Living in San Felipe

Not long ago, San Felipe was a sleepy fishing town. Today, it’s host to one of Mexico’s retirement communities.

San Felipe At-a-Glance:

Location Type

Beach/Desert

Population

15,000 (2005 Census). The local population can increase by up to 40% in the winter months.

Altitude

9 feet above sea-level

Time Zone

Pacific Time

High/Low Temperatures

38F (Nocturnal, Winter), 95F (Daytime, Summer). Year-Round Average 78F.

Rainy Season?

San Felipe does not experience a monsoon rains season; most rainfall takes place in late August and September

Hurricanes?

San Felipe is sometimes subject to adverse weather arising from Pacific hurricanes.

Local Economy:

Principally fishing (Shrimp Fishing) and tourism.

Expat Penetration

Moderate*

Cost of Living*

Moderate (About Average)

Travel Guide

Travel Guide to San Felipe

Safe in San Felipe

Latest Mexico Safety Updates

*Relative to other foreign expat communities in Mexico

San Felipe is situated on Mexico’s Baja peninsula, about a two-hour road drive (125 miles) south of Mexicali on the U.S.-Mexico Border. The town’s proximity to the U.S.A. is one of the prime features which attracts foreigners, and particularly Americans, to consider the town as a place for part-time or full-time living and retirement.

The Baja Peninsula is divided into two states: Baja California, and Baja California Sur, and is a socially and politically unique region of Mexico. There exists a considerable amount of U.S. influence here and the peninsula is becoming autonomous in many ways to the rest of Mexico, albeit the land and the local people who inhabit it continue to exude Mexican culture and values.

“The Baja” as the peninsula is often referred to, is tightly linked to the United States in many ways; in part because of the geography and in part due to the massive U.S. investment — both corporate and individual — that is taking place here. For example, many prices in Los Cabos are routinely quoted in U.S. Dollars; and, at a macro level, Baja California produces its own electricity — so much, that it exports the excess for sale to California in the U.S.A.

Mexican authorities also recognize the uniqueness of this land space and have made special allowances, such as allowing U.S.-plated motor vehicles to enter and remain on the peninsula, provided that the vehicle’s U.S. tax stickers are kept current. Elsewhere in Mexico, vehicles require an import permit and must be legalized (plates changed to Mexican plates) or exported (driven back across the border) within a fixed time period.

The peninsula’s geography, the ties to the United States, and the unabating investment pouring-in from Mexico’s northern neighbor as well from Mexican interests, provide retirees and people who want to live (and possibly work) in Mexico a very unique opportunity: to live in a region that is undoubtedly Mexican, but which has many of the hues and benefits of being so closely associated with the U.S.A.

Of course, the influx of investment and interest over the last fifteen to twenty years means that land and property prices have risen considerably over the period; however, since the credit crisis that began in late 2007, prices have begun to atone and relative bargains may now be sought in the region.

With over 55,000 square miles of land space, the Baja peninsula is huge. Baja California is over 27,000 square miles in size; its capital city is Mexicali. Baja California Sur, that incorporates Los Cabos, is a little over 28,000 square miles in size. The southern state on the peninsula is the least densely populated state in Mexico, with just one person for every four square miles of land space. Its capital city is La Paz.

The Baja peninsula offers a diverse range of options for people who want to live retire and even work in Mexico. For example, Los Cabos offers top-level amenities and local services; however, if you want to live more simply, there are alternative spaces, like those in and around San Felipe, offering land parcels ideal for the construction of eco-homes in Mexico.

The peninsula offers good transport links by road, air and ferry. People who own their own boats also find the many ports and marinas make the peninsula easily accessible.

The climate in this region is divine; it’s one of the biggest attractions for retirees and even then, there is choice. Although the coastal areas get hot and sultry in the summer, sea breezes cool them down; for those who need respite from the heat, mountain ranges that climb over a mile high above sea-level offer altitude and cooler temperatures.

With the advent of developments in San Felipe and some other notable towns in the northern reaches of the peninsula including Rosarito Beach, Ensenada and San Quintin, the north of the peninsula has taken on a new life: the inward investment is bringing new, modern, infrastructure, amenities and services to areas which, like the southern area of the peninsula, were once sleepy villages and this investment is opening up opportunities for foreigners who are looking for comfortable, affordable and well-connected locations to retire to in Mexico.

San Felipe has moved beyond the “fishing village” status it once had and is now regularly frequented by foreign visitors as well as expats who make this place their home part-time or full-time. Choosing San Felipe as a place to live or retire means that you will arrive with a number of retirement communities already established, infrastructure, amenities and services already in place, and the location still offering plenty of space for future growth: both in terms of community development and longer term investment.

Affordable Living

Affordability is another factor. The Baja peninsula is organized into two Mexican states: Baja California and Baja California Sur. The southern reaches of the peninsula, and particularly Los Cabos (‘the capes’, comprising of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas) have experienced a two-decade long boom, attracting an influx of foreign investors and retirees. This has driven up prices in the south, whereas in the north (Baja California), development has been hitherto subdued in comparison; the penetration of expats has been lower and so market prices match that lower demand.

Eco Homes

San Felipe is also emerging as one of the world’s premier locations for people who want to buy land and develop an Eco (or Energy Efficient) Home in Mexico. Technologies that enable home owners to be self-contained in terms of heat, light, water and sewerage have experienced a massive leap in recent years. San Felipe offers parcels of land which are extremely affordable and ideally situated for the construction of an Eco Home. You can get detailed information about Eco Homes in Mexico on Mexperience.

Seaside and Desert Living

Waterside lands with permission to build residential dwelling houses and homes overlooking the sea have become almost unaffordable for most people in places like the U.S.A., Canada and Western Europe.

People who harbor dreams of living near or alongside the sea find that San Felipe is still affordable and, if where plans exist to create an Eco Home, lands set aside for that purpose can be secured for less than U.S.$20,000 per plot.

The region’s desert climate, with winter temperatures (Dec-Mar) averaging in the mid 60’s F, spring temperatures (Apr-Jun) rising to averages in the late 70’s F, and summer temperatures (July-Sep) reaching as high as the mid 90’s F, San Felipe offers an attractive year-long climate for living and retirement.

Cost of Living in San Felipe

The cost of living in Mexico is typically lower in Mexico than it is the USA, Canada and Western Europe, although precise costs depend upon where you live and your lifestyle choices.

Cost of Living Report

To learn more about the cost of living in Mexico, connect to the Mexico Cost of Living page on Mexperience.

Regional and geographical cost variations do exist, and this part of the guide shows you how some goods and services at San Felipe vary from the average.

See Also:

Banks, Banking and Credit in Mexico | Money in Mexico

Blog Articles:

Money, Banking & Finance

Real Estate in San Felipe

The real estate market, like many others across Mexico, surged between the late 1990’s and 2007. Recent market conditions have caused price rises to stall, which is now creating an investment opportunity for people who want to make a long term commitment to the area.

Price rises, although significant, did not climb so high as to make San Felipe unaffordable, and the low cost of land reserved for the construction of eco-homes, proffers a unique opportunity for people seeking to create an energy efficient “off the grid” home in Mexico.

Real Estate Market in San Felipe

With FONATUR’s multi-million dollar investment combined with the close location to the U.S.A., San Felipe has emerged from its status as a sleepy fishing village to a thriving community whose main economy is now tourism, retirement communities, and real estate.

During the early 2000’s a real estate boom occurred and now a number of developments can be found along the coast beginning in the north end of town, through the town of San Felipe proper, and extending south of town.

Most real estate is sold directly through the developers although there are a couple of real estate agencies in town marketing individual properties. Real estate types range from beachfront homes, lots, and condos. Residences are available in the town of San Felipe as well as out-of-town, where investors are buying desert homes offering tranquil surroundings and sea and mountain views. While prices have escalated there has been a modest price correction recently.

San Felipe is also a location for people who want to build and live in Eco and Energy Efficient Homes in Mexico; plots of land which are ‘off the grid’ may be acquired at very low prices.

Rentals Market in San Felipe

Most rental properties in San Felipe are offered through developers or by individual property owners listing properties on the Internet. Although there are a few expatriates marketing rental services there does not exist a reliable rental agency at this time.

See Also:

Guide to Real Estate in Mexico | Home Maintenance | Home Security

Health and Healthcare in San Felipe

Good quality basic healthcare services, as well as a small clinic offering U.S.-standard healthcare services exists in San Felipe. In addition to Mexico’s state sponsored healthcare provided via the country’s national health service IMSS, good quality healthcare services offered through private clinics with US -standard healthcare services exist in San Felipe and in nearby Mexicali and a little further away in Tijuana. The privately-run out patient clinics available locally are ideal for day-to-day ailments, sprains, broken bones and other health matters which would normally be diagnosed and treated by a General Practitioner of medicine.

See Also:

Health and Healthcare in Mexico | Travel Health in Mexico

Local Climate in San Felipe

San Felipe enjoys a yearly average temperature of 78F/24C. Winter months can be cooler and drop to 38F/4C at night; summer months may reach highs of 95F/32C.

Winter Climate:

November through February are the coolest months. Temperatures can range from 38F/4C to 70F/19C in the day.

Spring Climate:

March through May – springtime – are warm months in San Felipe with temperatures ranging from 50F/10C overnight to 80F/25C in the daytime.

Summer Climate:

June through August are the hottest months, with temperature ranging from 60F/15C overnight, to 95F/32C in the daytime. Temperatures reach their peak in mid-July and August; this is a time when many local residents leave the area to go traveling and retirees leave to visit families back home; returning in mid September as the climates further north begin to turn cool or cold, and temperatures in San Felipe begin to moderate.

Autumn Climate:

Temperatures moderate again starting in mid September through November, returning to similar levels as those experienced in the springtime ranging from 50F/10C overnight to 80F/25C in the daytime.

Rainy Season:

San Felipe does not experience a “rainy season”, although it does get a good deal of rainfall in late August and September, when hurricanes from the Pacific can cause adverse weather conditions across the Baja peninsula.

Hurricanes:

As San Felipe is on the Sea of Cortez, it is rarely directly affected by hurricanes, which brew in the Pacific, and lose strength as they cross land. However, hurricanes can affect the general weather here, causing heavy rain, overcast skies and winds.

Sea Temperature in San Felipe

During the peak summer months of July and August, sea temperatures reach as high as 80F/23C; in other months, the sea temperature will average around 50F/9C.

See Also:

Weather and Climates in Mexico

Practical Information About Living in San Felipe

This section contains links to guides where you can learn more about living in San Felipe.

Accessibility / Transport

Getting Around San Felipe

Getting Around

Transportation choices in Mexico

Communications

Staying in contact while living in Mexico

Money and Banking

Guide to Money in Mexico | Banks & Banking in Mexico

Practical Matters

Practical Information (Travel Guide)

Auto Insurance in Mexico

How to insure your foreign-plated car in Mexico

Safety in Mexico

Latest Safety Updates

Key Attractions

Travel Guide to San Felipe

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Where the desert meets the sea in eastern Baja California, you will find boisterous San Felipe. Situated between the dramatic Colorado Desert and waters of the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortés), this once sleepy fishing village has emerged as one of Mexico’s fastest-growing resort towns and is becoming particularly popular with foreigners who are seeking a place for retirement or to purchase a vacation home.

San Felipe is located about 125 miles south of Mexicali. There is a good road connecting San Felipe to the States and the journey time takes about two hours by road from the US border.

The town was founded in 1916 and, until recent times, its inhabitants depended principally upon the shrimp fished from the local waters of the area. Today, the locals continue to fish the waters for shrimp, although the economy has been transformed by the influx of tourists and retirees. It is estimated that San Felipe attracts some 250,000 visitors a year; principally ‘snow birds’ from the US and Canada who arrive between November and March each year.

San Felipe was a popular ‘spring break’ destination for US college students, long before tourists and retirees and began to arrive. They continue to visit here each year, and the ‘spring break’ season (usually just before or just after Easter each year) is a busy time for San Felipe’s campsites, hotels, B&Bs, bars, and beaches.

New hotels and amenities are appearing every year in San Felipe. This is not a luxury vacation resort area, although it’s ideal if you’re seeking a warm desert climate alongside a beautifully unspoiled beach and want to be away from the hyper-commercialization associated with resorts situated on the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.

Pastimes here include sports fishing, desert tours, off-road driving, golf and nature walks along beaches and in the surrounding mountains.

San Felipe is one of various locations in Mexico which is beginning to emerge as one of Mexico’s most sought-after beach locations for retirees and those seeking affordable real estate investments. San Felipe is also host to a significant community of people building Eco Homes in Mexico.

As with so many ‘up-and-coming’ areas around Mexico, real estate developers are having a considerable influence on the social landscape of this region. Villages and small towns like San Felipe, which hitherto were off-the-beaten track locations, are now becoming connected by means of new roads and new infrastructure that is being implemented as part of the wider realty development projects. This trend is continuing to have a considerable influence on the popularity of the region.

Most people who visit San Felipe come to get away from the commercialized tourist scenes available elsewhere in Baja and also to scout the area for a possible property purchase and/or retirement home.

If you want a luxurious resort experience in Baja for your vacation, consider instead San Jose del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas. If you’re looking for a quieter and less commercialized beach experience, close to nature, close to the US border and away from the crowds, San Felipe is the ideal place to consider.

Key Attractions

San Felipe offers a range of attractions, local services and amenities. A selection of what is available now is detailed below. More will follow in the months and years ahead as more people move in, communities develop further and the demand for local services increases.

Pristine Beaches

As you would expect from a water-side location, a beach is never far away from San Felipe. For walking, jogging, strolling and swimming, San Felipe and environs offers a wonderful selection of beautifully quiet and unspoiled beaches to enjoy. The high salt content in the sea water makes you so bouyant that swimming is quite easy. Spectacular rises and falls of the tide may also be witnessed around the time of the new and full moon; check local tide tables for details.

Konsag Island

Konsag island is clearly visible from the bay of San Felipe. It takes about a forty-five minute boat ride to reach the island; locals and visitors go here to enjoy watching sea lions and seals. The island is also popular with ornithologists as it’s home to a colonies of seabirds.

Las Caras de Mexico Golf Course

Las Caras de Mexico (“The Faces of Mexico”) Golf Course is an 18-hole course on the Sea of Cortez. Located within the beach and golf resort of La Ventana del Mar in San Felipe, this course offers unparalleled views of the sea and mountains. It was named “Faces of Mexico” to give it an archaeological, historical and social Mexican character. At every hole you will encounter one of the great men and women who have helped mold Mexico into the beautiful country it is today. See: http://www.lascarasdemexico.com/

San Felipe Boardwalk

The town’s boardwalk, or malecon, is the seawall that fronts the town’s principal beach area. In addition to watching life go by, a number of street sellers — including food stalls — set up for trade along the sea wall. Fish and shrimp tacos feature prominently as fresh fish is a key economic activity of the townspeople. Various fishing charter boats also advertise their services along the malecon.

Sports Fishing in San Felipe

Sports fishing is one of the biggest and most popular pastimes in Baja, and San Felipe is no exception. Sports fishing expeditions are available from San Felipe, with some of the operators having decades of experience of the local waters.

See Also: Sports Fishing in Mexico

Enjoy Hot Springs at Nearby Puertecitos

An easy 50 mile drive from San Felipe is Puertecitos (meaning ‘little ports’), where you’ll find natural hot springs that are said to soothe and heal. The town, which has been frequented by visitors since the time of the Spanish Conquest, was famously settled by Rafael Orozco in the late 1940’s and his daughter continues to have a home in the village. The town has a number of small motels, restaurants and is also host to some retirement communities populated principally by Americans and Canadians.

Desert Eco Tours

The wonderful natural environment, the beaches and the mountains provide an ideal back-drop for desert tours from San Felipe. It’s the perfect area for people who are interested in desert geology, as well as its flora and fauna including over 100 species which grow here and nowhere else in the world.

Valley of the Giants

The ‘Valley of Giants’ is one of the most frequented attractions here. The area is a natural reserve of the tallest cactus species in the world, the Cardon Cactus, with some specimens over sixty-feet in height and over 1,000 years old. The area is especially popular with photographers who delight in capturing shots of these gentle giants as well as the outstanding natural beauty that surrounds them.

Getting There & Around

By Air – San Felipe does have a small airport, but no commercial flights arrive there. The closest commercial airport is in Mexicali (on the US border, about a 2 hour drive from San Felipe) and Loreto, further to the south. If you arrive in San Felipe by air (must be on a private jet or charter as no commercial airlines fly there yet) you will need to arrange your own local road transport. The airport is situated about 6 miles (10 km) south of the town. For detailed information about flights and flying, see the Mexperience guide to Air Travel in Mexico.

By Bus – Bus services connect Ensenada and Mexicali to San Felipe daily. If your journey begins in Tijuana, you’ll need to take a bus to either Ensenada or Mexicali and change there for a bus to San Felipe. The journey from Mexicali takes around 2.5 hours; the journey from Tijuana around 6 hours. For detailed information about bus transportation read the Mexperience guide to Bus Travel in Mexico.

By Car – Virtually all visitors to San Felipe arrive by road. The journey time from the US border is approximately 2 hours from Mexicali (the most common border crossing for travelers arriving to San Felipe) using Highway 5. By crossing the border at San Diego, some travelers take the scenic coastal road to Ensenada and then take highway 3 (southeast) which intersects with highway 5 about 30 miles north of San Felipe. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico’s Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Car Rental – To properly explore Mexico’s Baja Peninsula consider renting a car for your visit. Having your own car will give you more flexibility than using public transport options and, in some cases, offer you access to places which are otherwise difficult to visit without the use of a car. Read our guide to Car Rental in Mexico

By Ferry – If you are on Mexico’s mainland, or want to get to it, there is a ferry that crosses the Sea of Cortés (also known as the Gulf of California) to and from La Paz to the port cities of Mazatlan and Los Mochis (Topolobambo). The ferry trip to/from Mazatlan takes 18 hours and does not run daily; sleeping cabins are available with advance bookings. The ferry to/from Los Mochis (Topolobambo) takes around 8 hours and does not sail daily either. Check the Ferry’s web site at: http://www.ferrytmc.com/ for details of routes, schedules, prices and contact details.

Taxis – Taxis in most of Mexico’s beach-side towns and cities are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Taxi travel is very affordable in Mexico, in comparison to the USA, Canada and Europe, and so provides a viable means of public transportation in Mexico. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby; taxi hotel rates are usually higher than cabs you hail off the street. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a price with the driver. For detailed information, read the Mexperience guide to Taxi Travel in Mexico.

Local Bus – If your budget is tight or you want to see more of local life, local buses do run locally connecting San Felipe to main places north: Mexicali, Ensenada, Tijuana; and south: towns and villages along the coastline between San Felipe and Puertecitos.

San Felipe Essentials

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico page on Mexperience for detailed information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found at banks in the downtown area of San Felipe; some stores also have ATM facilities available. For detailed information about exchanging and managing your money, read the Mexperience guide to Money in Mexico.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical insurance and/or travel assistance insurance when you are visiting Mexico. Note that your US Automobile Insurance will not cover you in Mexico — you must get a top-up policy to be properly covered. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico. New ones open and old ones close all the time, but you won’t have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Local Climate

San Felipe’s climate is ideal for the enjoying the natural beauty this region has to offer.  Winter temperatures (Dec-Mar) average in the mid 60’sF, spring temperatures (Apr-Jun) rise to average in the late 70’s F, summer temperatures (July-Sep) may average as high as the mid 90’s F, cooling again in the fall to spring averages.

Weather & Climates in Mexico

Learn more about the weather and climates through the seasons and regions by connecting to the Mexperience guide about Weather and Climates in Mexico