How to Find the Best Camper Van Rental in Mexico

Interested in exploring Mexico by camper van? We’ve rounded up all the options for camper van rental in Mexico in this complete guide covering camper van hire in Baja, the Yucatan, and Oaxaca.

Our seven-month van life adventure through Mexico remains one of our favorite travel experiences. At the time (in 2019) campervan travel wasn’t overly popular in Mexico, certainly not among locals, or short-term travelers. Most people we met along the way were from North America (the US and Canada) South America, or Europe, and were long-term travelers that had temporarily imported their own vans. Outside of a select few, there weren’t very many rental companies available for those wishing to undertake their very own Mexico van life road trip.

However, over the last few years, things have slowly started to change. Campervanning in Mexico and the van life lifestyle is beginning to catch on and more and more companies are starting to offer campervan rental and motorhome hire in Mexico. While campervan rental is not available in every region in Mexico, companies in key markets such as Baja, Oaxaca and the Yucatan have opened the door for a lot more people to experience a van life adventure in Mexico.

Camper Van Rentals in Mexico

Unsurprisingly, all of the campervan companies in Mexico are concentrated in the most popular tourist destinations. Here is a brief snap shot of the companies currently operating in Mexico.

• The Kombi Experience: Van life in style in a vintage kombi through Quintana Roo (i.e., Tulum, Bacalar, etc.) Prices start at $130 per night.
• Alfa Combi: Depart from Cancun or Merida exploring the entire Yucatan Peninsula in a classic kombi or a basic, modern van. Prices start at $75 per night during low season.
• Paradise Campers: This Cancun-based campervan rental company in Mexico offers stylish, modern camper vans and motorhomes starting at $148 per day during low season.
• Vanbaja: Baja California-based, Vanbaja offers awesome converted vans fully equipped for off-grid living and digital nomads who need to power laptops and other electronics. Their vans come with all the bells and whistles and are pet-friendly. Prices start at around $200 per day.
• Sampa Explore: Your best bet for 4×4 rental and campervan rental in Cabo San Lucas. Prices start around $185 per day for a 4×4 rental (excluding necessary camping equipment) while campervans are more expensive.
• Nomadico: A small campervan rental company in Puerto Escondido currently only offering a 4×4 pick-up truck plus two motos. Prices start at $90 for the 4×4.
• Wicked Campers: Wicked Campers is one of the cheapest options at $99 per day offering compact campervan rentals in Puerto Escondido their prices are inclusive of all your basic campervan needs.

Camper Van Rental in The Yucatan Peninsula

Renting a camper van in Mexico is most popular on the Yucatan Peninsula, likely due to its popularity with tourist destinations such as Cancun and Tulum. There are quite a few campervan companies scattered between Cancun and Tulum and deciding on which one you would like to rent from is entirely up to you. We will walk through each option, and highlight the pros and cons of each.

The Kombi Experience

Perhaps when you pictured yourself renting a campervan in Mexico, you pictured an old Kombi, parked along a beautiful crystal clear beach?

Well, you’re in luck, one of the Volkswagon’s kombi vehicle manufacturing plants was formerly located in Mexico and the country is chock-full of them. In fact, if you see a local enjoying van life, they are likely sporting a vintage Kombi that you would die for.

The Kombi Experience in Tulum is a kombi camper hire that can turn your dreams into reality. The Kombi Experience rents vintage Kombis from the 1970s that have been restored to their previous glory. Currently, these guys have four Westfalia camper vans for rent,

• Azulita: The only kombi born and raised in Mexico, Azulita was built in 1976. All of the interiors of Azulita are original including the Westfalia pop top. Azulita costs €120 per night to rent.
• Whale: A beautiful, orange Westfalia built in 1976 in Germany. The Whale can sleep two adults and includes everything you need for a camping holiday (see more below). The Whale has a pop top allowing you to sleep with a cool breeze. The Whale costs €130 per night.
• Mandarine: A beautiful sunshine coloured Westfalia built in 1979 in Germany. The Mandarine can sleep four people (two adults and two children) and includes everything you need for a camping holiday. The Mandarine has a larger kitchen than the other options available. The Mandarine costs €130 per night.
• Kiwi: This striking green kombi is the youngest of them all born in 1983. Similar to the Mandarine, Kiwi can accommodate four people (two adults and two children). Kiwi costs €120 per night for rental.

Each of the kombis for hire includes the following:

If you rent with The Kombi Experience, you can only drive in the state of Quintana Roo. This, however, is not likely to be a problem as there are plenty of great destinations to explore in Quintana Roo such as Tulum, Bacalar, and Cobá (the ancient Mayan ruins).

Let The Kombi Experience know that The Vanabond Tales, sent you!

Alfa Combi

Another camper hire in Mexico offering the classic kombi is Alfa Combi. Alfa Combi offers the most options when it comes to deciding on which campervan to choose from as well as the best prices.

If you want the kombi experience, you can choose from either Estaban, Milenio, or Couanaoua for your kombi camper hire.

• Estaban: The smallest and most compact of all the kombi options comes with a tiny kitchen with a single camp burner and a bed. As the smallest, however, it is also the cheapest of all of the campervan rentals on this list at only €70 during low season (€80 during high season).
• Milenio: Similar to Estaban, Milenio is a small kombi with just a bed and a small kitchen. Due to its newer model, Milenoi costs €80 during the low season and €90 during the high season.
• Couanaoua: Couanaoua is the largest of the three options as it has a pop-top giving you more space inside the van as well as a bit more of a breeze. This model also has a bit more storage space and space for a portable toilet (if desired). This kombi camper hire costs €90 during the low season and €100 during the high season.

Outside of the vintage kombis, Alfa Combi also has a range of more modern vans available to rent. These vans include very basic outfits on the inside, primarily a bed and a small kitchen. The main difference between them is the space, the number of seatbelts available, and, of course, the price.

• Tekivan: The smallest of their modern fleet, Tekivan is a Renault Kangoo. The bed takes up most of the back and there is a slide-out / outdoor kitchen. Prices for Tekivan cost €90 during the low season and €100 during the high season.
• Mexivan: This converted Ford Transit differs from the Tekivan in that it has three seatbelts and comes with a rooftop deck allowing one person to sleep in a tent outside. The Mexivan starts at €100 during the low season and €110 during the high season.
• Lupivan: Lupivan is a converted VW Transporter. The inside is basic with a bed and a small sink. The one benefit of Lupivan is that you can sleep 3 people as Lupivan has a rooftop deck allowing one person to sleep in a tent under the stars. The Lupivan rents for €120 during the low season and €130 during the high season.
• Juanarte: A Nissan Urvan, Juanarte is a modern option available to rent. One cool feature of Juanarte is the rooftop deck which can sleep two additional people, it also has a small kitchen and full-size bed. Juanarte costs €120 during the low season and €130 during the high season.
• Yuca: Yuca, a Toyota Hiace, is the largest option available, and in fact, can fit four people for riding (only two for sleeping, but ground tents can be rented for an additional fee). There is no indoor kitchen, but there is a table inside that can be folded into a bed. The Yuca starts at €130 during the low season and €140 during the high season.

Option features that can be added to each of the rentals above include:

• Shower – €15
• Portable toilet – €30
• Two chairs and outdoor table – €15
• Basic cooler – €20
• 12v cooler – €60 (plus €200 deposit)
• Mosquito net – €10

The cost of insurance is included in the price, but you will need to pay for a cleaning service of €20 for each rental. Also if you rent for more than 12 days you get 20% off the daily rental price.

With all of the campervan rentals with Alfa Combi, you can travel 250 kilometers per day within the states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Campeche.

Check out our Yucatan road trip (#9 in our best road trips in Mexico) which covers the highlights of the Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Campeche!

Alfa Combi offers two free options for pick up and drop off at their offices in Merida and Cancun. You can also pick up or drop off at the Merida airport, Cancun airport, or the Valladolid ADO bus for an additional €100.

Paradise Campers

Paradise Campers is your best option for a modern camper in Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula. This small, boutique camper van rental in Mexico offers perfectly styled vans for your van life adventure in Mexico. Paradise Campers currently have two styles of campervans available to rent, one a converted Toyota Hiace and the other a motorhome.

The Paradise Campers’ camper van is perfect. Created by van lifers for van lifers, it is the ultimate way to travel throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. The camper van setup includes everything that you could want in a converted van, including a full bed, indoor kitchen, toilet, outdoor shower, extraction fans, air conditioning, refrigerator, and solar. The campervan is best for two people although there is seating for three.

The motorhome on the other hand can accommodate four guests sleeping (and six guests driving). As with the camper van, the motorhome has everything you could want for an epic adventure including two beds, a kitchen, a toilet, a shower, a refrigerator, solar, and more! The advantage of a motorhome is that you get a little bit more space than in the camper van.

The camper van costs $148 per day during the low season and must be rented for a minimum of four days. During high season, the campervan must be rented for a minimum of seven days (i.e., a full week) and costs USD $178.

The motorhome costs $178 per day during the low season, and similarly, must be rented for four days. During high season, the motorhome costs $210 per day and again requires a full week rental.

The high season runs from March 13th to April 16th and December 12th to January 8th.

Camper Van Rental in Baja California

Baja California is one of the few places in Mexico we haven’t explored by van, but many have. There are so many off-the-beaten-path destinations to explore and epic Baja California road trips to embark on.

But to do so, you will need a van but perhaps in this part of Mexico, a 4×4 vehicle would be most suited. There are two primary companies offering campervan rental in Baja Mexico but undoubtedly there will be more in the future as van life in Mexico, especially the Baja Peninsula, grows each year.

Vanbaja

Vanbaja is our pick when booking a camper van rental in Baja California. Vanbaja offers pick up in Cabo San Lucas and is looking to expand to Tijuana very soon.

Vanbaja’s campervan is a Dodge Promaster 2500 that includes all the bells and whistles needed for an epic holiday. Features include a portable stove (trust me, you will want to cook outdoors), Dometic fridge/freezer, kitchen gear, comfy foam beds, outdoor shower with 100L tank, rooftop extraction fan with remote, blackout curtains, 400 ah battery bank with inverter (and that is plenty and will give you enough power to work from the road), towels, soap, and shampoo… I know, it’s a lot.

You also have the option to add on extra features like a portable toilet, Starlink, surfboards, fishing gear, SUP board, kayaks, and other beach gear. And don’t forget your furry friends. Vanbaja lets you bring your pets along with you for an additional fee.

The team at Vanbaja will also create a custom itinerary suited to your style of travel for an additional fee which is awesome for those just trying out campervanning.

Vanbaja is also the cheapest of the two options in Baja California, with prices between USD $140 – $150 per day plus mandatory insurance of $50 per day. Vanbaja includes 200 kilometers per day with the camper van rental.

Vanbaja also offers a smaller, more compact 4×4 option, great for getting off the beaten path to some of the Baja Peninsula’s more remote destinations. Just like with the campervan, the 4×4 rental also includes all of the things you need for a camping holiday but without any solar or power solutions.

Don’t forget to let Vanjaba know that The Vanabond Tales, sent you!

Sampa Explore

Sampa Explore, located in Cabo San Lucas, is one of the few camper van rental companies in Baja California. Sampa Explore offers 4×4 rentals as well as campervan rentals. In fact, if you want to go off-road then Sampa Explore is probably your best option as it has the most 4×4 rental options.

The 4X4 rentals include options such as the Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Ram, and Toyota Tacoma, each with a rooftop tent and basic camping needs for two people. The basic camping gear includes two pillows, a shade, a cooler, a road shower, a first aid kit, and a rescue kit. Additional ground tents can be rented as each of the 4×4 vehicles can fit four people (i.e., there are seatbelts for four people).

The price of the 4×4 rental varies depending on the time of the year you want to visit and the type of 4×4 vehicle you choose, but you can expect to pay between USD $160 – $210 per day plus an additional $25 per day for the mandatory insurance.

One of the downsides of the 4×4 is that most of the camping equipment that you will need on your trip will need to be added on as extras which can make the already expensive price prohibitively expensive. There is a premium 4×4 option which includes most of the gear that you would need but adds another $50 USD at a minimum.

The 4×4 options also do not include any solar or a way to charge devices that cannot be charged using a USB.

Available extras include:

*Indicates inclusion in premium 4×4 option.

Sampa Explore also has great camper van options, such as the Dodge Pro Master 2500 and the Ford Transit 3500. These vans come kitted out as you would expect with beds, indoor kitchens, all bedding and kitchen equipment needed, electric cooler, solar power, inverter, camping chairs, shade, water tank, first aid kit, and rescue kit. You can also add some of the premium options just like with the 4x options.

Expect to pay approximately USD $225 per day plus another USD $35 per day for the mandatory insurance which includes 260 kilometers per day.

To rent with Samba Explore, you need to pay 30% upfront with the booking and the remainder upon pick up. Another added bonus is that Samba Explore will refund the 30% deposit if you cancel with more than a 30-day notice.

Camper Van Rental in Oaxaca

During our van life adventure in Mexico, the state of Oaxaca was one of our favorite destinations. We spent well over a month on a wild, adventurous Oaxacan road trip exploring the city of Oaxaca as well as the beautiful Oaxacan coastline.

Nomadico

Run by a French-Belgian couple who met traveling, Nomadico is a small, friendly campervan rental company in Puerto Escondido. Their range is small, currently only offering one 4×4 option and a few motorcycles, but they are expanding their camping options with a Ford campervan conversion soon.

The 4×4 comes with all of the camping equipment you need, including a rooftop tent that can sleep two and comes with unlimited kilometers. There is also some add-on gear available such as a power station, hammocks, towels, and a welcome package, including cold beer and snacks.

The 4×4 option with Nomadico will only set you back about USD $90 per day with pick up in Puerto Escondido.

Don’t forget to let Nomadico know that The Vanabond Tales, sent you! You can also get a 5% discount using the code VANABONDTALES at checkout!

Wicked Campers Puerto Escondido Mexico

There is one option for camper van rental in Oaxaca and that is Wicked Campers. You may have heard about Wicked Campers before as it is a global company with operations on every continent, bar Antarctica.

Wicked Campers is located on the Oaxacan coast in Puerto Escondido, a destination known for its epic surf. At Wicked Campers, you can rent what they call the 2 seater Tornado for just $99 per day, coming in at one of the cheapest options of all of the camper van rentals in Mexico.

While the 2 seater Tornado is a bit smaller than many of the other camper van rental companies, it does include everything you need, such as an outdoor table, stools, gas cooker, water container, kitchen gear, and a cooler (icebox). The price also includes an additional driver, if you are traveling with a friend or your partner.

For a full walkthrough of the Tornado check out this video by Wicked Campers.

Don’t forget to let WickedCampers know that The Vanabond Tales, sent you! You can also get a 5% discount using the code WickedVANABONDS at checkout!

That rounds up our list of options for camper van rental in Mexico. Short-term van life culture and campervanning are just getting started in Mexico, but it is growing rapidly. When we traveled Mexico by campervan, there were only a few companies making it possible for vacationers and holidaymakers. As this phenomenon becomes more popular in Mexico, so too will the options available.

We hope this list of options for camper van rental in Mexico has been helpful. If so, let us know in the comments below. Similarly, if we missed something, drop us a note, as we want to make sure we are bringing you the best and most up-to-date content available.

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Now go get lost!