So you booked a place in San Felipe. Maybe you found it on Vrbo, maybe someone told you about Las Casitas. Either way, you’re coming down and you don’t totally know what you’re walking into. Here’s the stuff the listing photos don’t cover.
The Drive In
If you’re coming from San Diego, it’s about four hours door to door. Cross at Mexicali, pick up Highway 5 south, and you’re there. The last 20 minutes are the good part – you come out of the desert hills and the Sea of Cortez just appears. Blue water, mountains on the far side, and suddenly the drive was worth it.
Stop for gas in Mexicali. There are Pemex stations on Highway 5 but the spacing is wide. Fill up before you leave civilization.
When You Arrive
San Felipe is small. There’s one main road into town, and you’ll figure out the layout in about ten minutes. Most vacation rentals are either on the beach side of town or in one of the communities south of town like Las Casitas or El Dorado Ranch.
A few things that catch first-timers off guard:
Water pressure. It varies. Some places have great pressure, some don’t. It’s well water, not city water. Totally safe for showering but most people drink bottled water or use a filter. Garrafones (big blue jugs of purified water) are available everywhere for about 30 pesos.
Power. Electricity works the same as in the States – same plugs, same voltage. Air conditioning is the biggest draw, and most rentals have it in the bedrooms at minimum. Your host will probably mention keeping the AC reasonable because the electric bill hits differently here.
Internet. It exists. It’s not fiber. Expect enough for email, social media, and streaming at standard definition. If you need to hop on a Zoom call for work, it’ll probably work, but don’t plan on uploading large files.
Noise. There isn’t any. Seriously. If you’re used to city noise, the silence at night in San Felipe takes some getting used to. You’ll hear waves, maybe a dog, maybe some music from a neighbor’s patio. That’s it.
Groceries
Hit the grocery store on your way in or the morning after you arrive. There are a few decent markets in town – nothing fancy, but they have everything you need. Produce is cheap and fresh. Meat and seafood are great. Tortillas from the tortilleria are a different experience than what you get in a plastic bag at home.
Stock up on:
- Bottled water (or garrafones)
- Limes. Buy a lot of limes. You’ll use them on everything.
- Eggs, tortillas, avocados for easy breakfasts
- Whatever you want to grill – the carne asada at the butcher is excellent
- Beer and ice (the ice trucks come through regularly, but bring a cooler)
Things you should bring from the States: any specific brands you can’t live without, good coffee if you’re particular, and sunscreen (it’s overpriced in tourist areas).
The Tides
This is the thing nobody mentions on the listing page. San Felipe has some of the most extreme tides in the world – up to 23 feet of difference between high and low tide. At low tide, the ocean pulls back hundreds of yards and you can walk on sand that’s normally underwater. Tide pools everywhere. Kids lose their minds.
At high tide, the water comes right up to the beach. It’s like a different place every six hours.
Check the tide tables before you plan your beach days. Low tide in the morning is ideal for walking and exploring. High tide in the afternoon means swimming and floating.
The Food Situation
You’re going to eat well. The fish tacos here are the real thing – not the gourmet reinterpretation, the actual thing. Battered fish, cabbage, crema, salsa, lime, and a corn tortilla that was made this morning. $1-2 per taco.
The malecon has a handful of restaurants with ocean views. Nothing fancy, but the shrimp cocktails are legitimate and the cold beer is cold. For a nicer dinner, ask your host where they eat. The best spots in San Felipe aren’t on Google Maps.
Coming Back
Here’s what happens. You go to San Felipe for a long weekend. You eat tacos, you float in the ocean, you watch the sunset from the patio, you sleep better than you have in months. Then you drive home and within a week you’re looking at the calendar trying to figure out when you can go back.
That’s the San Felipe trap. It’s not fancy. It’s not Instagram. It’s just… exactly what a vacation is supposed to feel like.
Check availability at Las Casitas for your next trip. We’ve got bungalows and poolside studios right on the Sea of Cortez.