Mexico’s best Camping places

Grutas de Tolantongo Campsite

This thermal spring almost glows blue from the intensely rich mineral water. Tolantongo is a long-time tourism favorite, with man-made pools built into the side of a mountain to replicate the natural calcium pools – and plenty of organized tours to take you there.

This is a hotspot camping site in Mexico – it’s only three hours from the city, and you can camp right next to the spectacular river. But that also means it gets packed on weekends and holidays, so aim for a weekday if you want something more peaceful.

Camping at Nevada de Toluca Volcanco

This extinct volcano is an escape from Mexico City in 2 hours. During the day you can hike around the rim and the crater lake, and at night, you can roast marshmallows under a starry sky.

At 4,680m above sea level, at night the temperatures usually fall to near zero or less, so campers must be prepared if you don’t want to freeze. The campground area can be reached by car, is dog friendly, has firewood for sale, and has basic bathrooms. You can also rent a cabin. It typically snows from the end of November to January, so plan your trip during the warmer months.

Camping in Media Luna, San Luis Potosi

This campground in Mexico has a long history – diving into the depths of its thermal waters you can find mammoth bones and petrified forests to prove it. Its balmy water stays at around 28 degrees year-round. There are numerous channels that feed off a grand lagoon, meaning many campers get the joy of waking up to the transparent river in front of their tent.

While it’s one of the larger campsites in Mexico, it is also popular, even for day trips. During holidays and weekends it fills up quickly, even maxing its limit of 2,200 people – meaning you may have to wait at the entrance until someone leaves. It is much quieter if you camp during the week or colder months.

Las Estacas Campground

Las Estacas is one of the most popular campsites in Mexico, just two hours from Mexico City and next to the touristic town of Tepotzlan. The first reason is its 1km of crystalline river that flows through the immaculate grounds – deep enough to scuba dive and zipline into, yet transparent enough you could count the pebbles on the river floor.

The other reason is the top-notch amenities and services – this is the luxury of campsites in Mexico. Inside the grounds there is a hotel, cabins, glamping (with breakfast brought to your tepee!), restaurants and bars, a spa, small shops, kiddie pools, free grills, and pretty much anything else you need – even a dog hotel. Next to this is a fenced-off grassy area for 300 campers, with amazing bathroom facilities, although there are no views. Naturally, the camping prices are higher than usual and the security is strict.

If you don’t have camping equipment, you can rent pretty much everything – and they’ll even put up the tent for you (then again, for the same price, you could almost buy everything).

On the weekends and holidays, tents pop up as quick as mushrooms. If you want to escape to nature, this isn’t the campground for you. But it still deserves a mention for being a natural wonder, even if you only do it once in your life.  

Camping on the Iztaccíhuatl Volcanco

Iztaccihuatl is the dormant volcano next to the active volcano Popocatepetl, just 70km outside of Mexico City. Popocatepetl has perked up recently, and campers may even see lava at night. Legends say that the peak of Iztaccihuatl – which looks like a sleeping women – is the Tlaxcaltecan princess of the same name, watched over by her warrior lover, Popocatepetl.

There are some camping areas inside the Iztaccihuatl-Popocatepetl National Park, the most popular being the Altzomoni shelter which can only be reached by hiking. There are a few small food stands on the trail, otherwise, you generally need to take everything with you. For an easier option, there are also camping and cabin sites around the base.

The clearest skies are from October to March, although it is colder and busier. During this time, you may need to reserve your camping spot (check here). At certain points throughout the year, you can sometimes find tour groups offering one-night, star-gazing camping trips, with everything organized for you.

Unfortunately, there is little security and assaults to mountaineers have happened. It is recommended to always camp in a group, or with a tour.

Camping at Los Dinamos

There are several grand forest areas within or close to Mexico City’s boundaries that offer camping:

• Los Dinamos
• Desierto de los Leones
• Parque Ejidal San Nicolas Totolapan
• Parque Nacional Cumbres del Ajusco
• Zempoala Lagoons.

The bonus of Los Dinamos is that you can camp next to a river. You have to contend with day-hikers, but nighttime is pretty peaceful. At Paidos Campamentos, between Zona II and III, you can fall asleep to sounds of the bubbling stream. It’s close enough to restaurants and other facilities, but far enough that you can feel like you’re in nature. In mushroom season, they offer guided tours with an expert who explains the different mushroom types and advises on which ones you can pick and eat.

Camping in Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi

Camping in Nanacampila

In this region there is natural wonder: thousands of fireflies frantically mate from June to August, creating a spectacle that looks like a thousand Christmas lights. Many private landowners have set up camping facilities on their properties, usually combined with a night tour to experience this phenomenon. At night-time, you’ll also be accompanied by the stray firefly.

Camping in Guanajuato

Guanajuato is a must-see city in itself, but close to the center you can escape its bustle by camping in Reserva Natural Las Palomas.

Among the oak trees and chirps of migratory birds you can find excellent hiking and great weather almost year-round, although nights can get chilly.

Camping in Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahila

This natural area is renown for its crystal blue springs, lakes, underground rivers, mountain landscapes and endemic species. It’s not the most accessible area, but it gets a mention because it’s also near another of other of Mexico’s natural wonders, the eerie landscape of the white Gypsum Dunes. Plus, with virtually no light pollution and a desert surrounding, nothing compares to the night sky views. You can find camping areas around the Balneario Rio Mezquites.