San Felipe

San Felipe is part of the Municipality of Mexicali, Baja California, and it is 240 kilometers (149 Miles) south of the City of Mexicali. It neighbors North and East with the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortés and the State of Sonora; Southwest with the municipality of Ensenada. Land access to San Felipe is through Federal Highways # 5 from Mexicali and # 3 from Ensenada, both in good condition.

San Felipe is a warm friendly town with an old fishing tradition that has developed a very important tourist industry in the last 40 years or so. The natural beauty of this place, its’ beautiful sandy beaches with warm waters during summer and a mild winter, attract people from northern harsher climates. Also, the constant northwest wind and clear skies, make it a perfect location for sailing and other sea sports.

The mainstay of San Felipe's economy are tourism and commerce. There are also fishing cooperatives that produce mainly shrimp and a large variety of fish. There is also a cannery. San Felipe’s port is for cargo and mostly services the local shrimp-fleet and recreational crafts. The dock is 127 meters (417 feet) long and 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) deep.

San Felipe has its own airport operated by the State Government and it is an international facility. It is located 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of town and it is accessed by a paved road.


Things To Do

Lodging:
San Felipe boasts more than 800 hotel rooms plus several suites, condos and apartments, running from big resorts to R.V. accommodations. From excellent Five-star luxury resorts as "San Felipe Marina Resort and Spa" to great 3 and 4 stars places as: "El Cortez", in San Felipe you'll find prices for every budget.

Restaurants:
The Restaurants in San Felipe are great! From The famous steak house "El Nido" to excellent seafood restaurants or taco stands, San Felipe has it all! Fresh fish and shrimp on season, right at your table. Try the delicious "Cordon Bleu Shrimp" or "Sarandeado Fish". Also, your visit is not complete without trying a fresh coconut on the main street stands. Along the beach you'll find fish tacos and tostada stands made with "ceviche"; this is a traditional mixture of raw fish or shrimp with lemon, cilantro, onions, tomatoes and hot peppers.

Night Life:
San Felipe means fun day or night! The famous "Rockodile" on the main street as well as several discotheques and bars along the beach allow you to enjoy the night as much as the days. Disco, Funk, Rock, Mariachis... You'll find a little bit of everything in this marvelous town.

Arches Monument:
Symbolizes the access door into the Sea of Cortés.

Hills and Prairies:
Desert views with sand dunes and the mountains at San Pedro Mártir National Park (Camping areas and hunting facilities available.)

Panoramic Views:
At Punta Estrella you can collect sea shells while enjoy the endless view. From the foot of the Virgin's Hill you can take a look of all the bay and the sea walk. La Hacienda is another place to catch the sunrise or the sunset.

Thermal Waters:
Some 98 kilometers South of town, in Puertecitos, there are thermal waters and basic services such as: gas station, boat ramp, etc.

Beaches:
From May to October the water is warm, and cool from November to April. The entire bay is free from any contaminants.

Valley of the Giants (Cardones y Sahuaros)
Since the extraction and sending to Sevilla, Spain, of one of the best samples of these giant dessert plants, this place has rapidly become a tourist attraction and it has even awakened the interest of professional photographers who use it as a background for their work. The valley is located 14 kilometers south of town, near the mountains.

Consag Island:
This island of 100 meters high is located southeast of San Felipe and it contains a large population of sea wolves, seals, and many species of birds. It takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach the island in normal sailing conditions.

Tourist Camps:
Both, North and South of San Felipe, there are many tourist camps, all of them adapted to their natural surroundings. Near the beautiful sandy beaches, others with rocks or cliffs landscapes, all are very popular. RV’s and mobile homes facilities available.

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Source: http://www.bajatimes.com/sanfelipe_things.asp