Ceboruco volcano campground | Wild Camping

Mexico

Details

Verified:
about 2 months ago
Altitude:
1947.4 masl
Website:
None
Contributor:
1950woodie

Amenities

Electricity:
No
Wifi:
No
Kitchen:
No
Restaurant:
No
Showers:
No
Water:
No
Toilets:
No
Big Rig Friendly:
Yes
Tent Friendly:
Yes
Pet Friendly:
Yes

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Description

Amazing site in the crater of a volcano near Tepic. This large site has picknick tables with roofs, fireplaces both elevated (some with a grill) and on the ground. There is steam coming out of the mud near the entrance. Lots more space in the back, also for motorhomes.

The long road (18 kilometres or 11 miles) is steep, winding and of rough cobblestones, but Mexicans get here in regular 2WD. Don't come from Ahuacatlan!

At 2,000 meters/6,500 feet, @ summit, it's cool at night. Telcel 3G coverage.

Photos

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Latest Check-Ins

It is a gorgeous spot, with grass, pine trees, and cool night temperatures. It was a great escape from the heat at 6200 ft. It felt like Colorado in the summer, yet it was February. I drove our sprinter up from Jala—no issues on the cobbled road. If your tired of the heat and bugs this is a great escape. We camped for one night. Had it all to outselfs. 5 stars.

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Just drive a lil bit further on the campground >> beautiful crater with lots of mooo‘s and more „palapas“
Love it!

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As described well by other comments. Rattly drive, gorgeous views!!!

I came from Compostela on the 15D highway. I looked, and can confirm there is no direct access from that highway onto the volcano access road, so you must take the longer route on through the town of Jala, loop back and cross over the 15D. Google Maps was accurate.

I have a high roof Sprinter cargo van with low profile roof rack. I would personally prefer not to do this with anything taller or wider. Taller - because of branches, wider - because of already limited space for passing other vehicles coming the other way.

After the road levels out on top you pass a small building on the left of road then a road splits to the right, down to the picnic/camp area. I suggest to walk it first, it is steep and would be challenging to reverse up. There were some minor washouts beginning when I was here, but at this time they would be fine for vehicles that made it that far.

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Don't try to reach this spot from Ahuacatlan. road is pebbelstone but totally overgrown around 2km before the two roads meet. we found a spot to camp next to the road but not many leveled places there.

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****WARNING BELOW*****

We stayed here two nights and really enjoyed it.
There are Fumeroles at the camping area and the crater itself as we ran in from camp.
The half dozen picnic sites are falling apart but we were alone.
There are cows that come wandering through and Pattie’s everywhere BUT not lots of garbage which was nice.
The cows we can deal with, our husky loves them.

WARNING, do not drive up from Ahaucatlan, we did as per google maps. Got almost all the way up through low hanging trees, very narrow road and about 1-2km from junction got our sprinter 4x4 high centered and stuck.
Took almost two hours to free ourselves and had to literally build a spot to turn our rig around to go down. Scratched our van and shredded a paddle board bag on the roof rack due to trees.

We have 170” high roof Sprinter 4x4 and have driven some questionable roads no problem. This road did damage to the van, such is van life..

IF you have a motorbike or small Jeep with nothing on roof, you should make it BUT otherwise you have been warned.

The road from Jala was great and we really enjoyed our time up there. Could not have fire due to high wind and nights/early morning were as we chilly but lovely compared to coastal heat.

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As described, lovely and peaceful, windy by day and calm at night, a little dusty when the wind picks up in the dry season, exacerbated by the cows and horses kicking it up, though there's only a handful of either. Watch the deep sand when coming through the narrow area between if going through to the space at the back to camp.

Just a clarification - this looks for all the world like a crater, but it's not the crater mentioned on the signs, for that you need to follow the road up to the antennae and hike in; leads to an impressive mirador over where all the lava flowed down from to the road way below. There is a path that leads out from the camping area in the same direction; if you follow it to the end (maybe 20 minutes or so) it comes out onto a steep dropoff and a view over the valley - nothing close to the view you get from above though. Being my foolish self I bushwhacked through the scratchy trees and plants up from there to the road above - I don't recommend it! Tool ages and left me and my clothing full of scratches and holes, and covered in bits of spiky tree! By contrast the hike from the old cabañas near the antennae out to the crater proper was lovely. I took it at a fair pace as I was racing the sun by then, and did the round trip from the cabañas and back n 2 hours. Saw two families of coatis along the way! Enjoy!

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Very large crater with lots of level space to camp. We went all the way to the back and were undisturbed for two nights (note that we left on a Saturday). About 10 free roaming horses (and manure) and lots of squirrels.

Amazingly little garbage except for small stuff: bottle caps, cigarette butts etc.

Wind can get unpleasantly strong but there's no wind at night.

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Can't believe we almost skipped this - so damn magical. Not to be missed. 4x4 with high clearance if you're coming from Ahuacatlan, but 2wd is fine from Jala. We spent two nights here totally alone but Saturday morning around 9am some friendly families showed up to spend the day. Warm, dry days and chilly, dewy mornings. Pretty decent LTE at camp.

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As described. This is a don't miss for overlanders. Nice and cool up here while the beaches to cool down. Will try to remember to add some drone photos.

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As the description, epic route in and lovely camp spot

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Great spot about 1 hr -1h15 min to the top. Getting up is easy, some lower branches but most likely bc taller Vehicles have not been visiting due to covid. The antennas have great 4G but the campground has okay internet.
The only issue was coming down. My brakes started smoking so I went to a mechanic. He said it’s very common with heavier vehicles.
I was there on a weekend so lots of smaller groups during the day but completely empty at night.
They have covered areas with tables and benches. The day I arrived they put new rubbish bins and the cows knocked one of the next day
I stayed two nights. Great spot!

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The drive from Jala was easy in our Chevy van. Enjoyed 1 night at the antennas parking area. Had the whole place to ourselves. In the morning we hiked for 3 hours on a trail leading out of the abandoned area. The trail was easy to follow and we saw great views and diverse landscapes. Out and back on the same trail.

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This is an ‘interesting’ place. Many locals up here Sunday around 5 when we arrived using the nice new picnic tables. Police came by and said it was fine to camp where we were in the valley at the end on the road. Someone came by when we were in bed to poop near our camp area. There are no toilets near the picnic tables but rather they are on the roadway on the way in and they are extremely disgusting.

In the AM we went to check out the abandoned area (towards to radio towers) and there was an armed guard walking with a machete and an aggressive dog. Our dog was back in the jeep by the time we saw them and the dog started jumping on the Jeep in attack mode at our dog. Beware if you have a four legged love one with you.

Views were pretty and the 7°C overnight was great.

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As mentioned it is a long rough road to get here. We did it in a truck camper (11.6’ high), only problem was low hanging branches.
The tables in the pictures are no longer here. They have made cement pads with wood shelters (not completed at this time) for picnic area. Lots of room to camp. The hike to the volcano takes about 1.5 hours one way.

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Perfect place to recover from mosquito and sand fly bites. Temperatures drop to chilling 15°C at night 🙂 Road up is good, we saw even locals in small car making it all the way to camp/picnic site. One day we woke up to cows licking our car. Main valley is big enough to set up comfortable camp and still be hidden from those random picnicking people. I would come again!

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we climb this volcano with our camper...it 45 min one way from Jala. Road is good and the slope is not so bad. For me it's not a must but if you have time take the trip. This is rightly primitive place and abandoneted place.

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At the foof of Ceboruco, on hwy 15, between Ahuacatlan and Chapililla, you pass through a black lava field. Unfortunately, places to stop and take pics are rare!

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ps no blue tub of hot water when we were there!

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as previous posts suggest, good (long) cobbled road goes up the mountain, plenty of space to stay at the top. road splits to 'campground' (where the fumeroles are - very cool!) or further up where signs point to facilities and info that is no longer there... just a few derelict buildings and satellite masts. lovely and cool '21° @ midday. would be great if you wanted a few days peace and quiet.

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Nice place. Quite and nice. Seems like no one cares about it anymore. The road is 2WD but to get to the Campspot itself (right road at the junction) it might be better to have a 4WD. There are more, easy accessible spots if you take the left road.

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Looks like the remains of a picnic place rather than like a campground (see photo). There is a blue barrel on the hill filled with hot water. You can connect your hose there and have a shower. We didn't camp here but on a beautiful place at the far end of the valley. Stayed two nights and didn't see anybody.

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Excellent endroit pour se reposer en toute tranquillité à l'air frais!!
Personne aux alentours vous êtes seuls au monde !

Vous dormez au cœur d'un caldeira non loin des fumerolles (allez les voir tôt le matin ou plus tard en fin de journée lorsqu'il fait frais c'est plus impressionnant).

Vous pouvez marcher jusqu'au sommet et découvrir les champs de laves et une vue panoramique.

Faites vos réserves avant de venir ici car vous ne voudrez plus redescendre !

Prix : Gratuit !

Julien et Julie

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Amazing primitive Campground on a volcano near Tepic/Jala.
The road is steep and rough cobblestones, Overlanders only no RV's. Once you get to the campground there is room for motorhomes just very long (9 miles) winding road to get here.
At 2,000 meters/6,500 feet, @ summit, it's cool at night. Campground has tables and fire pits. The Very large, lots of room for tents and trailers, quite and secluded, and FREE!
Must see steam coming out of the hillside's!

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