Alright, travelers… It’s time to un-hibernate and embrace the warmth of spring.
Sure, you can book a cookie-cutter trip to Cancun or Cabo, but we all know unforgettable adventures lie in real Mexico.
Of course, “real Mexico” earns a side-eye from time to time from those who consider Taco Bell to be Mexican food — not exactly people you want to take travel advice from, right?
Take it from our team of globetrotters here at Travel Off Path instead, who’ve traversed from Tijuana to Chetumal and everywhere in between.
In this case, we’re stoked to reveal quite possibly Mexico’s biggest unicorn destination, a place so unique we’re genuinely puzzled why it’s not more popular.
Straddling beautiful Gulf waters with a vibrant pastel townscape, this little-known coastal city is the ultimate adventure, especially since it’s one of the safest regions south of the border, backed by the ‘Level 1′ designation from the U.S. State Department.
Campeche: The ‘Dubrovnik’ Of Mexico?
You may hear about “the wall” when you turn on various talking-head news stations, but we’re here today to reveal Mexico’s ‘walled city’ far from the U.S. border and free of politics.
It’s not a topic often brought to the table, but North America is home to just 2 fortified cities:
- Quebec City, Canada
- Campeche, Mexico
Quebec City is far more well-known for its European-esque allure, but Campeche has flown under the radar far too long as Mexico’s time capsule, especially having so much going for it from deep-jungle Mayan ruins like Edzna and Calakmul to incredible, crowd-free shores.
Campeche dates back to 1540, a year that doesn’t even seem possible to fathom, but still shows its roots through careful preservation of remarkably intact colonial architecture, thanks to UNESCO.
Just named by Condè Nast as one of Mexico’s top 9 cities, it’s not only its one-of-one fortified cityscape, but also ‘the charm of its people, pastel-colored houses, and uncrowded beaches’.
Despite being a relatively small city of about 250,000 people, you won’t feel boxed in either, as there’s an array of experiences beyond simply gawking at old-timey cathedrals, snapping photos of colorful rows of traditional homes, and perusing central markets.
Beat The Rainy Season: Spring Is Perfect For A Beach Vacay
Unlike much of the U.S., summer in Campeche sees frequent downpours. That’s why Condè Nast claims one of the best times of year to book a trip here is spring.
Campeche is both a city and a state, with the notable name being Merida, also considered one of Mexico’s safest getaways.
But the difference here is that Campeche is so unknown that you don’t have to deal with crowds. You can enjoy a wide-open coastline mostly to yourself, with locals sprinkled in here and there, but nothing like Cancun.
Campeche is both a city break and a pristine beach getaway. We won’t overhype it and say it’s Mexico’s best beach, but it’s gotta be toward the top of the list if you just can’t stand spring break crowds.
There’s no loud DJs, no foam parties, and no college girls yelling “woooo!” for no apparent reason — just the sound of crashing waves, maybe some Latina music in the distance, and hopefully a blender whipping up your favorite frozen concoction.
Spring really does feel like a typical summer here with March, April, and May all seeing temps dipping in the 90s, perfect for Campeche’s calm, swimmable waters.
Truly One Of Mexico’s Safest Destinations
We won’t overhype Campeche’s safety numbers either. The truth is, even if we were like fluffy travel publications (you know who), we wouldn’t need to — the proof is in the pudding for this one.
The State Department classifies Mexico as a whole as ‘Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution‘.
Campeche has a leg up on its homeland with a ‘Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions‘ — the safest designation possible.
The only note states:
“There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations”.
That said, it’s very minimal risk considering the ‘Level 1′ grade.
Getting Here Might Be Why Campeche Still Feels Like A Secret
As trains begin to become more popular across Mexico, it’s safe to say most travelers still prefer to fly.
However, even that is a problem here — for domestic travelers too.
There is no direct flight from any U.S. city, nor is there an abundance of connections within Mexico.
Campeche currently only has 2 flight routes (from the same city) since budget airline Volaris pulled the plug.
That means Mexico’s newest (government run) airline Mexicana and flagship carrier Aeromexico are the only options, unless you prefer a road trip from Merida.
These are currently the only flights from Campeche International Airport (CPE):
- Campeche ↔ Mexico City (MEX) — Aeromexico
- Campeche ↔ Mexico City (NLU) — Mexicana
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