On this page we will post the locations and details of campgrounds that we find along the way. Many of these campgrounds can be found in any number of books, including most of the guide books that are out there. Some of them, however, we have stumbled upon without reading about them first (which doesn’t mean they are not already in a guide book somewhere). For now we are just including directions and any contact info we have, but at some point we hope to get GPS coordinates. We hope this list will be useful.
Mexico
We didn’t make a list of Mexico campgrounds because of the wealth of information that is already out there. If you don’t already have it we recommend getting Mike and Terry Church’s Mexican Camping. Often referred to as “the bible”, they include details of just about any camping place that exists for the whole of Mexico.
Belize
Crooked Tree Lodge- http://www.crookedtreelodgebelize.com/Crooked_Tree_Lodge/WELCOME.html
Crooked Tree Wildlife Santuary- located about an hour south of Orange Walk. Look for the sign on the new Northern Highway, follow the dirt road across the causeway and into the village. Take a right at the T after the visitor center, a left at the cemetery and follow the signs from there. Cost = 20 belize per night (US $10). Beautiful lake side location and a birders paradise. Clean bathrooms and cold shower, you can camp anywhere on the property you want. No hookups, but they will let you charge computers, cameras, etc at the bar. Wi-fi internet included. The owners are very friendly and accommodating. Excellent breakfast and dinner offered and a bar with sodas and beer.
Community Baboon Sanctuary- http://www.howlermonkeys.org/
Located about an hour north of Belize City. Look for the sign off the northern highway and follow the signs. Cost = 5 Belize (US $2.50) per person. No hookups, clean bathrooms and showers. No frills camping, but it offers an alternative to Belize City and is cheap.
Inglewood RV and Campground- http://inglewoodcampingrvpark.com
Located about a mile west of San Ignacio on the Western Highway going towards the Guatemalan border on the left hand side. Cost = 27.50 belize (US $13.75) per night + electricity. Full hookups (electricity is metered), clean bathrooms and showers, wi-fi internet included (only works from 5pm to 11pm and 7am to 11 am). Very nice owners can help arrange tours in the area for you.
Barton Creek Outpost – http://www.bartoncreekoutpost.com/
Located about an hour outside of San Ignacio on the road to the Pine Ridge Mountains. From San Ignacio head east on the highway towards Belize City. Turn right on Pine Ridge Rd in the town of Georgeville (signed for Mountain Pine Ridge). Follow the dirt road for a few miles. Turn left at the sign for Barton Creek Caves. Stay straight on this road through an intersection and across a creek for about 4 miles. Look for the sign on the right just before the caves. Cost = 10 Belize (US $5) with a vehicle. No hookups, electricity for charging computers, cameras, etc available at the lodge at night (generator powered). Clean bathrooms but no shower. Located in a jungle paradise with a beautiful swimming hole for swimming and bathing complete with rope swings and rocks to jump off. Delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered daily. Owned by a wonderful family who is friendly and makes you feel at home.
Guatemala
Finca Ixobel- http://www.fincaixobel.com/
Located a few miles south of the town of Poptun on the highway between Flores and Rio Dulce. Heading south look for the sign on the left side of the road, the driveway is on the right. Cost = Q25 per person (US $3 and some change). No hookups, but you can run an extension cord from the bathroom for electricity. Clean bathrooms and showers. Slow wi-fi for Q10 per hour or use of on site computers for Q20 per hour. Delicious on site restaurant and bakery-highly recommend the dinners. Finca Ixobel is kind of an all inclusive type place but in a relaxed atmosphere. Camping is in a nicely vegetated field surrounded by “tree houses” (little houses built on stilts) that can be rented as well as dorm rooms, private rooms and nice cabañas with rooms and bathrooms. There is a nice little pond for swimming and a bar open sometimes at night. They offer tours including Cave tours (highly recommend the Rio Cave), horseback riding, camping, and river rafting.
Semuc Champey
We were told by both the owner of the hostel we camped at and the guards at the park that you can camp for free in the parking lot of the park once you have paid your entrance fee, Q50 (Approx. US $6.50). The catch is the entrance fee is only good for 1 day, therefore “camping” is technically Q50 a day, but you have to pay the entrance fee daily regardless if your camping or not. There are no hookups, but I believe the bathrooms are open all night.
Hostal El Portal
Located right next door to Semuc Champey on the river. It is a hostal and has places for tents to be set up above the river but is not necessarily set up for vehicles. The owner let us camp in a nice flat spot in the front yard of the hostal/house of the caretakers. Cost = Q20 (US $2.50) per person. No hookups, but you can use the bathrooms and cold shower of the hostel. The hostel also has a restaurant/bar that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Decent food and moderately priced. Beautiful and convenient location along the river.
Antigua
DISETUR-Tourist police yard. The tourist police will let you camp for free in the yard of their headquarters, located near the mercado. Heading south on Calzada Santa Lucia (the road running in front of the mercado), take a right on 6 Calle, and you’ll see the yard on the right towards the end of the block. No hook-ups but there are bathrooms and showers and you can run an extension cord to a plug near the bathrooms if needed. There is a 10:00 pm curfew at night (they close the gate and won’t let anybody in).
Panajachel, Lake Atitlan
Hotel Vision Azule - Coming down the hill into town from Solala, you will see signs for the Vision Azule and Hotel Atitlan on the right just before the road turns and drops into town. The turn is a sharp right, so you may need to go into town to turn around. Follow the road down and the Vision Azule is the first hotel at the bottom. Cost = Q100. They have a big grass area across from the hotel with places for camping right on the lake, some even have small palapas with tables. Electrical outlets are located on the palapas. The bathrooms at the pool are not the nicest we’ve seen, but the owner will open a room for showers as long as they are not full.
El Salvador
Parque Nacional El Imposible – http://www.salvanatura.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=161
Located just south of the Guatemalan border, El Imposible is one of the highlights of El Salvador. If coming from the border at La Hachadura follow the CA-2 south for about 25 kms. A few miles south of the town of Cara Sucia you will see the sign for El Imposible. Take the left turn and follow the road up the hill for about 13 kms. The road ends at El Imposible. Cost = $6/person entrance fee and $1 for camping (we stayed two nights and only had to pay the fees once). There are two camping areas inside the park reachable in smaller higher clearance vehicles (trucks/smaller vans), otherwise you can camp in the parking area in front of the visitor center. Bathrooms and cold showers located at the visitor center. Guides are available at the visitor center to lead hikes into the park which is highly recommended.
Playa El Tunco
Roots Surf Camp- Located a few miles north of La Libertad on the main strip of the little town. The camping area shares a lot with two restaurant/bars. Cost = $4 per night. We inquired about camping here but ended up getting a room with AC for the night as we were not prepared for the melting heat yet. Not sure about the restroom/electricity situation.
Parque Nacional Cerro Verde
Located about an hour north of San Salvador near Lago Coutepeque. You can get there either from the highway to Sonsonate or the CA1 near Santa Ana. If coming from Sonsonate, take the road signed for Cerro Verde for about 15 kms. Take a left turn at the road signed for Cerro Verde and Volcan Izalco. The road climbs up the volcano and ends at the park. Cost = $6/person entrance fee and $1 for camping. Bathrooms and water spigots but no showers or electricity. They have a grassed area for camping up on the hill, but it is far from the bathrooms. We camped in the parking lot in order to be closer to the bathrooms. Guided hikes to climb either Volcan Santa Ana or Volcan Izalco leave daily at 11:00 am.
El Pital
El pital is the highest peak in El Salvador. Located near the Honduran border and the small town of La Palma. From La Palma head north on the highway to the little town of San Ignacio. You will see the signs for El Pital coming from either direction. Follow the very steep paved road up the mountain for about 10 kms to the town at the top (can’t remember the name). Take a left on a dirt road (signed for El Pital) and follow the very bumby, very steep road all the way to the top. This last part is only recommended for smaller high clearance vehicles. It is hard to find a flat place to camp. We ended up parking in front of the vacant cabin. Cost = $12 per night. Scary bathrooms, no showers or electricity. Although a little hard to get to, it was one of the most beautiful places we camped in El Salvador. Very quite and peaceful pine forest and the views are amazing. On a clear day you can probably see a good part of the country (at least this is what we were told).
Laguna de Alegria
Located off the CA1 west of San Miguel. You can either take the road signed for Berlin or Santiago de Maria. The roads are well signed to Laguna de Alegria. Cost = $1/person a night plus a $.50 entrance fee. The lake is in the caldera of the volcano. You can camp anywhere you like around the lake. No bathrooms or facilities. There are some palapas and tables set up around the lake. There is a faint smell of sulfur in the air, and the lake is sulfurous. Very beautiful scenery, with coffee plantations on the drive in and steep forested slopes surrounding the lake.
Nicaragua
Grenada
Estacion de Bomberos, fire station downtown. The fire station located a few blocks from the central plaza has a secure parking lot where you can park you car for the night if staying in a hotel or we were told you can also sleep in you car there. The fire station is located on the corner of the same block as the Bearded Monkey Hostel and Hostel La Libertad, a few blocks from the central park. Cost = 50 cordoba to park overnight or 100 cordoba to sleep. We didn’t ask about the bathroom situation, but it is a secure place as there are people there all night.
San Juan del Sur
Camping Matilda- Located north of San Juan del Sur on Playa Matilda. Take a right on the road heading north as you come into the town of San Juan del Sur. The road is signed for Playa Marsala. After a little while you come to a small neighborhood and the road gets a little confusing. You might have to ask for directions, but essentially you are looking for the road that will take you inland around the point. Follow the dirt road to the Chocalate Junction and take a left (just after a small bridge). Follow this dirt road to the Y and go right (the left is signed for Playa Marsala Beach and Surf Club). Follow this road all the way to the end and you will see Camping Matilda at the very end of the road on the beach. Cost = 90 cordoba per person. Bathrooms and cold water showers are available inside the hostel. There is a fenced field across from the hostel for tents and cars, located right on the edge of the beach. It is on a beautiful cove, and is a short walk around the point to Playa Marsala which is a great surf spot. The hostel also has “dog houses” which are small concrete rooms with beds and private rooms for rent.
Note: we found other places to camp along the beach going into Playa Matilda, including at Playa Marsala, however, for car camping Camping Matilda seemed the safest and most comfortable. You can ask at any beach place and they will most likely let you camp for a fee, however, water and bathrooms may not be available.
Costa Rica
Camping Belen- http://www.belentrailerpark.com/Home.htm
Located in San Antonio Belen, a suburb of San Jose near the neighborhood of Heredia, this is an actual RV park! On the panamerican highway, just past the airport, take the exit for route 111. Go right off the exit and follow the road. Just after a soccer field take a right (the road becomes one way going in the opposite direction here so you have to take a right). Go to the end of the block and take a left. About 3 blocks down the RV park is on the left just after the gas station. Cost = $14 US per night. Full hookups (water, electricity, and sewer), clean bathrooms, hot water showers. NOTE: The owners were in negotiations to lease the land for the trailer park while we were there. They told us if they did lease it the trailer park would be open through the end of the year, and there was some talk about starting a new trailer park across the street. Before going check out there website to be sure they are open.
Punta Uvita-Pacific Coast
Flutterby House- http://www.flutterbyhouse.com
The Flutterby House is a newly opened hostel, located a minutes walk from the only free beach access to Marino Ballena National Park and Punta Uvita (near Dominical on the Pacific Coast). It is a very cool hostel that offers camping, dorm rooms, and private cabañas. Parking space is limited however, so this place is only recommended for smaller rigs (RV’s wouldn’t fit). On the coastal highway, the town of Uvita is south of Dominical. Near the south end of town, turn right 150 meters south of Banco Nacional at “Cabinas Gato” on the corner. Turn left at the first intersection. Follow this road over a small bridge and then take your first right. The Flutterby House is on your left, look for the big wall. Cost = 600 colones per person for camping (about $3.50 per person). Beautifully tiled bathrooms with cold showers (trust me you wouldn’t want a hot shower here!), and a communal kitchen and hang out area. You can run an extension chord for electricity. The hostel was beautifully built and the atmosphere is very laid back and relaxing. Highly recommended.
Nicoya Pensinsula
Playa Avallana-there is a public parking lot at Playa Avallana right next to Lola’s Restaurant where you can camp. There are guards during the day who will keep on an eye on your stuff while you are enjoying the beach, and while there is no charge we tipped the guard when leaving. Coming from Tamarindo on the back road, take a right in Avallana at the sign for Lola’s Restaurant. The parking lot is at the end of the block. There are no facilities here, but the owner of Lola’s let us use his bathrooms. Don’t miss Lola the pig bathing in the ocean, it is quite the site!
Playa Junquillal- coming into town from the north, take a left at the dirt road signed for Iguanazul Hotel. Follow the road to the T and take a left. You will see a sign for camping, take a right here and follow it to the end. Camping is on a grassed area with lots of trees up on a bluff overlooking the beach. There is a trail for beach access, bathrooms and showers, and some sinks for doing dishes. Cost = 2,000 colones per person during the low season. There are a lot of trees in the camping area, and we heard howler monkeys all night and morning. In the morning a family of howler monkeys came out to eat and let us take pictures. A very nice place to camp.
Panama
Panama City
Balboa Yacht Club-While this isn’t a campground, it does offer free parking and access to free showers and internet. Located on the causeway, take the first exit for amador after the bridge of the americas when coming into town. After about a block you will see a sign for TGI Fridays and a hotel on the right, turn here. The yacht club is at the end of the block on the right. You can park in the field next to the restaurant to sleep. Down the bank from the restaurant towards the water is a small building with showers, a washer and dryer, and a little hang out area. We didn’t actually stay here but have met quite a few overlanders that have. We were told it is sort of a don’t ask don’t tell policy. They don’t mind people staying as long as they stay out of the way.
Santa Catalina
Oasis Surf Camp- Santa Catalina on the Pacific Coast is probably the most famous beach town in Panama for its surf. The Oasis is located right on the nicest stretch of beach in town. The only problem is that you have to cross a small river to get to it, so can only come and go at low tide (at low tide the water is only 4-5 inches deep so no problem for any vehicle with a little clearance). When coming into town, take the only dirt road on the left at a pink hotel/store. This road goes out to all of the beach fronted hotels. Continue on the main road for awhile (stay to the left past a few branches). You will come to a Y and see a sign for Oasis Surf Camp, go to the left. Follow the road all the way until it ends at the river, the Oasis is just across the river. We recommend checking the tide before coming out here, and walking the river before crossing to make sure it is crossable. Cost = $5 per night per person for camping. Bathrooms and cold water showers available. There is a restaurant for food and drinks onsite as well as cabanas for rent as well.
Colombia
Caribbean Coast
Playa Velero-10.951388ºN, 75.034111ºW Located about 20 km from Barranquilla on the highway from Cartagena, Playa Velero is a nice little bay with palapas set up all around the water. There are a bunch of little restaurants set up to provide food for the beach goers. You can camp on the beach for free. There are some scary pit toilets that you may or may not want to use, but no other facilities. We were told the police have a presence here at all times and it is safe for camping. On the highway from Cartagena you will see a sign for Playa Velero, turn left on the road and follow it all the way to the beach. You can pick anywhere you want to camp. WARNING: this beach gets very crowded on weekends with Colombians.
Playa Los Angeles-11.292894º N, 73.891640º W Located east of Santa Marta next to Parque Tayrona. Beautiful beach, with places for tents. You can drive a vehicle in to camp during the dry season or when the rain hasn’t been too bad (when we were there we couldn’t drive in because the road was pure mud from the rain). Bathrooms and cold water showers. Cost = 5,000 COP per night per person. From Santa Marta take the highway towards Riohacha. At km 33.5 you will see the sign for Playa Los Angeles on the right side of the road.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=195351114963
La Guajira Peninsula
Cabo de la Vella- The Guajira Peninsula is hard to get to but well worth the effort. There is an area right in town where you can camp on the beach, for a few dollars a night. There are no amenities besides the amazing view. You can also camp on the beach just before getting to the main part of town where it is a bit quieter. Ask at any of the houses along the beach for permission. The occupants of the houses will ask for a few thousand pesos. This area is somewhat of a no-mans land so it is best to camp around people and pay for the privilege to insure your safety and the safety of your possessions. It also wouldn’t hurt to buy some fresh lobster off your hosts if offered. The price is good, and they will even cook it for you if you don’t feel like it.
Villa De Leyva
Zona de Camping-Great location only a few blocks from the main plaza of Villa De Leyva. Big grassed lot with bathrooms and cold showers right in the middle of town. You can run an extension chord into the bathroom for electricity. Cost = 10,000 COP per person per night plus 10,000 COP for the vehicle (30,000 COP or about $15 per night for a couple). When you drive into town, follow the road past the main plaza 2 blocks and it is on the left. Note: there is a covered gate you drive through into the lot. We didn’t have any trouble with clearance, however a German couple in a camper couldn’t get through due to boxes on their roof. If you have a really high vehicle you might have problems getting in.
Renacer Guest House-Located just outside of Villa de Leyva about a 15 minute walk from town. It is a hostel with private rooms and an area for camping, in a very relaxed, beautiful setting. Bathrooms and hot showers are shared with the dorm rooms. You can run an extension chord for electricity. Free wi-fi internet, a big nice kitchen area and a nice hang out area as well. The same owners have a tour company in town called Colombian Highlands, and are a great source of information on the area and tour packages. Cost = 14,000 COP per person in the high season. From Villa de Leyva take the road to Tunja out of town, after about a half a mile, turn right just after a small bridge. Follow the dirt road past the military base about 100 meters, turn right at the sign for Renacer Guest House.
http://www.colombianhighlands.com/index.html
Eje Cafetero-Salento
Monteroca-4.64375ºN, 75.58395ºW Located in the little town of Bocia about 4 km from Salento. The bus into Salento stops right out front and costs 1,000 COP per person (about $0.50) It is a actual campground right next to the river. The place is ideal for tent camping, but you can park you rig next to the office. Bathrooms, wonderful outside hot water showers, three big kitchen areas, hang out areas, and hammocks. You can run an extension chord for electricity. Cost = 15,000 COP per person per night. The road into Salento passes through the little town of Bocia, and Monteroca is on the left just before the river. It has good signage and is hard to miss.
http://www.campingmonterroca.com/
La Serrana-Located about 1.5 km from Salento. It is a working ecofarm and hostel, and has a nice flat spot for camping with an amazing view of the surrounding countryside. Bathrooms and hot showers are located inside the hostel along with a nice kitchen, great hangout areas, and a living room with a good selection of movies. Free wi-fi internet, and the owner would probably let you run an extension chord for electricity. You can even help milk the cows if you are willing to get up early. Week nights the owner cooks a delicious family style meal, enjoyed with all the other guests at one table, and is well worth the reasonable price. Cost = 10,000 COP per person including breakfast. We liked it so much here, we had a hard time leaving! Driving into Salento, take the first right at the sign for Plantation House hostel, at the T go left and continue to follow the road around to the right and past the cemetery (the road turns into dirt at the cemetery). After about 1.2 km past the cemetery, go left at the Y and you will see the sign for La Serrana.
