Townapedia
Parque de los Caimanes, Chetumal, Q. Roo. - panoramio
Parque de los Caimanes, Chetumal, Q. Roo. - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Av. Insurgentes, Chetumal, Q. Roo - panoramio
Av. Insurgentes, Chetumal, Q. Roo - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Parque Zoologico Biouniverzoo, Chetumal, Q. Roo - panoramio
Parque Zoologico Biouniverzoo, Chetumal, Q. Roo - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Cocodrilo en Biouniverzoo, Chetumal. - panoramio
Cocodrilo en Biouniverzoo, Chetumal. - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Lago, Biouniverzoo, Chetumal. - panoramio
Lago, Biouniverzoo, Chetumal. - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0
Casas de madera en Biouniverzoo, Chetumal, Q. Roo - panoramio
Casas de madera en Biouniverzoo, Chetumal, Q. Roo - panoramio · holachetumal, CC BY 3.0

Chetumal, Mexico

Chetumal is a regional capital of 169,028 people in Quintana Roo, Mexico, founded in May 5, 1898.

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Population169,028 GeoNames
Elevation2 m 7 ft
FoundedMay 5, 1898
Time zoneAmerica/Cancun
Nearest airportChetumal International Airport (CTM) 3 km

Why visit Chetumal

Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 31 parks and trails, 39 places to eat, 13 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Autonomous University of the State of Quintana Roo, Division of Health Sciences (UQROO), Museo de la Cultura Maya and Parque Habitat 2.

About Chetumal

Chetumal (UK: , US: , Spanish: [tʃetuˈmal] ; Yucatec Maya: Chactemàal [tɕʰaktʰe̞mɐː˨˩l], lit. '"Place of the Red Wood"') is the capital city of the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, and the municipal seat of the Municipality of Othón P. Blanco. In 2020 it had a population of 169,028 people, making it the third most-populous city in Quintana Roo, after Cancun and Playa Del Carmen.

From the Wikipedia article Chetumal (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Chetumal on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do5

Autonomous University of the State of Quintana Roo

School · 3.5 km

Mexican university

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Division of Health Sciences (UQROO)

School · 1.1 km

Academic unit in Mexico

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Acuario Mamisha

Zoo and aquarium · 0.6 km

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Cinemex

Cinema and theater · 1.3 km

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Cinepolis

Cinema and theater · 1.9 km

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Museums and landmarks10

Museo de la Cultura Maya

Museum · 1.9 km

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Glorieta de los Fundadores

Monument and historic site · 2.4 km

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L a familia

Monument and historic site · 1.9 km

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leona

Monument and historic site · 2.1 km

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Leona Vicario

Monument and historic site · 1.6 km

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monumento

Monument and historic site · 2.1 km

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Monumento a la libertad de expresión

Monument and historic site · 1.8 km

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Monumento a la Patria

Monument and historic site · 2.4 km

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Monumento a los Niños Héroes

Monument and historic site · 1.6 km

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Teatro al aire libre yoo´k ol kab

Museum

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Parks, trails and playgrounds31

Parque Habitat 2

Park · 1.9 km

Calle 10 de abril, Chetumal

Mo-Su 06:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps

parque

Park · 1.6 km

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Parque de la Mujer

Park · 1.9 km

24/7

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Parque del Queso

Park · 1.3 km

Parque al aire libre

Emilio Portes Gil, Chetumal

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Circuito Campestre

Park · 2.2 km

Circuito Campestre, Chetumal

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Fovisste Primera Etapa

Park · 2.2 km

Calle José Azueta, Chetumal

Open in Google Maps

Glorieta de la Fuente Maya

Park · 2.1 km

Avenida Revolución, Chetumal

Open in Google Maps

Habitat II

Park · 1.9 km

Calzada Raudales

Open in Google Maps

Jardín Zoológico Payo Obispo

Park

Av. Insurgentes, chetumal

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Parque de la Madre

Park · 1.8 km

Avenida Efrain Aguilar, Chetumal

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Parque del Maestro

Park · 2.3 km

Avenida Revolución, Chetumal

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Parque del Magisterio

Park · 0.6 km

Parque ubicado en Tec. Minatitlán, cuenta con una zona de juegos y mesas de picnic.

Open in Google Maps

19 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes39

KC-RISSIMA

Restaurant · Regional, Breakfast, Sandwich, Mexican, Económica · 2.0 km

Calle Río Verde & Jacinto Pat, Chetumal

Mo-Su 08:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · +529831586150

Mi Viejo Molino

Cafe · Cake, Burger, Sandwich, Mexican, Breakfast, American, Coffee Shop, Crepe, Pancake, Diner · 1.3 km

Mo-Su 08:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps · +529838379182

Brew Bar Cafe Chetumal

Cafe · 1.8 km

Mo-Sa 08:00-14:00

Open in Google Maps

Las Quekas

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.4 km

24/7

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El Tenampa

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.4 km

Avenida José María Morelos

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Kiosko

Restaurant

Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00

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Church's Texas Chicken Chetumal

Diner · American · 2.2 km

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El Taco Loco

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.3 km

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Italian Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop, Tea, Sandwich, Bagguet, Pie, Cheese Cake, Cookies · 1.9 km

Open in Google Maps

Marisqueria Mi Viejo

Restaurant · 2.0 km

166 Av. Mahatma Gandhi

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Milagro

Bar and pub · 1.1 km

Av. Benito Juarez

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Vips

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.0 km

Open in Google Maps

27 more on the map.

History

In Pre-Columbian times, a city called Chactemal (sometimes rendered as "Chetumal" in early European sources), probably today's Santa Rita in Belize, was the capital of a Maya state of the same name that roughly controlled the southern quarter of modern Quintana Roo and the northeast portion of Belize. This original Chetumal is now believed to have been on the other side of the Río Hondo, in modern Belize, not at the site of modern chetumal.

During the Spanish conquest of Yucatán, the Maya state of Chetumal fought off several Spanish expeditions before finally being subjugated in the late 16th century.

The 1840s revolt of the indigenous Maya people against Mexican rule, known as the Caste War of Yucatán, drove all the Hispanic people from this region; many settled in Corozal Town, British Honduras (modern Belize).

The current site of Chetumal was established as a Mexican port town in 1898, originally under the name Payo Obispo. At the invitation of founder Othon P. Blanco, the early town was populated by settlers from Belize (including Caste War refugees and Englishmen).

The name of the town was officially changed to Chetumal in 1936.

Two hurricanes in the 1940s leveled the entire town; Chetumal was devastated a third time in 1955 by Hurricane Janet. After this, the town was rebuilt with more solid construction, with concrete blocks replacing wood as the usual material.

From the History section of Chetumal on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay13

Churches and places of worship5

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Shopping25

Gas and EV charging10

Schools, colleges and libraries62

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Healthcare16

Map of Chetumal

216 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Chetumal International Airport (CTM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 km away.

  • Calderitas 7 km northeast, about 7 min by car
  • Subteniente López 10 km west, about 10 min by car
  • Huay-Pix 13 km west, about 13 min by car
  • Xul-Ha 17 km west, about 17 min by car
  • Luis Echeverría Álvarez 18 km northeast, about 18 min by car
  • Juan Sarabia 19 km west, about 19 min by car
  • Laguna Guerrero 19 km north, about 19 min by car
  • Bacalar 20 km northwest, about 20 min by car
  • Ucum 23 km west, about 23 min by car
  • Carlos A. Madrazo 23 km west, about 23 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.