Is Campeche safe?
One of Mexico's calmer cities, with low tourist crime. Heat, hurricanes and road accidents matter more; stay alert at night near the malecón and bus terminals.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-08-11.
- Homicide rate in Mexico: 24.9 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Mexico: 12.8 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · Tourist police 078 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Campeche at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Petty theft, phone snatching and car break-ins; violent crime against visitors is rare in the historic center. |
| At night | The center is lively until about 11 pm, then empties. Use a hotel-booked taxi outside the walls after dark. |
| Solo women | Comfortable in the center with usual care. Occasional catcalls; avoid empty streets and the malecón late at night. |
| Other risks | Hurricanes and flooding Aug–Oct; Extreme heat and humidity Apr–Sep; Mosquito-borne dengue and chikungunya |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Taxi drivers quoting inflated tourist fares
- Tour touts selling overpriced day trips to Edzná or Calakmul
- ATM skimming at street machines
Take care
- Quiet streets outside the walls after dark
- Highways at night: potholes, livestock and trucks
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Carrying any firearm or even a single bullet can mean prison.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned and can be confiscated.
- Drinking in the street is illegal in most cities and brings fines or arrest.
How Campeche compares in Mexico
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Mérida | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Miguel de Allende | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cozumel | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Isla Mujeres | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Holbox | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bacalar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Guanajuato | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Monterrey | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Valladolid | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| La Paz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puebla | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Querétaro | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Puerto Morelos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mazunte | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Todos Santos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Campeche | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mexico City | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cancún | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tulum | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Playa del Carmen | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puerto Vallarta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cabo San Lucas | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Oaxaca | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Guadalajara | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puerto Escondido | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Sayulita | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Cristóbal de las Casas | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Mazatlán | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Tijuana | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Acapulco | 2/5 · High risk |
Quick answers
Is Campeche safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable in the center with usual care. Occasional catcalls; avoid empty streets and the malecón late at night.
Is Campeche safe at night?
The center is lively until about 11 pm, then empties. Use a hotel-booked taxi outside the walls after dark.
What is the crime rate in Campeche?
Petty theft, phone snatching and car break-ins; violent crime against visitors is rare in the historic center. Nationally, Mexico records 24.9 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Campeche?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · Tourist police 078 · All emergencies 911.
More about Campeche
Going to Campeche solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- ADO
- Tren Maya
- INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.