El Machorro on the Sea of Cortez
What’s unique about San Felipe?
There’s such a diversity of people living in and around San Felipe. We have our pristine beaches and beautiful sunrises. We have peeps from all walks of life living here not everyone is an ex-pat, they come to visit and fall in love the place, and usually end up buying or leasing a place, then eventually moving here full time. We have the desert to explore, waterfalls to climb, and hot springs which sit directly on the Sea of Cortez. There’s just something magical about our little village by the sea. We have a yearly Shrimp Festival, Tequila Festival, Arts and Blues Festival just to name a few. San Felipe is famous for its fish tacos, but we have much more to offer than simply tacos. Wonderful seafood dishes; barbecued ribs, Italian and American food for those less adventurous. The most unique thing about San Felipe is its beauty and serenity.
If money were no object, what would you do in San Felipe?
Hire the Ultralight guy and see San Felipe from the air. Take a 6-day sports fishing trip from Tony Reyes Sports Fishing and last but not least, try every restaurant from El Dorado to Gonzaga Bay. Whale watching in the winter months. Hire a helicopter to take you to some of the desert races with Score. CBS is airing it in July.
Name five tourist spots in San Felipe that are worth the effort.
1) A trip to see the giant cacti – one of which was sent to Spain for their worlds’ fair. It’s something out of a movie like Planet of the apes. A huge grove of giant Cardons in the middle of the desert.
2) A trip to Puertacitos to sit in the naturally formed hot springs, which sit directly on the Sea of Cortez.
3) Any Baja Score-Internatonal Off-Road Racing event.
4) Rent an ATV and ride the sand dunes.
5) If you’re into hiking, a trip to the Waterfalls in the mountains.
6) Margaritas on the Malecon (boardwalk) in the evening where you can watch the moon come up over the Sea of Cortez.
7) Golfing, swimming, tennis, pickle ball at La Ventana del Mar (El Dorado Ranch)
8) Walking the beautiful beaches, shell hunting, clam digging or just lobbing out.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
1) La Vaquita Marina Restaurante: They serve some of the best and unique dishes, all beautifully presented and delicious.
2) La Morena on the Malecon: Great breakfast, lunch and dinner. She serves the best coconut shrimp.
3) KikiRiki’s on the Malecon – great food – cheap.
4) El Nido on Mar de Cortez – This has been one of my favorites and it’s been here for over 30 years. Great steaks, pork chops; Mexican food but the ambiance of the place is what I like. Juan Torres will great you at the door with a kiss on the cheek and Juanciito (little Juan) has worked as a waiter since he was a kid.
5) The Sweet Spot on the Malecon: BBQ ribs; soul food flair and a great people watching spot.
6) El Padrino’s Pizzaria & Italian Restaurant: Great food and he pours 2 oz drinks.
7) Baja Mar/Taco Factory on the Malecon: Sea-food at Baja Mar and they’re known for their Margaritas;
8) Al’s Backstreet Bar: All you can eat fish n chips (and the bar everyone ends up at after all the other places close).
9) Roadrunner Deli/Restaurant in Playa de Oro: Great American breakfasts.
10) Rosita’s Restaurant on the Malecon: Good Mexican food.
Who has the best happy hour?
Depending on which part of town you live in:
Out north:Parrot’s Cracker and Augie’s Jollymon
In town: El Padrino’s, Las Palmas Hotel, BajaMar, The Lighthouse (formerly a full service restaurant) now serves it’s own Tequila (and other bar drinks).
Where is the best shopping?
Personally, I buy most all my clothes at the segundas around town. These are little 2nd hand stores in peoples’ front yards. We also have 2nd Chance, a high end shop (great deals) ran by Americans to support VIVA our dog rescue peeps; in La Plazita, the little clothing shop as you walk in has some really cute things and Curios Street has everything from small shot glasses to furniture. You never want to pay the asking price – and pay in pesos, not dollars. You can use your ATM here to draw down pesos and get a better exchange rate.
Where do the locals hangout?
In town, locals go to Bar Miramar, sit on the Malecon, especially in the evenings because of the heat. La Ventana del Mar is pretty high end and many north beach peeps hang at the pool – Pete’s Camp has many expats living there and they have a restaurant/bar. Al’s BackStreet Bar (Actually, El Marinero, but nicknamed Backstreet as it’s in an Alley). Parrot’s Cracker out north for peeps who live out there.
Wait! There’s more!!
San Felipe has a place for all walks of life – whether you want to live in a gated community; on the beach out south or in town; campos tend to have their own little cliques, but there’s a price range for everyone. I won’t say we don’t have crime, because we do, but the only people shot or stabbed lately were between gringos. We also get some real nut cases to professionals to artists who all tend to meld one way or another.
La Morena’s Shrimp Platter: Coconut Shrimp, Pistachio Shrimp, Mango Shrimp, and Shrimp Deep Fried with Cheese.
Local expats playing along.
Kat first came to San Felipe when her 37 year old daughter was four and returned 20 years later where she has lived and worked for nearly 20 years. Kat writes a daily column in San Felipe call “Kat’s Korner – the San Felipe Scoop”. (Katskorner.com.mx).
Hello Kat, Just looked at your video and it was good. Of course, it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know as Harold and I came to San Felipe for over 24 years from Washington State. We had lots of fun and met lots of great people who we became good friends and they also came back year after year. We would stay for 4 months. We did and saw all the things mentioned on the video. Our place is for sale there now and hate to sell it; but the time has come for us to give up the long trek there every winter. I guess it is age related. We will miss all of our friends there, good food and lots of fun. But we have a nice home here also, so Adios my friend. Love, Colleen & Harold
OMG, my CSI SanFelipe under cover sistah and her great record keeping husband? Remember? LOL. I’m so sorry you two have to sell, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and then stay on the computer all day LoL. No, you can still keep in touch with photos of Wenatchee or Yuma? Lots of peeps are going there. I always think of you two when off to visit my daughter. Keep in touch and aren’t we grateful for people like Terri who help us show the world our memories! God Bless. Kat
Hey “Home Town Tourist Terri” – not bad, not bad. Mikey and I have watched it three times (actually he’s heard it 3 times, watched it once jaja). The band is actually called “The NeverbeBrothers” but I like to refer to them as “The Nevah Leave Baja Brothas”. They’ve added another dude and maybe a chick backup singer, his name may be Wayne but he’s only been with them one month mas o manus. He plays a Dobro (just bought one and is learning it) and he also sings. Sorry, can’t remember his name so we’ll refer to him as “Dobro”, pronounced “dough bro”. I enjoyed your article and the video cracked me up. I put two fingers up and say three ja ja ja. When you and your husband return from Saudi Arabia for a chance to see all of our attractions, there’s more. If you and the husband have time, read some of Bruce Barber’s articles on the founding, formation, flora and fuana and old tombs). Hope you enjoyed your massage by Diane Pilato; she’s very soothing and spiritual. There are many more food places on the Malecon and right on the beach, like the El Cortez’ veranda (a view to die for, almost); the San Felipe Marina Resort a tad south has beautiful beaches and indoor/outdoor pools and white sandy beaches, hot dog stands, elote’s with chili sauce, tacos w/rice and beans at Sierra Tacos. At any rate, I shan’t hog the entire comment section, but Ha sido un placer conocerte y sus compañeros de viaje. Sobre todo usted! When you return, we’ll take “Barney” and the husbands for a ride. إ أم أ بلاك woman، تربض إن أ وهيت ومناس بودي.! Ciao for now and thank you for choosing San Felipe to visit. You were a crack up and it’s nice to see a woman integrating with the citizens and merchants of Saudi Arabia and probably the other 25 countries you’ve visited. I was raised in Seattle, but can hook you up with some peeps from all over the spectrum. Didn’t mean to write a book, but I’m on a vacation day. Happy Friday. Kat
Hey Kat!! Thank you for being a hometown tourist!! Until next time… take care!! T
Cool beans.