Mexico Campgrounds and Hotels

Download the Google Earth KMZ of our Mexico route and lodgings.

This article is part of our Accommodation Listing series.

Note that we are publishing this article more than a year after our visit to Mexico, and although we did our best to remember it accurately, some information is simply unknown. The cost we paid is accurate for three people, but we are not able to specify if it was per person, per room or per site. Sorry, we just can't track everything.

Also, if you don't have it already, pick up a copy of the Mexico Camping book by Mike & Terri Church.

Centro Recretivo Mi Refugio (Camping)

http://www.ensenadacamping.com
Ensenada
GPS: 31°41'53.75"N 116°38'7.44"W
Cost: M$150
Date we stayed: November 5, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi (near house)
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Not far from Ensenada, this is a nice place on the water. The father of this family spent most of his extra money from the last ten years turning his house into a castle, turrets included. There are nice shady palapas and farm animals roaming around the camping area.

Posada Don Diego Trailer Park (Camping)

http://www.posadadondiego.com
San Quintin
GPS: 30°33'20.06"N  115°56'45.27"W
Cost: M$195
Date we stayed: November 7, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers:
Electricity: Yes (in restaurant)
Internet: Yes
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: A dusty campground in the long stretch between Ensenada and Guerro Negro. Not much shade, but there is wifi and an inside area you can hang out in.

Malarrimo RV Park (Hotel with Camping)

http://www.malarrimo.com
Guerro Negro
GPS: 27°58'4.60"N 114° 1'49.25"W
Cost: M$170
Date we stayed: November 8, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi (broken when we stayed)
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: The camping leaves something to be desired, especially if you are in a tent. Mostly these are just gravel spots for vans or RVs to park. It was the only place to camp when we went through town. The restaurant is great and there is usually wifi, although it was broken when we were there.

Camping Petates (Camping)

San Ignacio
GPS: 27°17'47.53"N 112°53'53.62"W
Cost: M$130
Date we stayed: November 9, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes (water was sketchy)
Showers: Cold
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: A shady palm tree filled place. The owner comes around to collect in the evening. The water was sketchy at best, we bought bottled water in town.

RV Park San Lucas Cove (Camping)

Santa Rosalia
GPS: 27°13'8.94"N 112°12'48.25"W
Cost: M$120
Date we stayed: November 10, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: A typical RV park full of snowbirds. When we pulled in there was an open spot on the water where we could pitch our tents. The crowd was friendly, inviting and partied late into the night. There is really great fishing if you can talk one of the old guys into taking you out on a boat.

Playa Santispec (Camping)

Bahia Concepcion
GPS: 26°45'50.34"N 111°53'16.67"W
Cost: M$80
Date we stayed: November 12, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Toilets only, no water
Showers: No
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Watch out for the sand fleas here, you won't notice the bites until you have tons of them. The facilities suck, but in this place, it's all about the beach.

Las Casitas (Hotel)

Mulege
GPS: 26°53'27.94"N 111°59'1.79"W
Cost: M$525 (two rooms)
Date we stayed: November 14, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: We went here for an internet fix and to recover from the sand flea bites. A nice place, even if a little pricey. Good food from the restaurant and fast internet.

Rivera del Mar RV Park and Camping (Camping)

http://www.riveradelmar.com
Loreto
GPS: 26° 1'2.75"N 111°20'43.55"W
Cost: US$15
Date we stayed: November 16, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: A central place in Loreto with plenty of space for RVs and a few flat patches to pitch tents. There is a nice covered common area for campers with electricity.

Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort (Hotel with Camping)

http://www.verdugosbeachresort.com
Los Barrilies
GPS: 23°40'56.17"N 109°41'52.30"W
Cost: M$260
Date we stayed: November 21, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes, at restaurant
Internet: Yes, at restaurant
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: A huge RV park on the water. They have a big area for temporary travelers to camp or park. There is a restaurant on the beach front with cheap happy hour cocktails, wifi, electricity and a pool. A great place to chill for a few days, especially if you like to fish.

Club Cascadas (Timeshare Resort)

http://www.clubcascadasdebaja.com/
Cabo San Lucas
GPS: 22°53'28.71"N 109°54'5.24"W
Date we stayed: November 24, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes
Kitchen: Yes
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: Our Dad paid for this place with his time share. We traded it in to stay a week here and only had to pay a $200 fee. Cabo was overwhelmingly touristy, but the beaches were amazing.

El Litro (Camping)

Todos Santos
GPS: 23°26'27.96"N 110°13'35.94"W
Cost: M$85
Date we stayed: December 1, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: This place had recently burnt down when we were here and the owners we in the midst of rebuilding. The showers were excellent. We just wished for a bit more shade.

Playa Tecolote (Camping)

La Paz
GPS: 24°20'10.51"N 110°19'1.21"W
Cost: Free
Date we stayed: December 2, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Sort-of. See notes.
Showers: Cold
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: Camping is free if you buy a few drinks at one of the kiosks/bars on the beach. The restaurants will let you use their bathrooms for a fee (or if you are a good patron). Bring your own water supply.

Roca Azul (Camping)

http://www.roca-azul.com
South of Guadalajara on lake Chapata
GPS: 20°16'0.07"N 103°25'17.96"W
Cost: M$300
Date we stayed: December 5, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi in restaurant
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: This is a huge park with a pool, soccer fields and lots of RV spots and grass. There is internet inside the restaurant area and electricity at most of the camping sites.

(Hotel)

Angangueo (Butterfly Reserve)
GPS: 19°29'22.70"N 100°22'35.22"W
Cost: M$500 (triple room)
Date we stayed: December 9, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes, but was closed

Notes: After trying 3 different nearby camping places, and all were closed, we ended up at this hotel. It was nice enough for two nights while we went to see the butterfly reserve.

Trailer Park Las Americas (Hotel and Camping)

Cholula
GPS: 19° 4'19.66"N 98°17'43.50"W
Cost: M$250
Date we stayed: December 10, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Nice big area with grass for tent campers. There was a big indoor common area with power, chairs and tables. Wifi didn't reach the sites far from the buildings.

Oaxaca Trailer Park (Camping)

Oaxaca
GPS: 17° 4'23.27"N 96°43'36.59"W
Cost: M$250
Date we stayed: December 14, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: A pretty crappy place, but only a 20 minute walk from town. There were cockroaches crawling over our tent at night and the bathrooms were disgusting. We just heard a new RV park opened nearby. It would be worth investigating before staying here.

Emilia (Hostal)

Tehuantepec
GPS: 16°19'56.18"N 95°13'57.75"W
Cost: M$350 (triple room)
Date we stayed: December 18, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Owned by a very friendly lady who speaks some English. She'll make breakfast if you request it, for a small charge.

Rancho San Nicolas (Camping & Cabins)

http://cervecitadulce.com/
San Cristobal de Las Casas
GPS: 16°44'2.67"N 92°37'18.24"W
Cost: M$240
Date we stayed: December 19, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi (works sometimes)
Kitchen: Yes
Restaurant: No

Notes: Nice new bathrooms and a big common area with a pool table and kitchen. Space for big rigs and fluffy grass for campers, just watch out for snakes! Internet was temperamental, we ended up using the wifi in town for most things. You have to drive through San Cristobal to get here, which has very narrow streets and can be very difficult for larger vehicles.

Maya Bell (Hotel with Camping)

http://www.mayabell.com.mx/
Palenque
GPS: 17°29'15.07"N 92° 2'18.81"W
Cost: M$210
Date we stayed: December 22, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: A hippy paradise, this place was our first experience with the noisy howler monkeys. Nice grassy areas, and plenty of parking spaces. There is wifi in the restaurant and hot showers all day long. Its a short walk to the entrance of the ruins.

Freedom Shores (RV Park & Camping)

http://www.freedom-shores.com/
Isla Aguada
GPS: 18°46'54.84"N 91°29'30.95"W
Cost: M$500
Date we stayed: December 24, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot (usually)
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: This park is in a beautiful beach front location, but unfortunately is very overpriced. We paid M$250 per tent a record cost that we didn't break until Torres del Paine in Chile.

Monkey Hostel (Hostel with Camping*)

Campeche
GPS: 19°50'44.49"N 90°32'14.34"W
Cost: M$300 (triple room)
Date we stayed: December 27, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes
Kitchen: Yes
Restaurant: No
Parking: No

Notes: The rooms here were basic, if a little expensive. We heard from other travelers that they were allowed to pitch a tent on the roof, which would be awesome. There is a communal kitchen with stove and fridge. Parking is on the street and a serious pain to find close to the hostel.

Cana-Nah Restaurant Bar (Camping)

Uxmal
GPS: 20°23'52.26"N 89°46'5.86"W
Cost: M$180
Date we stayed: December 29, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: This is a restaurant with a small camping area, mostly designed for RVs, although you can pitch a tent if you want. It was the only place to camp nearby the Uxmal ruins. The bathroom block was decidedly sketchy. There may have been electricity in the restaurant, we didn't ask. Watch out for spiders here, there's plenty and they are big n' hairy.

Nomadas Hostel (Hostel with Camping)

No Photo

http://www.nomadastravel.com/
Merida
GPS: 20°58'23.59"N 89°37'23.66"W
Cost: M$455 (triple room)
Date we stayed: December 31, 2011

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: Yes
Restaurant: No
Parking: Yes, a block away

Notes: Excellent hostel, with all the amenities. Parking is about a block away but there is a height restriction. Our 4Runner barely fit. They did have a small camping area, but we opted for a room. A simple breakfast was included.

Piramide Inn (Hotel with Camping)

http://www.piramideinn.com/www/
Chitzen Itza
GPS: 20°41'33.06"N 88°34'56.93"W
Cost: M$150
Date we stayed: January 4, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Cold
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Wifi
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes, but was closed
Parking: Yes

Notes: Big cement areas with covered palapas are in the back of this hotel. You have to park out front and walk all your things to the back. The wifi was good, but didn't reach much past the lobby.

Paa Mul RV Park and Cabanas (Camping)

Between Tulum and Playa del Carmen
http://www.paamul.com.mx
GPS: 20°31'23.28"N 87°11'29.83"W
Cost: M$450
Date we stayed: January 7, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: This place caters to long-term RVers and the management was quite rude to us. You can get internet only if you sign up for a very expensive one month plan. We made a small charcoal fire on the dirt near our tents and in the middle of cooking dinner we were told to put it out. There are much nicer and cheaper places further south.

Xpu-Ha Campground (Camping)

Between Tulum and Playa del Carmen
GPS: 20°28'16.37"N 87°15'31.85"W
Cost: M$360
Date we stayed: January 8, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes (salt water only)
Showers: Cold and Salt
Electricity: No
Internet: No
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: No

Notes: Beach front location with enough shady spots to keep you cool. You can't make any type of fires on the sand, but the grounds keeper will loan you his grill for a small fee. Bring in all your own drinking water.

Yax Ha Resort (Hotel and Camping)

Chetumal
GPS: 18°33'41.41"N 88°14'58.25"W
Cost: M$300
Date we stayed: January 11, 2012

Water & Bathroom: Yes
Showers: Hot
Electricity: Yes
Internet: Yes
Kitchen: No
Restaurant: Yes

Notes: Highly recommended! Huge place with lots of grass and spaces for big rigs. Electricity at almost every site. There are covered areas with cement tables and benches and a big beautiful swimming pool. The owners are extremely friendly.