The Malecón is the heart of San Felipe. This two-mile waterfront boardwalk stretches along the shore of the Sea of Cortez and serves as the town’s main gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re browsing handmade crafts, eating elote from a street vendor, or watching the sun set behind the fishing boats, the Malecón is where San Felipe comes alive.
What to See
Walking the Malecón, you’ll spot the large colorful San Felipe sign that has become one of the most photographed landmarks in town. The buildings along the boardwalk are decorated with artist-rendered murals of mermaids and sea life, giving the whole stretch a character that feels distinctly San Felipe.
At the northern end of the Malecón sits the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, perched on a small bluff overlooking the water. Built in 1948 by a local woman named Josefa Alvarez and later redesigned in 1972 by a Catholic friar nicknamed “Fray Baskets,” the shrine is reached by climbing 112 stairs. The panoramic view from the top — the Sea of Cortez on one side, the town of San Felipe on the other — makes the climb well worth it. It’s an especially good spot to catch the sunrise. Adjacent to the shrine stands El Faro, the tall white lighthouse that is one of San Felipe’s most iconic landmarks.
Shopping
Small shops and vendors line both sides of the boardwalk. You’ll find handmade wooden carvings, silver jewelry, pottery, leather goods, and plenty of tequila and mezcal. Many shop owners display their goods on the sidewalk so you can browse in the open air. The atmosphere is relaxed — vendors are proud of their craftsmanship and genuinely enjoy showing off what they’ve made.
For a more local shopping experience, wander off the main boardwalk into the side streets where you’ll find family-run tiendas selling everything from housewares to garden décor sourced from across Mexico.
Eating and Drinking on the Malecón
The Malecón is lined with restaurants and bars, each with its own personality. Bar Miramar is a long-standing favorite for cold beers with a view. Al’s Backstreet Cantina draws a lively crowd. For a sit-down meal, La Palma is just half a block off the boardwalk on Ensenada Street and serves excellent fresh seafood.
Street food vendors are everywhere along the Malecón, and they’re a big part of the experience. Look for elote — Mexican street corn served with mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime. Fresh fruit cups, shrimp ceviche in styrofoam cups, and fish tacos are all easy to find as you walk.
Drinking alcohol is legal along the Malecón, so it’s common to see people strolling with a cold cerveza or a michelada while they take in the sights.
Nightlife
On weekend nights the Malecón transforms. Local bands play live music at bars and restaurants along the boardwalk. Rockodile Cantina is one of the most popular nightclubs in town. Karaoke bars are scattered along the strip, and the energy picks up considerably after sunset. During major events like the Shrimp Festival or Carnival, the Malecón becomes the center of the celebration with stages, food stalls, and crowds that fill the boardwalk well into the night.
The Tides
One thing that surprises first-time visitors to San Felipe is the extreme tidal range. The Sea of Cortez here experiences some of the largest tides in the world — up to 6 meters (nearly 20 feet) between high and low tide. At low tide, the water can recede more than a kilometer from shore, exposing vast tidal flats perfect for beachcombing, clam digging, and exploring tide pools. It’s a phenomenon worth timing your Malecón visit around, because the view changes dramatically depending on the tide.
Getting There from Las Casitas
The Malecón is a short drive from Las Casitas at La Hacienda. Most guests drive into town and park near the boardwalk, then spend the afternoon and evening walking the strip. It’s the kind of place where you go for an hour and end up staying all day.
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