This walled coastal city is one of Mexico’s safest getaways

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Alright, travelers… It’s time to end hibernation and embrace the warmth of spring.

Sure, you can book a cookie-cutter trip to Cancun or Capebut we all know that it contains unforgettable adventures Real Mexico.

Of course, the “real Mexico” occasionally gets attention from those who consider Taco Bell Mexican food – not exactly people you want to get travel advice from, right?

Take it from our team of globetrotters here at Travel Off Path, who have traveled from Tijuana to Chetumal and everywhere in between.

In this case, we’re excited to unveil possibly Mexico’s biggest unicorn destination, a place so unique that we honestly wonder why it isn’t more popular.

Located on the beautiful Gulf waters with a vibrant pastel-colored cityscape, this little-known coastal city is the ultimate adventure, especially because it is one of the safest areas south of the borderbacked by the US Department of State’s ‘Level 1’ designation.

Campeche: the ‘Dubrovnik’ of Mexico?

You may hear about “the wall” when you turn on various talk news channels, but we are here today to unveil Mexico’s “walled city,” far from the U.S. border and free of politics.

It’s not a topic that is often brought up, but North America is home to only two fortified cities:

• Quebec City, Canada
• Campeche, Mexico

Quebec City is much better known for its European-esque allure, but Campeche has flown under the radar as Mexico’s time capsule for far too long, mainly because it has so much to offer from the deep jungle. Mayan ruins such as Edzna and Calakmul to incredible, crowd-free shores.

Campeche dates back to 1540, a date that seems incomprehensible, yet shows its roots through the careful preservation of remarkably intact colonial architecture, thanks to UNESCO.

Just mentioned from Condè Nast as one of the top 9 cities in Mexicoit is not only the unique fortified cityscape, but also ‘the charm of the people, pastel-colored houses and quiet beaches’.

Despite being a relatively small city with a population of around 250,000, you won’t feel hemmed in either, as there is a range of experiences beyond just gazing at ancient cathedrals, taking photos of colorful rows of traditional houses and checking out central markets.

Beat the rainy season: spring is perfect for a beach holiday

Unlike much of the US, Campeche experiences frequent rain showers in the summer. That’s why Condè Nast claims spring is one of the best times of year to book a trip here.

Campeche is both a city and a state, with the notable name 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 largely to yourself, with locals here and there, but nothing like Cancun.

Campeche is both a city break and an unspoilt beach holiday. We won’t overstate it and say it’s the best beach in Mexico, but it has to be at the top of the list if you just can’t stand the spring break crowds.

There are no loud DJs, no foam parties, and no college girls going “woooo!” shout. 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 feels like a typical summer here, with temperatures in March, April and May all dropping into the 90s, perfect for the calm, swimmable waters of Campeche.

Truly one of the safest destinations in Mexico

We also won’t exaggerate Campeche’s safety figures. The truth is, even if we were some sort of 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: Be extra careful‘.

Campeche has an edge over its home country with a ‘Level 1: Practice normal precautions‘ — the safest possible name.

The only comment is:

“There is a risk of violence in the state by terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations.”

That said, the risk is very minimal given the ‘Level 1’ grade.

How you get here may be why Campeche still feels like a secret

With trains becoming increasingly popular throughout Mexico, it’s safe to say that most travelers still prefer flying.

But even that is a problem here – also for domestic travelers.

There is no direct flight from any US city, nor is there an abundance of connections within Mexico.

Campeche currently only has 2 flight routes (from the same city) since budget company Volaris pulled the plug.

That means Mexico’s newest (government-run) airline Mexicana and flagship airline 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

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.