period and was reorganized around local chieftains. Its area of influence extended from Seybaplaya in the north to the Laguna de Terminós in the south. The warrior spirit of this fishermen's people was evident when Francisco Hernández de Córdoba began to explore the peninsula in 1517 and 1518: he was twice repulsed; the bay of Champotón has since been nicknamed the bahia de la mala pelea, the bay of the bad fight. It is the first city founded by the Spaniards in the peninsula, in 1538. Today, it is only home to a few historical buildings, but there are several nice walks to do in the area, such as exploring the banks of the Río Champotón. Some of the beautiful beaches in the south, such as Punta Chen and Chencan, are practically untouched and are a nesting area for many species of sea turtles.