If you love Cartagena in Colombia… then you will love Campeche in Mexico

While millions of tourists flock to Cancún and Tulum each year, the adjacent low-key humanities municipality of Campeche remains a little-known spot connected the Yucatán Peninsula. The walled metropolis is simply a pastel-hued dream, a spot that has personally captivated maine with its striking architecture. Grand assemblage houses painted successful a riot of pastel colors enactment its cobblestoned streets, their woody balconies overflowing with cascades of fuchsia bougainvillea.

This is yet different installment of our bid wherever we radiance a spotlight connected the lesser-known heroes successful Mexico, places that rival satellite wonders but don’t rather garner the aforesaid recognition. In this edition, we’re bringing you to the streets of Campeche connected Mexico’s Gulf Coast.

Colombia’s assemblage jewel is satellite celebrated for bully reason, but what if you could get your assemblage kicks person to home? (Trip Savvy)

Not galore planetary tourists marque it here, which means you tin rotation its calm cobblestone lanes successful peace. For the adventurous, it’s besides the cleanable launchpad to the Mayan ruins of Edzná, an under-visited archaeological wonderment unsocial for its hieroglyphic staircases. And with the caller accomplishment of the Tren Maya, this metropolis is each the much accessible and casual to reach.

Cartagena vs Campeche

At archetypal glance, the resemblance betwixt Cartagena and Campeche is undeniable. Both are historical assemblage larboard cities, their aged towns protectively embraced by formidable chromatic walls primitively built to fend disconnected pirate raids. Campeche proudly stands arsenic the lone walled metropolis successful Mexico, a almighty testament to a past spent defending itself from relentless attacks. Like Cartagena, those walls enclose a historical halfway that is simply a masterclass successful colour theory. 

A locomotion done the cobblestoned streets of some cities is simply a travel backmost successful time, wherever centuries-old churches and houses stay standing. Both cities pulse with a vibrant energy, centered astir lively plazas wherever locals gather. Like Cartagena, Campeche was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its extended fortifications, historical center, and galore assemblage monuments.

A quieter alternative

If you’ve traveled to some cities, you’ll announcement that the main quality lies successful the energy: Cartagena, a celebrated prima successful the question world, is ever buzzing with activity. Horse-drawn carriages trample the streets of the humanities halfway with tourists successful tow, portion colorfully dressed Afro-Colombian Palenqueras airs for photos with visitors. In the evenings, tourists flood the fortified walls to ticker sunset with a cocktail successful manus and restaurants capable to the brim with foodies.

(Expedia)

Campeche, successful contrast, offers a much laid-back and authentic question experience. It’s a metropolis wherever you’re much apt to commercialized smiles with a section than jostle for abstraction with different traveler. Even travelers who predominant Mexico seldom marque it to Campeche, truthful you tin expect to beryllium conscionable immoderate of the fewer foreigners successful town. Unlike its bustling Colombian cousin, the fortified municipality offers a consciousness of bid that is simply a uncommon commodity successful today’s world.

Highlights of Campeche

To genuinely seizure the essence of Campeche, commencement with a stroll on the malecón, the city’s waterfront promenade. As the prima dips towards the horizon, articulation locals successful their cherished regular ritual and ticker the aureate rays splash crossed the Gulf of Mexico. 

For a dive into history, research the awesome remnants of the city’s fortifications. The Fuerte de San Miguel, which present houses a fascinating archaeological museum, offers unthinkable insights into Campeche’s swashbuckling past and reveals stunning panoramic views of the metropolis and its coastline.

The psyche of Campeche, however, lives wrong its fortified walls. Allow yourself to get mislaid successful the grid of colorful streets, wherever each country presents a surprise. The astir photogenic thoroughfare is astir apt Calle 59, a vibrant pedestrian-only thoroughfare lined with charming cafes, fantastic restaurants, and artisan shops. Enjoy a hearty meal oregon classical Mexican staples astatine the cozy cafe Luan, oregon dainty yourself to French cuisine astatine my idiosyncratic favourite edifice successful town, CELAVIE Bistroterie.

You’ll yet extremity up astatine the Plaza Principal, the city’s main square, gracefully anchored by the beauteous Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción. Watch kids tally around, couples stroll with a marquesita successful hand, and groups of youngsters giggle successful the park.

The ruins of Edzna. (Aprendo a mi manera)

Cool escapes

Just arsenic some cities connection a affluent assemblage history, they’re besides some located on the seashore and determination are plentifulness of beaches adjacent for you to chill disconnected from the sultry heat. A abbreviated 20 to 40-minute thrust from the metropolis halfway of Campeche volition onshore you connected the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. 

While the Gulf waters are calm and warm, they mostly deficiency the electrical turquoise hue of the Caribbean. But if the vigor gets overwhelming, the beaches supply a large respite! One of the closest beaches to Campeche is Playa Bonita, a section favourite with calm shallow waters and amenities that marque it cleanable for families. It was precocious tested for fecal coliforms and named 1 of the ten cleanest beaches successful Mexico. The quieter shores adjacent the sportfishing colony of Seybaplaya are blessed with clearer waters and caller seafood. 

A astonishing city

While Cartagena remains a well-loved question icon, I impulse you to look towards its lesser-known Mexican sister city. Campeche is surviving impervious that sometimes, the top treasures are the ones we person to question out. And judge me, Campeche is simply a treasure much than worthy the search.

Nellie Huang is simply a self-proclaimed Mexico-holic. She’s the writer of Lonely Planet’s Mexico guidebook and has written hundreds of articles connected Mexico for assorted publications. Read astir her adventures worldwide connected wildjunket.com and travel her updates connected Instagram @wildjunket.