1. Parque Nacional El Chico (El Chico National Park)
This beautiful national park is located two hours drive from Mexico City in the state of Hidalgo. El Chico National Park is cold year-round, so be sure to bring warm clothes, as well as a good tent and sleeping bag. The park covers more than 2,000 hectares, with four campsites complete with kitchens and hot showers. El Chico is breathtakingly beautiful and ideal for a variety of hiking.
2. Las Estacas
Las Estacas is a beautiful natural park located about a two-hour drive from Mexico City. It has a natural river with crystal clear water where you can swim, snorkel, or go rafting. Las Estacas also has swimming pools, restaurants, restrooms, showers, security lockers, a temazcal (steam bath), a spa, and activities like ziplining, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Bring a tent, food and drinks when visiting Las Estacas Natural Park and avoid visiting in the summer, as it gets very crowded and it often rains in the evenings.
3. Xopilco campground
Xopilco Campground is located near Tepoztlán (a town in the state of Morelos) – less than two hours from Mexico City – and is surrounded by mountains, so you can hike and enjoy the starry nights. Because it is so close to Tepoztlán, you can also easily walk around the town, visit the Tepozteco pyramid, browse the handicraft stalls and visit a few other places to learn more about the history and traditions of the area.
The town of Tepoztlán near the Xopilco campsite
Xopilco Campsite has tents for rent, food for sale, and is equipped with toilets, hammocks, and water for showering in private areas. The area gets very cold at night, so we recommend visiting during the warmer months (April and May); however, avoid the summer holidays as this is the rainy season.
4. San Nicolás Totolapan
San Nicolás Totolapan is a 1,900-hectare community park located within the city limits, near the Ajusco Volcano. Locals frequent it for mountain biking, hiking, and fishing. It also offers ziplining and a rock climbing wall.
For camping, you need to bring a tent and other necessary items, but you don’t have to worry about food, as there is a restaurant serving delicious local dishes. Besides, you should also prepare warm clothes and blankets in case the weather turns cold.
5. Malikualli
Just five minutes from Malinalco and a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Mexico City, Malikualli is an eco-tourism complex with a spacious camping area (tents and sleeping bags available for rent), a secure campfire area, and a swimming pool. Malikualli is a great choice if you’re camping with kids, as the family can enjoy biking, ziplining, rock climbing, and even paragliding.
From March to May you will find it quite hot; from June to October is the rainy season; from November to February it can be cold, but you just need to bring a jacket to comfortably experience your camping trip in Malikualli.
