The sunset in San Felipe is almost always spectacular, signaling a great dinner and after-dark fun in town.

Be sure to check out the San Felipe Calendar of Events for a list of upcoming things to do.

The prime reason that most people come to San Felipe is to relax. Bring plenty of good books with you and put your feet up. A small library can be found on Calzada Chetumal near the electricity plant but you will not be able to take books out unless you go through a lengthy application process and get a local guarantor. An excellent shop for finding new and used books, maps etc. is at San Felipe Title Co. next to Baja Java - both located upstairs above a souvenir shop on the corner of Calzada Chetumal and Avenida Mar de Cortez.

If you want something more active, stop in at the tourist office on Avenida Mar de Cortez just south of the new Costa Azul Hotel or call them from any telephone by dialing (686) 577-1155. They can tell you how to go on a fishing trip, visit the valley of the giant cacti, or possibly take a trip out into the desert to see the springs and waterfalls. If water sports are your fancy, try the new Kayak or Pedal Boat Rentals.

Various sporting events, such as Hobie Cat regattas, triathlons and desert bike races, are held and there are several local colorful pageants, which are staged for major Mexican fiesta days. Check our calendar for upcoming events.

If you tow a boat down you can use the free launch ramp at the harbor which is a mile south of town. This facility was constructed for all to use (military and civilian). If someone comes over and tries to charge you a fee then by all means report them to the tourist office in town. You can call 577-1155 on your cellphone to talk to one of the friendly, English-speaking staff there. Note that there is no crane launch facility in San Felipe so lowering a large boat into the water is not possible. You would have to go over to Puerto Penasco for such a service, or launch in San Diego and sail round the tip of the peninsular. One day, many years from now, the Mexican government's plan for an Escalera Nautica (a "nautical ladder") envisions boat harbors located all along the coastline of Baja California - each about 1 day's sail from the next one. Unfortunately, the economics of this plan assume that around 80,000 boats will be in these new ports. That represents virtually all of the ocean-capable boats in all the harbors between San Diego and the Canadian border.

A pleasant day trip for any vehicle is to drive down to Puertecitos, 50 miles south of San Felipe. Check the road conditions - potholes and lack of road surface are major problems south of km 40. Puertecitos is a small American retirement community that has arisen around the hot, sulfurous, geothermal springs on the rocky shore there. Unless the tide is high, the spring's water will generally be too hot to sit in, but you can test it with your feet; it is very relaxing. A small gas station and a restaurant there are open from time to time. A nominal entrance fee is charged to enter the tourist section of Puertecitos.

The road south of Puertecitos is quite rough in places but a passenger car with high clearance can get as far as Bahia San Luis Gonzaga and on to Laguna Chapala where you join up with the main highway down the peninsula to Cabo San Lucas. You should travel very slowly, tire damage by sharp rocks in the road is the main hazard. Be on the alert when approaching wide RVs.

If you feel as though you are retired, or soon might be, you should stop in at the San Felipe Association of Retired Persons (SFARP) and have a pleasant morning, meeting 50 or so active residents of the community who will be delighted to talk to you about life here. This group of people can offer a wealth of information about touring and living in the region. They get together the first and third Wednesdays of the month (October through May) at 10 a.m. (a.m. American time - you can be up to 10 minutes late) currently at the Ocotillo Lodge. There is a $2 per person charge to cover coffee and expenses.

There are miles of pristine beaches to stroll on, but take a sweater (October through March) in case the wind comes up. A delightful walk south from town takes you past the El Cortez and Las Misiones Hotels as well as several small campgrounds. At the El Cortez, you should check out the Barefoot Bar on the beach. It has a Hemmingway-era atmosphere with equipales tables and chairs and is a great place to stop for a drink on a winter afternoon. Look for a photograph on the El Cortez web page. Proceed across the harbor, where the shrimp fleet used to be housed (the big black boats you see there now are just floating relics that were repossessed by the bank), to the San Felipe Marina Resort. Head for the thatched roof building - the palapa - where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch and have an incredible view for around $10-20.

Mexican Time: San Felipe is a very casual town and it is important to remember this when making plans. If you set up a meeting with someone (Mexican or resident American), be sure when you say "Meet me at 9 o'clock at Chencho's for breakfast" to be clear if you mean 9 a.m.a (american time) or 9 a.m.m (mexican time). 9 a.m.a time means not more than 10 minutes late, 9 a.m.m. means three-quarters of an hour late and is perfectly OK - just order coffee to start with.

San Felipe is also a town in which a lot of alcohol is consumed - both in the bars and on the road. The most popular local beer is Tecate, but several other brands, including US beers are available. Six-packs are common but the cognoscenti buy the more cost-effective 1 liter "caguamas" (turtles) which, custom dictates, must be wrapped in a sheet of newspaper. There is a deposit on each of these bottles to encourage recycling. Drinking on public streets is technically not allowed. Glass bottles on the streets are forbidden. You will generally see plastic cups available at the exits of bars. There are many local chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous that try to keep up with the demand for services.