In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Camino Secreto

Comitan De Dominguez, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

We have been visiting Comitan now for several years. It's a great stop off between the countries of Mexico and Guatemala and it's warmer and less touristy than San Cristobal de las Casas.

One of our favorite things to do is to visit Camino Secreto, a family oriented restaurant that has a marimba band and an unusual happy hour.

Camino Secreto, Restaurant Familiar

The lighted sign on the outside of the restaurant.

Camino Secreto means Secret Path.

Stepping down into the restaurant

It gets crowded at Camino Secreto, so there are places to sit until a table opens up.

Colorful posters advertise the thrilling offerings of the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Inside the restaurant

Camino Secreto offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Marimba music is played every evening. To the right of the photo is a play area for children - a miniature playground with a jungle gym, a soft place to jump around and miscellaneous plastic slides and toys to ride.

"Free" appetizers

What is unusual about Camino Secreto is that the beers are 46Pesos, about $2.50USD and the food comes for "free." The price of the beers are about double what you would pay outside in another restaurant, but the food they bring is amazingly tasty and worth the extra price of the beer.

Here you see what might look like a sparse appetizer plate, but it is only the beginning! Some "morning" cheese or "day" cheese is at the top, guacamole, stuffed tortillas, salsa and refried beans. Really, really flavorful.

 "Morning" or "day cheese" is a light, cottage cheesy type of cheese that is made fresh every morning. You can eat it alone, sprinkled on salads, spread on a tortilla or toast, fried in a batter or in just about any dish where you might want some extra protein. You can find morning cheese all over Mexico and Central America.

The Marimba band

Marimba is a common sound heard in these parts of the world. The percussion instrument is a type of xylophone made with wooden slats and wooden resonator tubes just underneath to create the tones. The two men here go vigorously at the wooden slats with their mallets and at a fast pace. It's a musical thumping that is contagious.

They create their own musical world which is fun and uplifting.

The first course

With your first beer, you are offered a selection on the beginning tier of foods. Billy ordered a seafood cocktail with a mixture of shrimp, octopus and crab in a cold tomato-y sauce with raw onions, avocado, lime and parsley.

Consommé de Mariscos

I went with a seafood soup that was exquisite. Shrimp and crab in a broth that was outrageously good. Crispy tortilla chips were served on the side.

In Mexico and Central America, seafood is often served with the tasty shells still on them. Locals eat the shells and all, or you can break open and remove the outsides. Either way, it's really full of flavor.

Chamorro pork shank

With our second beer we were allowed to choose from a second tier of food (this was all the further we could go, as we were so full after eating this wonderfully rich dish!)

If you have never eaten Mexican Chamorro, you have not lived.

Slowly cooked pork shank with achiote pepper sauce (not spicy) and marinated carrot strips. The pork falls off the bone as a perfectly cooked pot roast pulls apart. Melt-in-the-mouth heaven, for sure!

We absolutely destroyed that baby. There was nothing left!

Our bill

As you can see, we were only charged for our 2 beers each with the total coming to 184Pesos, which - with the current exchange being 18+Pesos to $1USD - was just over $10USD.

Of course we left a tip and our waiter was most happy. So were we!

We had live music, beer and food to die for!

If you ever visit Comitan, you really must make a stop at Camino Real. We hope you enjoy it!

Camino Secreto Restaurant Familiar

1a Calle Norte Poniente, #48B Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico Tele: 963. 632. 5863

Open Monday through Sunday 9 am to 8 pm Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Specialties of meat and fish. Marimba every day. Email: Camino.secreto@hotmail.com Website: www.elcaminosecreto.com.mx 

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About the Authors

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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