If you live in Southern California, Arizona, or anywhere in the American Southwest, a beach vacation doesn’t have to mean expensive flights and crowded resorts. San Felipe, a small fishing town on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico, offers warm water, uncrowded beaches, and a pace of life that feels a world away — even though it’s just a few hours by car.
Here are five reasons San Felipe deserves a spot on your weekend getaway list.
1. It’s Closer Than You Think
San Felipe is roughly two and a half hours south of the Mexicali border crossing. From San Diego, you can be on the beach in about four hours. From Phoenix or Tucson, it’s around five. No flights, no airports, no lost luggage — just a straight shot down Mexico Highway 5 through dramatic desert scenery.
For many visitors, the drive itself is part of the experience. Flat desert gives way to mountain views, and then suddenly the Sea of Cortez appears on your left, impossibly blue against the brown Baja landscape.
2. The Beaches Are Uncrowded
Unlike Cabo or Cancún, San Felipe’s beaches are quiet. On a typical weekend you’ll find long stretches of sand with just a handful of people. The south beach area near La Hacienda — where Las Casitas is located — is especially peaceful. The water is warm from late spring through fall, calm enough for wading and swimming, and the sunsets over the desert mountains behind town are extraordinary.
3. The Food Is Outstanding and Affordable
San Felipe’s food scene punches well above its weight. The town sits on some of the richest fishing waters in North America, so the seafood is exceptional and remarkably cheap. You can eat a plate of fresh fish tacos on the Malecón for a few dollars, or sit down to a grilled yellowtail dinner overlooking the sea for a fraction of what you’d pay stateside.
Ceviche, shrimp cocktails, grilled clams with butter and hot sauce — the options are endless, and they’re all built on fish that was swimming a few hours ago.
4. There’s Plenty to Do Beyond the Beach
San Felipe isn’t just a beach town. Depending on your interests, you can:
- Book a sport fishing charter and chase yellowtail, dorado, or marlin in the Sea of Cortez
- Rent ATVs and explore the desert trails and mountain passes around town
- Drive south to Valle de los Gigantes and walk among 60-foot-tall cardón cacti
- Soak in the natural hot springs at Puertecitos, an hour down the coast
- Catch a local festival — the Shrimp Festival, Carnival, and the SCORE 250 off-road race are annual highlights
5. It’s Easy on the Wallet
Compared to other beach destinations in Mexico, San Felipe is genuinely affordable. Accommodations, food, fuel, and activities all cost a fraction of what you’d spend in Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, or Tulum. A couple can eat three meals a day, rent a comfortable villa at Las Casitas, and have plenty of spending money for fishing, ATVs, and souvenirs — all for less than a single night at many all-inclusive resorts.
Ready to Plan Your Weekend?
Las Casitas at La Hacienda offers five vacation villas on San Felipe’s south beach — the perfect base for a long weekend or an extended stay. View our properties or contact us to check availability.