If you’ve been following our prior posts, then you know that it is 100% possible (and a fantastic decision!) to drive to Mexico with your own RV. Traveling with your own tiny-home-on-wheels is an exciting and authentic way to see the country, experience the culture, and meet local people. And contrary to popular beliefs, there are plenty of campsites that cater to RV travelers and offer a range of amenities, like electricity, water, swimming pools, and WI-FI.
(We recommend using the iOverlander app to view which places are appropriate for RVers).
In this post, we want to talk about five of our favorite places to visit in Southern Mexico with an RV or camper van. In each place, we discuss some of the activities you can do at each destination and recommend a campsite with space and services for RV travelers.
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo State
With its long stretches of pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters, Playa del Carmen is a popular vacation destination for many Americans. Though most choose to visit by flying and booking hotels (which can be expensive), you can easily arrive here with your RV and book a campsite that is right on the beach. Playa del Carmen was easily one of our favorite Mexico destinations because of its perfect blend of stunning beaches, Mayan ruins, and scrumptious fish tacos!
One of the things we love about Playa del Carmen is that it’s located in the middle of so many attractions that you can visit on a day trip. From Cancun in the north, to Tulum in the south, or even to Cozumel, which is just a short boat ride away, you could easily spend a month sampling all that the Caribbean coastline has to offer.
Best Place To Stay: Paa Mul RV Park. This RV park has space to fit most rigs up to 30’. And best of all, you’re camping just a stone’s throw away from the beach. Electricity and water hookups are available and there is even a swimming pool right by the beach.
Valladolid, Yucatan State
Once you’ve gotten your beach fix, drive over to Valladolid, a charming and picturesque town that oozes authentic Mexican culture. This colonial-era town is wonderful to walk around and boasts a rich history, vibrant culture, and some of the best mole sauce we’ve ever eaten in Mexico! One of the best aspects of Valladolid is that it is surrounded by stunning cenotes, natural limestone sinkholes that collect water and are popular for swimming in. From Cenote Zaci, to Suytun, to Chukum, we’re sure you’ll enjoy a full day of cenote hopping around town. Our personal favorite was Cenote Ik-Kil, just west of Valladolid.
Best Place To Stay: Xkopek Camping. Not only does this place offer camping, but it is also a bee sanctuary that protects all the varieties of bees that are indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula. If you decide to camp here, the bee tour is free of charge. And though the tour is conducted in Spanish, you don’t need to understand the tour guide to see how amazing the sanctuary is and how diverse the bees can be. Water and electricity hookups available.
Chichen Itza, Yucatan State
The great Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza is just a short drive west of Valladolid and is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history, archaeology, and ancient civilizations. The entire visit can take the entire day and you can learn about the Mayan civilization’s beliefs, customs, and way of life through the intricate carvings and artwork. English-speaking tour guides are available on-site, just in case you want to understand the archeology site more in-depth.
One of the best aspects about visiting Chichen Itza with your own RV is that you don’t have to rely on expensive day tours from Valladolid or Playa del Carmen to get here. Simply drive up with your own vehicle and park in one of the many spacious parking lots just outside the park.
Best Place To Stay: Visitor’s Parking Lot. It’s not fancy, but the visitor’s parking lot just outside the Chichen Itza archeology zone is the best option to spend the night. Not only is it a 10-minute walk to the site, which allows you to visit early and beat the crowds, but it’s also a huge lot that can fit any size rig. There is also a 24-hour security guard to ensure safety.
Palenque, Chiapas State
The #1 reason to come to this town is to visit the Palenque Mayan ruins. Though not nearly as famous as Chichen Itza, we enjoyed our visit to Palenque more due to the smaller crowds and the picturesque backdrop of the dense jungle engulfing the ruins.
Just as fascinating as the ruins is the wide array of exotic wildlife living in, and around, the jungle. From toucans, to spider monkeys, and howler monkeys, you’re sure to spot at least a few of these animals if you look up into the jungle’s canopy. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a jaguar!
Best Place To Stay: Maya Bell. One of our favorite places to stay in all of Mexico. You will be camping right in the middle of the jungle and every morning a family of howler monkeys crosses above your RV in the trees. There is also a stunning swimming pool set in the jungle and a delicious on-site restaurant. Electricity, fresh water, and black water hookups are available.
San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas
We camped in San Cristobal for over 5 months with our camper van during the Covid pandemic when the world seemingly shut down. And we could not have chosen a more beautiful and authentic Mexican experience. San Cristobal is a colorful town nestled in the mountains at 6,500’ above sea level. The days are comfortable, even during the summer, and the nights are borderline chilly.
In San Cristobal, you can amble down narrow streets lined with colorful buildings and visit vibrant local markets filled with indigenous fruits and handicrafts, all handmade from the neighboring villages in the mountains. From this town, you can easily take day trips in your RV to Sumidero Canyon, Chiflon Waterfall, and Lago de Montebello, where you can even step foot in Guatemala without having to do any immigration paperwork!
Best Place To Stay: Camping Rancho San Nicolas. An excellent place to stay with all the conveniences of a full-service campsite. 6 pull-through sites, all with electricity, water, and black water hook-ups. Just a 15 minute walk to the center of town. Bigger rigs longer than 30 feet may have problems entering due to the narrow streets of the town.
Conclusion
Visiting southern Mexico with an RV is a fantastic way to experience the beauty and culture of this special region, which is full of stunning landscapes, rich history, and delicious foods. We loved traveling Mexico with our camper van because having our own vehicle allowed us the freedom and flexibility to explore at our own pace and to access remote, off-the-beaten path destinations that might be difficult to reach by other means.
If you have any questions about what it is like to travel with an RV through Mexico, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Happy traveling!
How To Contact Us
For more campervan living & building tips, check out our blog: www.asobolife.com.
Or for more on our current Pan-American road trip to Argentina visit us on Instagram: @asobolife.
Read more from Asobo Life:
4 Things We Love When Traveling Through Mexico With An RV with Asobo Life
