BajaNomad - San Felipe on 4th of July

San Felipe on 4th of July

newtobaja - 6-23-2010 at 11:24 PM

Hola,

THinking of visiting San Felipe over the 4th of July holidays. Haven't been there so would appreciate some help

- is it a good time to visit, temp-wise? Ensenada/San Diego are great, weather wise so I assumed SanFelipe would have a similar pleasant weather at this time of the year.

- how long is the drive from San Diego to San felipe? Is is faster to go SD-Mexicali-San Felipe or San Diego-Ensenada-San Felipe?

- Any recommendation on hotels? We have 5 & 10 year old girls

- Activities in San Felipe ??
Beach, ATV/Dune buggy, shore fishing. Can we snorkel? Anything else? I have the Moon Baja Guide but its not helpful on the activities side for that town.

thanks

redhilltown - 6-23-2010 at 11:52 PM

no no no as to the "pleasant weather"! maybe not the worst in the world but could very well be hot and humid. no similarity to San Diego.

many will chime in but I would cross at Tecate and take the toll road east which lets you out south of Mexicali and all the traffic.

get a good hotel (el cortez?) with good air conditioning! plus it is right on the beach where all the activities are. no shore fishing to speak of unless you drive south (which you should as it is a beautiful drive and now paved) a couple of hours. you can snorkel of course but it is not "tropical".

this website has some good info http://www.sanfelipe.com.mx/ and I think they are based out of a internet cafe next to the el cortez.

enjoy!

mrfatboy - 6-24-2010 at 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by newtobaja
Hola,

THinking of visiting San Felipe over the 4th of July holidays. Haven't been there so would appreciate some help

- is it a good time to visit, temp-wise? Ensenada/San Diego are great, weather wise so I assumed SanFelipe would have a similar pleasant weather at this time of the year.

- how long is the drive from San Diego to San felipe? Is is faster to go SD-Mexicali-San Felipe or San Diego-Ensenada-San Felipe?

- Any recommendation on hotels? We have 5 & 10 year old girls

- Activities in San Felipe ??
Beach, ATV/Dune buggy, shore fishing. Can we snorkel? Anything else? I have the Moon Baja Guide but its not helpful on the activities side for that town.

thanks

I was there last year on the 4th. Camped on beach at laguna percebu. Nobody around and extremely quiet. Town was dead also. Had a great time.

Weather was hot. Water bordered on being too warm. Hot at night while sleeping. I was told at least we were lucky it was a dry heat normally it is muggy hot. Shade was at a premium. Much hotter than pacific side.

I just got back 2weeks ago from same place. Beautiful weather. Absolutely perfect. 98 degrees in the shade with breeze. Had 4 & 9 yr old that loved it.

Can't comment much on hotels. Always camped. Maybe look at the Marina. On the beach and has pools.

There are atv rentals. I can't remember if I saw dune buggys for rent. They have Horse rentals also.

I did the trip from north county to bar Miramar (san Felipe) in 4hr 12m. Left at 5:30am.

. My best time. But I drive fast

I cross at mexicali. Very easy and fast especially early in morning. Border wait on return was 1:20 @ 1pm.

we love it and try to go every year.

[Edited on 6-24-2010 by mrfatboy]

BajaWarrior - 6-24-2010 at 04:23 AM

Town will be quiet restaraunts and shops will be open. It'll be hot alright but coolest along shore which is where you'll be. The water is 82+ degrees and your family will love it. Bring sunscreen! Cross at Mexicali, most direct, good highway, a couple of construction spots but lots of freshly paved road. Yes, check out Sanfelipe.com website as "redhilltown" suggested.

[Edited on 6-24-2010 by BajaWarrior]

grace59 - 6-24-2010 at 06:02 AM

Hello Newtobaja,
I spent time in San Felipe last summer in both July and August and it was hot, but tolerable! I guess it all depends on what you can manage. It does cool off at night which is nice. I would stay at the El Cortez
http://www.elcortezsanfelipebaja.com/home.htm
The rooms are big. There is a restaurant, bar, beach and pool right on site and it is easy access to town. Things are still open in town and many places offer specials. There are ATV rentals right down the street on the Mar de Cortez. I will be down there on the 4th myself. Go and have some fun in the sun!

David K - 6-24-2010 at 07:52 AM

We will be going down then too (so I hope)... and have every summer one or two times (to San Felipe south)... By far the best time to go is May-July or Oct.-Nov.

We enjoy the heat and the bathtub warm Sea of Cortez (June-Sept).

August and early Sept. can be humid and uncomfortable sleeping at night.

Just have shade and an ice chest full of Pacificos!

Here is Laguna Percebu, as viewed from a mile south on Shell Island:

meme - 6-24-2010 at 07:55 AM

If you cross at Tecate be sure you have pesos not U.S. dollars for toll road booths. Our friends came that way yesterday, got to first toll booth & they accepted U.S. & never said a thing concerning pesos. Went on to next toll booth & they would NOT accept U.S. even with people not asking for their change back. Refused to let them pass. Instructed them to back up (very dangerous) go to nearest OXXO where they had to buy something to get dollars changed to pesos. Then proceed back to toll booth. Not knowing if this was a new thing that ALL toll booths were doing or not doing or just that particular one. Just an FYI for everyone!

CortezBlue - 6-24-2010 at 09:43 AM

So it is all relative.

If you have a relative in San Felipe with an air conditioned house, it is all good.

Ok, we are from Phx and we go to SF to cool off. It can be very muggy during the day, but once the sun is down, it is really nice.

newtobaja - 6-24-2010 at 09:57 AM

Appreciate the quick responses. Looks like its going to be hot. Will need to run by the SO to make sure she can handle the 98 degree in shade

redhilltown - 6-24-2010 at 11:24 PM

excellent post by meme as to the fact it is always advisable to have SOME pesos kicking around somewhere in the car...even if it is some change buried deep in the glove box from trips gone by! but best to get a decent stash of pesos for buying gas and ya just never know...

btw...if you are driving south on hwy 5 and the kids are restless El Mayor is a nice place to stop to stretch or eat or relax. I don't see much about it on this board but I have always found them pleasant. you can get a taste of old baja and rest up a bit...the stretch after can get VERY VERY VERY hot (and a couple of turns to keep your eyes open on). make sure you have plenty of water.

Bob and Susan - 6-25-2010 at 05:24 AM

98 degree in shade???

maybe thats centigrade

more like 110 in the shade

if ensenada is ok
you'll be dead in a couple of minutes in sf

i remember one old gal told us she
sat in the car with the air on just to survive

i love summer :yes:

pool
water
swimsuits...
europeans :biggrin:

oh yea
fish :wow:

edm1 - 6-25-2010 at 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by meme
If you cross at Tecate be sure you have pesos not U.S. dollars for toll road booths. Our friends came that way yesterday, got to first toll booth & they accepted U.S. & never said a thing concerning pesos. Went on to next toll booth & they would NOT accept U.S. even with people not asking for their change back. Refused to let them pass. Instructed them to back up (very dangerous) go to nearest OXXO where they had to buy something to get dollars changed to pesos. Then proceed back to toll booth. Not knowing if this was a new thing that ALL toll booths were doing or not doing or just that particular one. Just an FYI for everyone!

X2 what Meme said. Especially when getting an FMT and crossing Tecate. Last month I had to walk a few blocks to find a currency exchange place because the bank (Bancomer, also a couple blocks from the border and where to pay) will not take dollars.

Bob and Susan - 6-25-2010 at 05:33 AM

has the ensenada toll road changed too
or is this just san felipe?

last month they took dollars and
it was actually cheaper using dollars

the exchange was better than the bank

wessongroup - 6-25-2010 at 05:37 AM

Europeans, yeah ... now there is a group that will take a third degree sunburn and not even mind it... have friends in Denmark that on occasion will visit.. Bob and Suss.. Suss, will go out and lay in the "sun" all day every day she is here... she is so white, and gets soooo burned, but say it feels good compared to that always cool and/or cold weather and almost no sun all the time..

I know some even go to Death Valley in the summer to "HIKE"!!!

Had a friend, who's mom and dad bought the store in Darwin, back in the mid to late 60's... now what a place that was... they thought the end of the world was coming.. stayed a number of years then ended up in Pearblossom

Some really love the sun and heat.. used to be able to take it... but no more.. sucks the very life out of me....

mrfatboy - 6-25-2010 at 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
98 degree in shade???

maybe thats centigrade

more like 110 in the shade

First week in June(this year at least) was 98F in shade. Definately not July.

. You'll need shade for your shade by then

viabaja - 6-26-2010 at 10:13 AM

Ah yes, July 4th in San Felipe. Can be nice or can feel like one is trekking thru the jungles in southeast Asia! Days are never a problem as one is in the water and drinking cold Cervezas. It's the nights where one needs A/C to cool down and sleep. Even with fans, all you get is hot humid air being blown over you. August is even worse. Sept can be miserable too. Even the water gets to be too warm. Stay somewhere that has power for A/C and do your day beach trips. If you have an RV with a QUIET generator, Laguna Percebu is a nice place to hang out.
Note: DavidK at Vivabaja is a hard core Baja camper and can take all months of the year!!! I've done it but don't like it.

I'll be rolling around San Felipe the morning of July the 4th.

Ken Cooke - 6-26-2010 at 01:04 PM

Be sure to say "Hi" if you see us on the Malecon that morning!

Ken and Leidys Cooke

David K - 6-26-2010 at 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by viabaja

Note: DavidK at Vivabaja is a hard core Baja camper and can take all months of the year!!! I've done it but don't like it.

Thanks for the words of support Chris!

We LOVE the heat... and while sleeping is not easy when it is hot and humid, I would rather be in BAJA sleepless, than anywhere else!

irenemm - 6-26-2010 at 11:10 PM

The good thing now is that there is no ley seca. The 4Th of July will be election day here and for many years the ley seca dry law would start on Friday at midnight until Monday at 10:00 a.m. The last election no dry law. I hope it will be the same this election day.
We always have special tea for sale on election day. Nice big tea pot filled with your blend of teas.

David K - 6-27-2010 at 08:11 AM

Good point... perhaps we should come with beer already in our coolers? Would hate to arrive in San Felipe to buy our weekend supply and not be able to!

woody with a view - 6-27-2010 at 08:27 AM

not to mention that a 30 pack of TKT is $20 out the door at rite-aid/smart n final, etc...

why pay more?

meme - 6-27-2010 at 08:33 AM

It has been published on San Felipe web site that there will be bars open & alcohol selling.

David K - 6-27-2010 at 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
not to mention that a 30 pack of TKT is $20 out the door at rite-aid/smart n final, etc...

why pay more?

Smart&Final in Baja, right? Because Tecate sold in the U.S. does not come from Tecate... it comes from the Monterrey plant on the mainland... and tastes like soapy water IMO. Tecate beer purchased in Baja is quite good!

Ken Cooke - 6-27-2010 at 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
not to mention that a 30 pack of TKT is $20 out the door at rite-aid/smart n final, etc...

why pay more?

I never made that distinction, David. Thanks!

I LOVE Tijuana beer, btw. Do they sell it in San Felipe?

David K - 6-27-2010 at 11:15 AM

Yah, some can even tell Pacifico import from Pacifico in Mexico... I only have issues with Tecate import.

In Baja, I like: Pacifico, XX Lager Especial, Tecate, Carta Blanca, Victoria, Sol, Modelo Especial... Tijuana Güera is good, remember our Viva Baja Cactus at the TJ Brewery? (have not seen it in San Felipe)

Riom - 6-27-2010 at 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by newtobaja
- is it a good time to visit, temp-wise? Ensenada/San Diego are great, weather wise so I assumed SanFelipe would have a similar pleasant weather at this time of the year.

A lot depends on where you are. Cooler and more humid by the beach, hotter and dryer in the desert.

Here's the temperature and humidity from the five local private weather stations at noon on Sunday:

San Felipe Bay Beach, San Felipe 86.7 °F - 62%
El Dorado Ranch, Los Viajeros Norte, San Felipe 92.1 °F - 36%
El Dorado Ranch, RDS III, San Felipe 98.4 °F - 29%
Villa Marina Km8.5, San Felipe 83.7 °F - 72%
Percebu km21, Rancho Percebu 86.7 °F - 68%

As you can see, a wide range. You can see current weather from the stations on a map at:
http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/?lat=30.981&lon=-1...

(click on any weather station in the right hand column for details).

Having said that, although it's hot in the sun here at El Dorado, there's a nice wind and correctly positioned shade is comfortably cool.

Rob

Ken Cooke - 6-27-2010 at 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Tijuana Güera is good, remember our Viva Baja Cactus at the TJ Brewery? (have not seen it in San Felipe)

Tijuana Guera is incredible. How could I forget the amazing tour!?! One of my best times in Tijuana.