Nayarit RV Guide
Explore Nayarit by RV from San Blas and the Pacific Coast to Santa María del Oro, Riviera Nayarit, beach towns, birding areas, surf spots, volcanic lakes, and tropical highways.
Download the Nayarit RV Guide
Get the Nayarit RV map and guide with regional notes, RV park details, route planning tips, and coastal travel stops.
Download the Nayarit RV GuideWhy RV Travelers Visit Nayarit
Nayarit is where Mexico’s Pacific RV route begins to feel tropical. Heading south from Sinaloa, the landscape changes into thick greenery, coastal villages, surf beaches, birding areas, and slower roads toward San Blas and Riviera Nayarit. The original guide highlights the transition from toll highway to semi-tropical two-lane roads near San Blas.
RV Pro Tip: Nayarit rewards slower travel. Plan around daylight driving, narrow coastal roads, seasonal bugs near beaches, and rig-size limits near Santa María del Oro.
Santa María del Oro
A volcanic lake ringed by villas and forested hills. The road down is beautiful but curvy, and the original guide recommends that rigs over 30 feet skip this route.
San Blas & Coastal Nayarit
San Blas is a love-it-or-leave-it destination: low-cost, historic, excellent for birding, and very different from resort-heavy beach towns. The tradeoff is jejenes, or biting sand fleas, especially near the beach at dusk.
Mexico Mike’s Nayarit RV Park Notes
These notes preserve the original Mexico Mike-style guidance from the Nayarit RV Parks guide, including San Blas-area parks and Santa María del Oro.
San Blas Area
Playa Amor RV Park
Beautiful oceanfront-area location set slightly back from the beach. Popular with RV travelers. Ask locally whether the jejene problem affects the park before committing to a stay.
Paraiso Miramar Hotel & RV Park
One of the newer and nicer options south of San Blas on the Las Varas beach road. Includes 8 EWS spaces with 15 amp, 12 electric-only 15 amp spaces, 12 dry spaces, and two swimming pools.
Stoner’s Surf Camp
Beachfront surf-camp style stop. The original guide warns that beach dry camping can become miserable after dark because of voracious jejenes.
Los Cocos RV Park
Located in town on Virgilio Uribe 2. Described as pleasant, friendly, and equipped with amenities.
El Chaco
Closer to the beach and family-run, with hotel rooms and RV spaces. The original guide noted reopening uncertainty, so call before planning around this stop.
Phone: 323 231 2229
Hotel Garza Canela
Noted as a favorite hotel for birding groups, with swimming pool and pet-friendly lodging. Useful for travelers mixing RV travel with hotel stays.
Phone: 323-285-0480 · Booking: 01-800-713-2313
Santa María del Oro
Koala Bungalows & RV Spaces
The only RV park noted in town, located about 300 meters to the left once you reach the lake village. Offers RV spaces with and without hookups, cabins, and tent camping. The original guide describes it as friendly, reasonably priced, and unique.
Phone: 311-134-7178
Best Nayarit RV Stops and Travel Areas
San Blas
One of Mexico’s best birding destinations, low-cost, historic, and quirky. Best for travelers who appreciate slower, less polished places.
Santa María del Oro
A dramatic volcanic lake south of Tepic with beautiful views, quiet weekdays, and a challenging curvy access road.
Coastal Nayarit
Beach and surf stops connect naturally with Riviera Nayarit, Sayulita, Lo de Marcos, and the broader Puerto Vallarta RV route.
MEX-15D
The major toll highway through the region. Useful for RV travelers heading south from Sinaloa or north from Jalisco.
Tepic Bypass
Travelers coming from the south can use the Tepic bypass and follow signs toward San Blas before the Trapichillo toll booth.
Las Varas Route
Travelers coming from Puerto Vallarta can turn north at Las Varas and take the coastal road toward San Blas.
Driving an RV into Nayarit?
Mainland Mexico RV travel usually requires Mexico RV insurance and may require a Temporary Import Permit for your vehicle.
Quote Mexico RV Insurance Border Crossing Checklist TIP Vehicle Permit GuideNayarit RV Travel Tips
Watch for Jejenes
Near San Blas beaches, biting sand fleas can swarm at dusk. The original guide’s practical advice is simple: leave the beach before sunset.
Plan for Curvy Roads
Santa María del Oro is only a few miles from the highway, but the access road is winding. Large rigs should think twice.
Use Toll Roads Wisely
MEX-15D is the main toll corridor through the region and is useful for long-haul RV travel between Sinaloa, Nayarit, and Jalisco.
Call Ahead
Some parks are small, seasonal, or connected to hotels. Confirm availability, hookups, rig length, and road access before arrival.
Helpful Nayarit RV Resources
Coastal Jalisco & Nayarit RV Guide
Continue south into Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta, Melaque, and Barra de Navidad.
View Coastal RV GuideTemporary Import Permit
Mainland RV travel may require a TIP for foreign-plated RVs and tow vehicles.
View TIP GuideNayarit RV FAQ
Is Nayarit good for RV travel?
Yes. Nayarit is a strong RV region for travelers moving between Sinaloa, San Blas, Santa María del Oro, Riviera Nayarit, and Jalisco.
What is special about San Blas for RV travelers?
San Blas is known for birding, low costs, local character, and a love-it-or-leave-it atmosphere. Beach areas can have jejenes at dusk.
Can large RVs visit Santa María del Oro?
The original guide recommends that rigs over 30 feet probably skip Santa María del Oro because the road down to the lake is narrow and curvy.
Do RVs need a TIP in Nayarit?
Yes, many foreign-plated RVs traveling in mainland Mexico, including Nayarit, may need a Temporary Import Permit.
Ready to RV Nayarit?
Download the guide, plan your route, watch for rig-size limits, and quote Mexico RV insurance before your trip.
Quote Mexico RV Insurance Mexico RV Guide HubDriving your RV to Nayarit you’ll want to know which RV Parks to expect and how to get to them. Heading south of the state of Sinaloa, the scenery begins its transition to semi-tropical. The turnoff for San Blas is well-marked. It’s 58 ½ miles (94 KM) south of the turns to Playa Novillero and Acaponeta, Sinaloa. When you turn off the major toll highway MEX-15D for NAY-54 to San Blas, the semi-tropical effect becomes more pronounced. Thick greenery grows to the edge of the road. Though not a rainforest, in a few spots, trees arch over the 2-lane blacktop, forming a canopy, briefly blocking the sun.
There is an autopista from Tepic to San Blas, but if you are coming from the north, this is the way to go. If you are coming from the south, take the bypass of Tepic. In about five minutes (KM 6.5), just before the Trapichillo toll booth, follow signs for San Blas. If you are coming from Pto. Vallarta, you could turn north at Las Varas and take the coast road to San Blas.
After 20 miles, you’ll come to the strange pueblo of San Blas. It has not fundamentally changed in thirty years. There are a few hotels, restaurants, a few RV parks, and an air of resigned expectancy blanketing the village. The people are neither friendly nor unfriendly. They are indifferent to tourists’ presence. Come or go as you please, but leave us alone. San Blas is designated a Pueblo Magico, and I believe it qualifies. There is some sort of magic in the air; whether for good or ill depends on you.
San Blas–Love It or Leave It
Few foreigners feel indifferent about San Blas. They seem to be divided into the “Love It” or “Leave It” camps. One of its premier attractions is birding–among the best in Mexico. So if you are a birder, you’re a “Love It,” undoubtedly. It is the lowest-cost option for hotels and food on the Pacific Coast. So your wallet will love it.
Road in San Blas Nayarit Mexico
On the “Leavers” side, firmly flit the jejenes. These sand fleas have kept beach development at bay for centuries. I imagine that even the Spaniards complained about them when San Blas was a strategically important naval port. These little buggers (the fleas, not the Spaniards), swarm at dusk on the beaches. They voraciously devour and expose flesh of any color, causing welts and swelling. Locals swear Avon Skin So Soft is a deterrent, but that has pretty well been debunked. Nothing I know of consistently deters them except vacating the beach before sunset. A few blocks from the beach, and they are not a problem.
With the addition of the upscale hotel and RV Park, Playa Miramar, more winter tourists are coming to the San Blas area. There is a diehard group of winter ex-pats who return to roost here every year. There are the fewest gringos and the fewest services. These birds prefer it that way to the overwhelming flocks of white skins in Mazatlan and Vallarta. The regulars are isolationists who come to sit out the northern winters. They are not the friendliest bunch.
There is also a small cadre of gringos who live year-round in San Blas. They mostly have assimilated into local society, generally through marriage. They, too, appreciate the lack of gringos here for different reasons. They just want to live far from the madding crowd of places like Vallarta and Mazatlan.
So there you have it. Visit San Blas by all means. Make up your mind.
RV Parks Nayarit
Playa Amor RV Park is–Beautiful spot right on the ocean but a little back from the beach. Inquire locally if the jejene problem affects them. They are very popular, so I suspect not.
Paraiso Miramar Hotel & RV Park — Newest and nicest. It is 18 KM south of San Blas on the Las Varas beach road. More upscale than anywhere else. They have 8 spaces with EWS and 15 amps, 12 with E 15, and 12 with no connection. Two swimming pools. GPS 21.44028, -105.1916670.
Stoner’s Surf Camp – on the beach. It’s exactly what it sounds like. You may be tempted to dry camp on the beach. Who doesn’t dream of camping on the beach? That dream will quickly morph into a nightmare when the sun goes down. The jejenes are voracious here.
Los Cocos RV Park in town on Virgilio Uribe 2 – quite a pleasant place with amenities. Friendly. GPS 21.532406, -105.283343.
El Chaco is closer to the beach & family-run. Very nice hotel and has spaces for RVs. May not reopen in 2020. GPS: 21.494099 , -105.198618 PH: 323 231 2229.
The nicest hotel where birding groups (and I) stay is the Hotel Garza Canela. Swimming pool and pet-friendly. Paredes No. 106 Sur. PH: 323-285-0480. www.garzacanela.com Booking: 01-800-713-2313.
Santa Maria del Oro, Nayarit
This is a unique spot in a country full of unique spots. The town of Sta. Maria is set on the edges of a volcanic lake, a rarity in Mexico. From a hilltop overlook coming into town, the layout is picture-postcard-perfect. Deep blue water, terra-cotta roofs on villas ringing the lake. Few foreigners know about Sta. Maria. Most are in a hurry to get to the familiar arms of Puerto Vallarta. They whiz right by the exit for Sta. Maria is just south of Tepic on the toll road. It’s their loss and your gain. Should you come to visit, tourists like you won’t overwhelm you. On weekends, the town will be lively and crowded with upscale Mexican tourists from nearby Tepic. During the week, it will be quiet and serene.
Getting to Santa Maria
From San Blas or Mazatlan, keep on MEX-15D to the bypass of Tepic. Take the bypass. Continue southeast for 21 ¾ miles to the exit for Santa Maria del Oro. Go under the highway to your left and continue on a winding two-lane paved road. It’s only four miles but quite curvy. Rigs over 30 feet should probably forgo the pleasures of Santa Maria.
There are a couple of villages before the town with hotels. Don’t be fooled. The actual village is to the lake. When you have to turn left or right, you have arrived. The only RV park in town is to the left 300 meters. PH: 311-134-7178. Web site: http://www.koalabungalows.com/index.html
Koala has several RV spaces with and without hookups and cabins and an area for tent camping. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is friendly. I have known the owner, Chris, for many years and his attention to detail showed how the park was run. He has retired, and his son is carrying on the tradition. Koala is unique. So are its customers.
