There are so many incredible places to camp all over mainland Mexico. That being said, you should know once you are a little bit south of Mexico City, wild camping becomes a tougher. Unlink Baja where 80% of land it protected, mainland 80% of land is owned/private.
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Las Hadas Campground Mexico
My first camp in Mexico, Las Hadas, certainly did not disappoint. This camp spot is one of several located inside the Cumbres de Majalca (Magical Summits) National Park. The drive in alone is stunning, be sure to take your time. This is a popular location on the weekend. If you arrive on a Sunday afternoon, once dinner is over you might just end up like me, completely alone in this peaceful national park.
Playa Novillero
There may have been a Cat 4 hurricane just 50 miles south of Playa Novillero, but the sky was unbelievably vibrant, ocean temperature was perfect, and the locals were friendly. This beach camp is my favorite type of beach camps. No tourists, no giant hotels. Only towering palm trees, endless ocean, and great locals.
Volcano Popocatépetl
To answer the first question, yes volcano Popo is active. This camp is one of those gems where I found myself wanting to stay one more night, maybe one more night, and there you are one week later. The days are pleasantly warm, the nights are cool, and incredibly quiet. Every couple of days, the local famers come to tend to the land are welcoming and friendly.
Grutas Tolantongo
Alright, maybe this is not the absolute best camping spot. However, the drive and the view points are jaw dropping. I don’t know about you, but I am a fool for layers and layers of mountains with a never ending horizon. Plus, this camp is just steps away from one of Mexico’s most unique experiences.
Punta Allan – Tulum
To reach this camping spot you must pay the fee to enter the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Translated from Mayan means, “Origin of the Sky” or “Where the Sky is Born”.
Even if you do not have time to camp, Sian Ka’an is a must see.
What is Sian Ka’an?
Sian Ka’an in not only a biosphere reserve, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It spans over 5,000 sq kilometers
Between the flora and fauna, this area is rich. the area includes tropical forests, mangroves, marshes, lagoons, the ocean, underground rivers, Cenotes, and the Mesoamerican reef. Which is the second largest reef in the world.
With such diversity, it creates homes for over a thousand species. From birds to jaguars, pumas, tapis, and manatees. And, of course, reptiles, bees, butterflies, turtles, dolphins, and more.
From the entrance the drive to the lighthouse is roughly 50km.
Rental cars in the Yucatan are not allowed to enter Sian Ka’an. All the care have GPS trackers. So for every rental car you see on the trail is a deposit lost. A fun game (for you, not the renter) is to count all the rental cars on the trail. Spoiler, there will be many.
The road is not maintained the best, 4WD is not required. The being said, depending on the last trail maintenance the very end of the trail may or may not big rig friendly.
Tulum Photos taken by my great friend Talit, professional photographer in Yucatan.
Crossing the border into Mexico is easier than crossing into Canada.
Enjoy your driving in Mexico, there is so much to see and always, watch out for topes!
Hey there! My name is Ashley and I am the adventurer behind the wheel of a Toyota Tacoma Overland rig, driving around the world with my four-legged bestie, Porter da explorer.
This once-in-a-lifetime adventure is not only fulfilling my dreams, but also paying homage to my late father. His free spirit of exploration continues to guide me every mile of the way.
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