San Felipe, Baja California

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San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.

San Felipe is a city in the Mexican state of Baja California is located 190 km south of the international border at Mexicali (connecting with Calexico, California, USA). It is located in the municipio ("municipality") of Mexicali.

Temperatures in San Felipe average year around approximately 24°C. The 7 m tides expose a kilometer of ocean floor. San Felipe experiences one of the largest tidal bores in the world due, in part, to the Colorado River delta to the north.

The Port of San Felipe is a small town that has traditionally depended on fishing as their economic base.

San Felipe is located in a unique ecosystem, where the desert meets the sea. Temperatures have ranged from 46°C in the shade during the summer months of July and August and, in December and January, the temperature can get to a low of about 4°C at night. The altitude of the Bay of San Felipe is 3 meters above sea level (or about 10 ft.). At low tide, the water can recede as much as 2 kilometers.

The population of San Felipe is estimated at 20,000 people. This number can increase by up to 5,000 depending on part-time residents (retirees & vacation homeowners) or popular weekends such as Spring Break or Memorial Day.

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[edit] History

The Baja California Peninsula has its historical origins in the sixteenth century, when it was discovered by Hernán Cortés on May 3, 1535. The history of San Felipe starts years later with Francisco de Ulloa's expeditions. Ulloa was one of Cortes' captains who navigated in front of the bay on September 1535. A year later, Hernando de Alarcón and Domingo Castillo explored the region and made the first detailed map of the peninsula, giving today's San Felipe its first name: Santa Catalina.

With the passing of the years and after the first expeditions were long forgotten, Father Eusebio Kino rediscovered the Baja California peninsula in the year 1701. Years later Juan de Ugarte who built the first ship in Baja California, used it to explore the area, and arrived in San Felipe on July 5, 1721. Twenty-five years later Father Ferdinand Konščak also arrived and baptized the bay with the name of San Felipe de Jesús. In 1766, Wenceslaus Linck was the first person to reach San Felipe by land, and in 1772 the Lt. Governor of the Californias, José Joaquín Arrillaga called it a port and started using it as such, sending ships as of 1794. He also established the land route between San Felipe and Ensenada through Valle de la Trinidad.

It is not until 1925, during the administration of General Abelardo L. Rodríguez, territorial governor, that San Felipe begins to integrate as an organized unit, when the first fishing camps are established and the government organizes the first sub - delegation and the first school. Octavio Vega Ruiz is appointed as sub - delegate and during his administration that lasted from 1926 to 1942, the basis for the growth and development of San Felipe are established.

The sea transportation of both people and cargo, also contributed in a very meaningful way for the integration of San Felipe as a township. Amongst the most celebrated ships of the era were "Trieste", that belonged to José Ascolani, "Pacita" and "Río Colorado", belonging to Arnulfo Liera. By the end of the 1920s, San Felipe had nearly 100 permanent inhabitants and in 1940 appeared for the first time in the census with 287 inhabitants.

By 1947, the Compañía Industrial del Golfo de Cortés, belonging to José María Rodríguez Luján, bought the land from Guillermo Andrade's estate, with the purpose of building in the port an international tourist center. In 1948 the highway Mexicali San Felipe starts being paved and it is finished in 1951. At the same time, the Hotel Augies with 15 rooms opens its doors and its later called Villa del Mar; afterward Trucha Vagabunda and finally Las Palmas Inn. In 1959, the motel El Cortés is opened to the public.

During the 1960s a lot of new hotels developments appear in San Felipe, such as: Hotel Riviera, El Pescador, Arnold's del Mar and Arco Iris. Also the tourist camps Costa Azul, Las Arenas, Miramar, Playa Bonita, Playa de Laura, Rubén's and others, are open. By 1963, the port had electricity and by 1967, drinking piped water.

San Felipe continues growing and by the 1970s, the government building, new restaurants, bars, gas stations and other services are built. At the same time, the small boats anchoring, airport, the sea walk, the main boulevard and the sewage system are also built. Also, the first tourist development is opened: Playas de San Felipe that has the first four star hotel, followed one year after by the Fiesta Hotel also categorized with four stars. By the 1980s La Hacienda development opens and in 1993, Marina Resort and Spa starts doing business.

Currently, San Felipe’s income depends on tourism, shrimping, and fishing, in that order.

[edit] The Valley of the Giants

Natural Reserve of the thousand year old Cardon Cactus. This area has become a major visitors attraction in San Felipe due to the selection of one of these giant specimens that was transported to Seville, Spain during World Expo '92. The area has also become a favorite spot for photographers worldwide as it is a superb background for photo sessions.

http://blueroadrunner.com/valleygiants.htm

[edit] Tourism

San Felipe is a popular Spring Break spot for people in the Pacific and Southwestern states of the U.S. such as California and Arizona. Also, people from northern Mexico come down as well. There are many activities in the San Felipe area for people to do and see. There are a few nightclubs and bars around the beach areas. During Spring Break, many people bring ATV's and dirtbikes to ride all over the desert that is adjacent to the beaches in San Felipe. Many people set up camp on the beaches and party throughout the week.

Other popular activities are off-road racing events such as Baja 250 and San Felipe 250; the former being a spin-off from the already popular Baja 1000 international race, in 2007 this race was changed to Ensenada, while the latter is a similar to SCORE's Baja Series, hosted by CODE the off-road racing organization based out of Mexicali, and was also changed to another venue a few years ago, but by racer's request CODE is thinking about retuning a race to San Felipe. Currently CODE holds 2 races that use the San Felipe Desert: CODE McMillin 500 in March/April and the CODE Race Ready 275 in November/December; the first is a loop from Mexicali down to San Felipe and back, while the other is a one way race from Mexicali to San Felipe to finish of the season.

There are several hotels, ranches, camping sites and RV parks inside or near the town which include various activities such as volleyball, tennis matches, pools, bathing areas and fishing.

In recent years, San Felipe locals and tourists have enjoyed of a rather new activity called Carnaval. It is often referred to as yet another Mexican Mardi Gras but the title is actually an exaggeration since the celebration of this event takes place in a much smaller location than other popular mexican carnivals.

[edit] Criticism

Due to excessive tourist flow on US holidays, spring break, races, and Easter which is a big Mexican holiday, San Felipe becomes an overcrowded place for those who want peaceful areas to rest. Noticeable changes occur such as excessive traffic, unruly behavior, long gas lines and no room to stay or camp.


[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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