ciudad del carmen

Ciudad del Carmen


Although Spanish conquistadores landed here in 1518, the first settlers on this 20 mile (35 km) long island located in the Terminos Lagoon, part of the Laguna de Terminos Natural Reserve, were pirates who arrived in 1558 and were not expelled until 1717. Besides the constant political turmoil it faced during the 1800’s, Ciudad del Carmen became an important trading port with Europe just as it had been during pre-Columbian times for the Maya and Aztecs. In the early 70’s rich oil supplies were discovered just off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico forever changing the local economy and landscape. Traditionally isolated, the first bridge linking Ciudad del Carmen to the mainland was not built until the early 80’s. Beaches along the city are not very pretty, but they do get better as one moves away from town; the water gets bluer and the beaches sandier. The blazing lights from the offshore oil platforms can be seen from ashore on a clear night. The July festivities of the Virgen del Carmen merit a trip to this island.