The Maya Train has forever changed the way we approach travel in the Mexican Caribbean, shortening travel distances between all the major resort zones, and making it a lot leasier for foreign tourists to reach lesser-known destinations that could be accessed with a car previously.
As a result, one of these hidden gems, the charming, remarkably-safe city of Campeche, is becoming increasingly more popular for vacationers to visit, with Mexican President himself confirming it is now the third most sought-after destination on the route.
Since the Maya Train debuted, as many as 7,230 tickets for Campeche were sold, surpassed in sales only by Merida and Cancun.
Tourists Flock Into Campeche For The Fascinating Culture
Campeche is one of the oldest cities not only in Mexico but also on the mainland North American continent.
European settlers established it as early as 1540 in a strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico, and it’s not a place you want to skip if you’re a culture aficionado.
Picture centuries-old cobbled lanes lined by brightly-painted facades that still retain their Old World charm, plazas flanked by monumental, viceregal Baroque palaces, and well-preserved Spanish convents and churches built to last for eternity.
Campeche is easily one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico, and a historically charged one at that.
The main building in the Historic Center, Campeche Cathedral, was constructed as early as the 16th century, and it’s one of the most impressive colonial structures in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Other points of interest in town include the Mayan Angel, a landmark statue celebrating Campeche pre-Columbian origins, San José Fort, one of the city’s main defensive mechanisms against pirate incursions, and the surviving city walls.
Out of all colonial cities of the New World, Campeche is only of two to still have its protective murallas nearly intact, the other being Quebec City, Canada’s Europenized, French-speaking city. In recognition of its cultural value, UNESCO has added it to its World Heritage Site list.
Beautiful Beaches, High Levels Of Safety And Affordable Stays
Besides the historical attractions, Campeche is within short driving distance of several paradisaical Gulf beaches, such as Playa Caracol, a serene, family-friendly swimming site bounded by mangroves, and the aptly-called Bahamitas, or ‘Little Bahamas’, where sands are virgin-white and waters a bright-blue.
Other than being indisputably beautiful, Campeche has made headlines lately for being one of the safest state capitals in Mexico and the only major city other than Merida to have attained a Level 1 status, as awarded by U.S. authorities.
If you are unfamiliar with travel advisories, Washington classifies different destinations between Levels 1 and 4, with 1 being the safest possible—including risk-free countries like Iceland, Norway, and Finland—and 4 being the most dangerous and that should be avoided at all costs (Russia, North Korea, and the like).
Despite being a fairly large city, home to over a million residents in its wider metropolitan area, Campeche can feel incredibly quaint, with a high number of pedestrianized streets, which means less of the usual chaotic traffic and very low crime rates.
As is the case with other cities in Mexico, you should definitely not let your guard down, however encouraging advisories sound, but you shouldn’t expect harassment and scamming to be as common, nor pickpocketing or violence, compared to Cancun or Mexico City.
Campeche is also a lot more affordable than your usual Mexican resort town, with centrally-located boutique hotels costing between $112 and $160 to book per night, as listed on Booking.com, and lower food and consumer prices.
How Easy Is It To Get To Campeche On The Maya Train?
Now that you know why Campeche is trending with Maya Train travelers, you are probably wondering how actually easy it is to get there if you’re landing in Cancun, and how much tickets cost.
As seen on the official website, there are two Cancun-Campeche departures planned every day, at 7 am and 9 am, at a total journey length of five-and-a-half hours. The train calls at a number of stations along the way, including ‘Magical Towns’ Valladolid and Izamal and fellow colonial gem Merida.
Tickets can be purchased via the Maya Train online shop or any station and authorized vending point. There are three seating categories: Tourist, Premium, and Local.
Tourist tickets start from around MXN 1,166 during the inaugural phase, or roughly $67.
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