If you enjoyed reading our earlier post on how to travel Southern Mexico with an RV, then you know that we love traveling through Mexico with our camper van. During the Pandemic, we spent over a year traveling all across the country with our own vehicle and loved our time there. It’s no wonder Mexico is one of our favorite countries in all of Latin America.
In this post, we want to continue the Mexico theme and offer a 10-day sample itinerary for Central Mexico. We will include one of our favorite beaches, and beautifully historical & colonial towns, and tell you how you can explore Mexico’s largest metropolis while keeping your RV safe.
So if you’re ready, let’s dive into it!
Chapala Lake, State of Jalisco
Lake Chapala in Jalisco state is the perfect place to tee off your central Mexico RV road trip. It’s a popular RV destination because of its natural beauty, temperate climate, and rich biodiversity. But at the same time, the lake, which is Mexico’s largest freshwater lake, is perfect for visiting by boat, fishing, kayaking, and lounging along the coastline during sunset. It’s the perfect winter getaway destination.
But the biggest reason why Lake Chapala should be your first destination is because of the Roca Azul RV Park. The owner of the park understands the needs of RV owners and does his best to accommodate mobile homes of different sizes and requirements. The owner also organizes two caravans per year that start in Arizona & Texas to safely get their clients from the US border to the Lake Chapala campground. For more information, be sure to contact them through their website.
Patzcuaro, State of Michoacan
Just 5 hours south from Chapala Lake is the beautiful, and often overlooked, town of Patzcuaro. This colonial ‘pueblo’ boasts a vibrant history and culture seemingly untouched by modernization. It’s the perfect place to experience Mexico’s pre-Columbian art scene and lively festivals, like the popular Day of the Dead celebrations. If you’ve seen the Pixar movie “Coco”, then Patzcuaro might be familiar to you as this town was one of the inspirations for the movie.
When passing through the town, staying at Villa Patzcuaro is a must and is a popular stop-over for RVs traveling to and from the beach. The RV park is just a 15 minute walk from the center of town and nestled beautifully on the edge of a forest. There is also a small pool to cool off during the hot summer months. But at an altitude of almost 7,000’, Patzcuaro stays cool and fresh most of the year.
Zihuatanejo, State of Guerrero
Just 4 hours south of Patzcuaro is the idyllic beach town of Zihuatanejo. This beachside hidden gem has a long and proud history of having one of the best beaches on the Pacific coast. The town offers crystal-clear waters and warm Pacific breezes, which is perfect for anyone escaping the harsh winters in the US and Canada. Other than the beaches, travelers can also explore some of the town’s touristic highlights, which include exploring local markets, discovering pre-Columbian ruins, and feasting on delicious fish tacos and margaritas.
If you watched the movie The Shawshank Redemption, you might remember that Zihuatanejo is where Andy and Red met up at the very end of the movie.
When in town, look to stay at El Manglar RV park, which is just a stone’s throw away from the beach. It’s a popular place for long-term ‘snowbirds’ and provides all the amenities you would expect from an RV park, including on-site electric hookups, hot water showers, and plenty of parking space for a trailer.
Mexico City
Any trip through central Mexico must include visiting the country’s capital. However, the caveat here is to avoid driving your RV in the city. Instead, we recommend driving an hour north of the city to Pepe’s RV park, where you can park your rig in a safe and gated lot and visit Mexico City on a day trip or stay in a hotel in the city center.
Of all the city’s we’ve visited in Latin America, Mexico City is one of our favorites. It’s a vibrant and dynamic metropolis, full of rich cultural heritage and captivating history. If you love hopping from one museum to another, Mexico City, which is chock full of national landmarks, has you covered. Some of our personal favorites include the Anthropology Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Frida Kahlo museum.
The city is also known for its delicious and diverse fair. From savory street tacos to upscale, Michelin-starred restaurants, foodies can spend hours diving into all the different intricacies that make up Mexican cuisine.
Recommended Side Trip: While you’re in the area, be sure to take a day trip east from Pepe’s RV park to Mexico’s infamous Teotihuacan archeology site, which is one of the country’s best-kept ancient Mesoamerican cities. Be sure to scramble up the Pyramid of the Sun to get picture-perfect views all across the State of Mexico.
San Miguel de Allende, State of Guanajuato
Just four hours north of Pepe’s is the idyllic town of San Miguel de Allende. Since being named Conde Nast’s best small city in the world a stunning 3 times in a row, this quaint pueblo has blown up to become one of the most popular retirement destinations for Americans. But even with its booming popularity, there are many reasons why San Miguel de Allende should be a top destination for RV travelers.
First, the city maintains one of the most stunningly beautiful colonial atmospheres in all of Mexico. Buildings with colorful facades line the city streets and a perfectly manicured park is never more than just a few blocks away. And because of its popularity with American and Canadian retirees, there are lots of great cafes and restaurants spread out all across the town.
For any rigs coming to San Miguel, look to stay at the San Miguel Tennis club. The club also provides parking and amenities for RVs with full electric, water, and sewage hookups. They’re also just a short walk into town and the owner provides lots of great regional recommendations for RV travelers. The park can accept rigs up to 26’ long.
Conclusion
Visiting central Mexico with your own tiny home is one of the best ways to experience this vibrant and welcoming region. Although the itinerary we give here can be done in 10 days, you can spend many months ambling through Mexico’s backroads and discovering your own set of hidden, off-the-beaten-path gems.
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:
Top RV Honeymoon Destinations for Summer with AsoboLife
Five Destinations To Visit With An RV In Southern Mexico with AsoboLife
