BajaNomad - What's it like living in San Felipe?

What's it like living in San Felipe?

Arthur - 4-25-2005 at 02:18 PM

I realize that there's a limited number of Nomads with direct experience on this question, but I'm open to anything: anecdotes, dreams, rumors, third-hand speculations . . .

I like the place because both the mountains and the sea are nearby. I realize that it gets a lot of people from Arizona -- and a lot of spring-breakers once a year -- but what's it like to live there? Lots of expats living in all those camps up and down the coast, or are they mainly for vacationers? Seemed like a friendly enough place when we passed through a few weeks ago. I see that there's some kind of book exchange, and the San Felipe News.

Got to finish up my Trip Report on that journey. Anyway, any ideas?

-- Thanks

bajalou - 4-25-2005 at 02:55 PM

Living here for 10 years. Between the sea and the mountains is the way I like it. Still here after 10 years----

:biggrin:

SF

meme - 4-25-2005 at 05:33 PM

Been here 8 years and we still like it!! :spingrin:

Price - 4-25-2005 at 06:17 PM

We are going to SF the first week of May - just for a few days(unfortunatly) We fell in love with SF our first trip - we will be moving there permentally by Sept this year - can't wait !!!!!!

Bruce R Leech - 4-25-2005 at 06:24 PM

I went there one time and I will never go back, I hated it. first there are no malls or move theaters, walmart. costco or any of the other things I really like. just dumb Birds and fish sand and bad things like that. the people are always trying to help and I really missed Burger King.

Ever Changing

MrBillM - 4-25-2005 at 06:27 PM

Having visited and lived near San Felipe for 40 years, I still love the place while regretting what it has become. It has not expanded with grace, but no city does. Just remember that the San Felipe you fall in love with today will be changed completely in the next year or two. Nothing remains frozen in time. The upside is that you'll have more and more gringo-style shopping.

gringorio - 4-25-2005 at 08:38 PM

Right on Bruce! :lol:

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I went there one time and I will never go back, I hated it. first there are no malls or move theaters, walmart. costco or any of the other things I really like. just dumb Birds and fish sand and bad things like that. the people are always trying to help and I really missed Burger King.

Arthur - 4-25-2005 at 08:43 PM

Maybe the fact that I'm more interested in the outback than the town will let me sidestep some of the disillusionment as it grows. What did it used to be like, MrBillM?

wornout - 4-25-2005 at 08:51 PM

You either like it or you don't, if you like it you will stay, if you don't like it, don't consider it. I heard the malls and shopping were coming when I moved here 7 years ago, yep, they said they will start building them Manana. Then they told us about the 4 lane road from Mexicali, but they didn't tell us the construction crew would be putting the other two lanes on top of the first two, one pot hole repair at a time! Like MrBillM said, it will change as soon as you move here. Of course the Sea will still be there and the mountains aren't moving anytime soon.

Tidal flows

rogerj1 - 4-25-2005 at 10:50 PM

Is it hard to enjoy the beach with the big tidal exchanges? What water activities are compromised?

Living near SF

BajaRob - 4-26-2005 at 07:21 AM

When we moved to Bahia Santa Maria we didn't know if we would enjoy the sea, desert, or mountains the most. We were wrong on all counts. It's the people here that we enjoy the most. Consider the South Campos. Rob

Arthur - 4-26-2005 at 10:52 AM

I'll check them out. Are there ever houses for sale down there?

marla - 4-26-2005 at 02:39 PM

Longstanding Baja Nomad El Camote whom many of us know and trust has a house for sale in San Felipe right now. I think it's on the real estate board here. You might be interested in checking it out.

SF

meme - 4-26-2005 at 02:41 PM

Lots of places for sale here! In Eldorado and outside of Eldorado also. i know El Camote's place and sounds like a good deal to me!!

David K - 4-26-2005 at 06:21 PM

It is a shock to have seen the entire south of San Felipe coast, with NO HOMES on it... Only a fish camp at Percebu... and a couple of campos (Nuevo Mazatlan and Coloradito), in the 1960's... The 1970's saw many new campos primarily catering to gringos who had brick homes with palapa roofs built. The new road to Puertecitos built along the coast in 1982... paved ten years later excelerated that. Now the simple weekend or vacation homes are quite luxurious!

Percebu

MrBillM - 4-26-2005 at 07:22 PM

My information is that the original round houses built by the Bell Corp at Percebu were constructed in the mid-60s. I knew some people with a Travel Trailer that their Dad brought into Percebu in 1965.

my favorite

eetdrt88 - 4-27-2005 at 08:15 AM

usually when i go down to baja i'm looking to get away from cities,towns,people,etc...but i gotta say that from the first time i hung out in san felipe i really liked it,its just an easy place to feel comfortable and the people that i have met that live there(gringos and locals)are rather friendly....my kinda town

Arthur - 4-27-2005 at 12:54 PM

I'm with you. Nice image, BTW.

You have to be tolerant.....

Hook - 4-27-2005 at 01:18 PM

.....of the noise of rather loud dune buggies and ATVs in town. The concentration of them and the echoing off the buildings can be bad. But if you live in the campos south of town, it's no problem. I've visited friends at Coloradito, at Santa Maria and others and the attitude of the retirees in these areas is nice and laid back; very helpful as well. Actually, I find most retirees in all parts of Baja are like this.

The one drawback for me, and it is a big one, is the lack of any good fishing and the difficulties in launching decent sized boats presented by the tides.

Also, no snorkeling due to the turbidity of the water.

Before you decide to become permanent, you should experience August or September. It is not for everyone; it's much hotter than areas further south due to the huge area of desert north of it (all of S Ariz, E Calif and N Baja).

Mr Bill, were they testing helicopters down there in the 60s or was it the helmet company or are they one and the same?

Arthur - 4-27-2005 at 02:12 PM

Well said, dude.

If anyone can take the heat, I can (born in the Phillipenes; dad in the Army). Better plan on being there then to see if I can, though. Water in the canyons probably hard to find. We have seen the carcasses of cattle way up there, pushing past fences somehow.

bajalou - 4-27-2005 at 04:39 PM

"Before you decide to become permanent, you should experience August or September. It is not for everyone; it's much hotter than areas further south due to the huge area of desert north of it (all of S Ariz, E Calif and N Baja)."

Good advice - the humidity is high in these months - last of July all of Aug and first half of Sept making it uncomfortable.

The temperatures here in San Felipe are about 15 deg COOLER than Yuma, Mexicali or El Centro. (or Phoenix or Los Vegas for that mater) due to the Sea of Cortez.

This spring has been unusually cool - by about 10-15 deg I think. But rest assured it will again warm up.

:biggrin:

bajalou - 4-27-2005 at 05:33 PM

Of course no mater where you live, you want to go somewhere else for a vacation. Soo many of us do that in these months. Visit family, friends, take that long scenic trip, etc. Come back when it's just the best weather ever!!!

:bounce:

meme - 4-28-2005 at 08:01 AM

We leave the last of June & come back the end of Sept. In time for Pete's Camp poker run ofcourse!!

meme - 4-28-2005 at 08:03 AM

We leave the last of June & come back the end of Sept. In time for Pete's Camp poker run ofcourse!!

Arthur - 4-28-2005 at 09:59 AM

Did somebody say "poker"?

bajalou - 4-28-2005 at 10:20 AM

A poker run takes a vehicle and some luck.

Arthur - 4-28-2005 at 11:00 AM

Have both. Looks like a good time.

Dave - 4-28-2005 at 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
Every Monday at noon - Anna's Cafe, Santispac. Texas Hold-em.

I swear I've seen some of these guy's pictures on the post office wall.

... And how did that guy in the day glow green shorts make it out of the house dressed like that?

stay away ...this place is a dump!

yankeeirishman - 4-28-2005 at 01:56 PM

San Felipe has much to offer. It?s a lazy drive from the border, less than two hours. Mexicalli offers all the major shopping that one may need as you drive through to San Felipe, you will not find the Super stores in this town. No Malls. No freeway jams. The restaurants are more than good (in general speaking) with pricing that fits any budget. There are a few late nightspots for the loud and brave. We enjoy the offerings of a plant nursery, cyber shop, bakeries (great stuff), laundry?.. well just about everything you need to be comfee in a small town setting. Medical services are rendered also. I have found the police and Military units to be extremely pleasant?never a problem I have had. The town folks are extremely friendly to me each time I get there. That really goes for most folks there. . And so far?no marooons. Housing cost in San Felipe are very affordable?.so far. We have decided to build our own home (in a month from now), rather than buy an existing one. The beach lots that are available are still a very good deal (cost wise) as far I am concerned. As all the wise men and women have written in this forum?.do not afford what you can not loose. Do you homework before buying in?or leasing. There?s also numerous camping sites?most are great. I have found that I can live in San Felipe with more than what I need. We are looking forward to explore Baja for the next 30 years. We will be at Campos Octillio on May 8 for a few weeks?.stop by for the 10 cent tour of town.

bajalou - 4-28-2005 at 09:11 PM

I'll be in town during that part of May. I guess I better drop by for the tour.

:biggrin:

yankeeirishman - 4-28-2005 at 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalou
I'll be in town during that part of May. I guess I better drop by for the tour.

:biggrin:

Sure....we do a fish taco tour :-) I have be be there to get the power installed, and drop off the poor man's house (trailer). Will call you after a day or so as I arrive. Please.......bring 10 cents!!