San Felipe, Baja Ca Sur, Mexico ~ a fishing village on the Sea of Cortez

San Felipe has been a vacation destination for our family since we were children. This seaside fishing village sits on the north west side of the Sea of Cortez. From San Diego it is about a 4 hour drive and about a 6 hour drive from Phoenix or Los Angeles. This is our go-to spot whenever we are craving a quick Mexican get-away. 

Activities in San Felipe range from  swimming, paddle boarding, snorkeling and fishing to just relaxing. The beaches in the center of town offer an abundance of rentals that include banana boats, sport fishing trips and kayaks. Because of it’s proximity to the desert, there are ample places to rent ATV’s to explore the off-road areas. 

There are a great deal of beaches to explore however, San Felipe experiences a huge tidal flow. At low tide the water can recede to over a mile out. Be sure to check your tide charts when planning your beach visits. South beach is one of our favorites. It’s just south of town and offers swimming with waves, snorkeling with lots of fish to see and shelling. However, if you head south on route 5 there are many more beaches that are less populated.

Did someone say fish tacos?

San Felipe is the birthplace of the fish taco. It is said that Ralph Rubio of Rubios restaurants got his original recipe from the fishermen in San Felipe. All along the Malecón are a series of open air taco shops that feature shrimp and fish tacos and other seafood selections. This is where we eat 90% of our meals when in San Felipe. We don’t specifically recommend one, just pop into the one that looks fun and enjoy some of the yummy fresh seafood. 

Our favorite places to stay

Stella del Mar is about a mile south of town and has small single unit bungalows. There are 14 beachfront units that feature individual palapas that will provide shade during the day and a quiet place to watch the waves at night. The feature bar service to the palapas and the beach vendors pass by regularly selling palettes and souvenirs. The restaurant here is excellent and the machaca breakfast here is some of the best we’ve ever had. You can walk to town via the beach or taxi service is easily available. 

The El Cortez is a half a mile south of town and has charming rooms and easy access to a beautiful beach. There’s also a nice pool and a fun restaurant and bar with epic margaritas. Additionally, they have a rental service for everything you need. If you are looking for more upscale accommodations, you can find some out of town luxury condo rentals on VRBO. If you’re looking for Camping in San Felipe, there are many campgrounds and beaches that allow camping with beachfront views.

On weekend nights, the Malecón erupts with activity. Families line the walkway and the parade of cars “cruising” the strip is nonstop. Street vendors are plentiful selling elotes, fresh churros and more. The music from the bands of mariachis cascades out over the crowd into the air. There is an overabundance of bars along the street where you can grab a beer and enjoy the spectacle. 

Valle de los gigantes (Valley of the giants)

One of the more spectacular sites in San Felipe is about 20 minutes south of town on route 5 at Rancho Punto Estrella called the Valle de los gigantes (Valley of the giants.) This forest of Sahuaro cacti is a true gift of nature. Some of them reach as high as 50 feet into the sky. You can tour them from the car but you’ll definitely want to get out and walk around these magnificent species. 

Back in town there is some fantastic shopping. Here you can purchase everything from souvenirs to tapestries, textiles and hand-blown glass. San Felipe is charming town to get away to and relax, enjoy some remarkable food and make some great memories. 

Be sure to check out our blogs of La Paz and Puerto Peñasco for other Baja, Ca. Sur road-trips!