While camping in Mexico is exhilarating, it can also be very challenging and it is this fact  that makes it such an exciting country to camp in. The area is filled with mystery and  intrigue, and if you are a camping greenhorn, leave Mexico until you have a little more  experience. The last thing you need when on a camping vacation, is to find yourself in the  Chihuahuan Desert, believing you can stop at the next Chevron for bottled water, it aint  going to happen. The only thing you may find is a muddy puddle, or a Gila Monster if you are  lucky.

You have to plan carefully for camping in Mexico, and this is part of the excitement of  making a trip like this. You need to keep things to the minimum, yet make sure you have  everything you need.  However, no matter how well prepared you are, it is rare that a camping trip to Mexico comes off exactly as planned. If you are the adventurous type, this may just be the vacation you have been longing for.

Yes, prepare for every eventuality, but also be prepared to experience the most amazing  camping opportunities. Memories are made of this, but be aware that you have to have a lot of nerve to pull it off, Mexico is not for shrinking violets, so if you are made of sterner stuff, you will be just fine.

Having the clothing to be able to dress for most weather conditions is necessary, you could be in the scorching dessert one day and in the snowy mountains the next. You may even experience tropical storms.

To really enjoy a Mexican camping experience you have to be very flexible and be able to go with the flow. Flexibility is key to your enjoyment of this experience, unpredictability has to embraced,  and carefully laid plans, change at the very last minute.

Use camping checklists, you will find these online, they will help you ensure you have everything  you need in its most compact form. Shop for your luxuries in the US, while shopping in  unfamiliar stores in unfamiliar Mexican towns is fun, if you are a woman and you want a  Hershey bar now, you will be in for a long wait. Nachos can never replace your favorite  chocolate bar.

Never drink tap water, unless you have boiled it or purified it, bottled water is always the safest. Camping with dysentery is no fun; take it from me, the  idiot who ate fresh oysters from Brazilian waters. We all  have to do our bit to protect the environment. Make sure you take toilet paper that is biodegradable.

Make sure you have an emergency medical kit, you need it to be compact, yet comprehensive,  find a checklist for this online too. You never know when something as small as a headache will happen, or an emergency like your husband sliding down an arroyo and grazing his hands and knees, and giving you a headache.