Trailer Parks and Campgrounds

San Blas [1]’s only trailer park, Los Cocos (Teniente Azueta s/n, tel. 323/285-0055, loscocos [at] sanblasmexico [dot] com), is a two-minute walk from the wide, yellow sands of Playa el Borrego [2]. Friendly management, spacious, palm-shaded grassy grounds, pull-throughs, unusually clean showers and toilet facilities, a laundry next door, fishing, and a good air-conditioned bar with satellite TV all make this place a magnet for RVers and tenters from Mazatlán to Puerto Vallarta. The biting jejenes require the use of strong repellent for residents to enjoy the balmy evenings. The 100 spaces rent for about $13 per day for two people, $2 for each additional person, with all hookups, one day free per week for longer-term stays. Amenities include a bar out front open daily 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

The jejenes and occasional local toughs and peeping Toms make camping on close-in Borrego Beach a less-than-ideal possibility (although some adventurers customarily set up tents beside the beachfront palapa restaurants). A better option is to camp on Playa el Borrego at Stoner’s Surf Camp (Playa el. Borrego, www.stonerssurfcamp.com [3]) for $3 per person, with kitchen privileges.

Furthermore, Isla del Rey (across Estero El Pozo, accessible by lancha from the foot of Calle Juárez) presents possibilities for prepared trekker-tenters. Pack in everything, including water. For intensely dedicated adventurers, the same is true for ecosanctuary Isla Isabel [4], three hours by hired boat from San Blas.

For those less equipped, the palm-lined strands of Playa las Islitas, Playa Matanchén, and Playa los Cocos on the Bay of Matanchén also might afford camping possibilities as long as you bring plenty of good insect repellent.