By Miguel Osuna

The Local, State, and Federal levels of Government along with the tourist developers are setting a decisive and clear path that is leading towards making San Felipe Baja California one of the top resort destinations in Northwestern Mexico.

Located at 125 miles south of the border from Calexico California which is only 120 miles East from San Diego, the port of San Felipe  has warm and beautiful beaches on the Sea of Cortez, San Felipe has breath taking surroundings like the desert dunes, oasis, and mountains like the San Pedro Martir National Park (a place to camp, hunt, and fish).

San Felipe has been developing an infrastructure that is geared to improve the well being of the American tourists in a way that they feel safe starting the minute they set foot on the state of Baja California. Because of its geographical location, its market potential, and its degree of current infrastructure San Felipe was declared as a priority zone on the National Development Plan of 1995-2000.

The 125 mile two way highway has its first 12 miles with four lanes from Mexicali to San Felipe, and another 18 miles are expected to be started by the beginning of 2006 from San Felipe to Mexicali. The shared investment for this section of the highway will be $150,000 dollars, and the tourist developers are working hand in hand with the three levels of Government to build the remaining 95 miles by 2008 with a total investment of $4.5 million dollars.

The more than 20 land developers know of the importance of this whole project, and by January of 2006 they will have contributed $100,000 dollars to speed up the process.

This will allow the American tourists the security needed to travel on Federal Highway No. 5 because it will have a total of four lanes and a shoulder for any necessary stops.

Federal Highway No. 5 intersects with Federal Highway No. 3 (15 miles north of San Felipe) that goes to Ensenada, and that leads to Federal Highway No. 1 that goes to Tijuana and eventually San Diego.

At a meeting held in Mexicali on July of 2005, Mexico's Secretary of Tourism Rodolfo Elizondo recognized the need to make this project a top priority for San Felipe, and pledged to give his full support to get this done right away. Governor Eugenio Elorduy also gave his complete support as well as Mexicali's Mayor Samuel Ramos. Victor Rodriguez, President of Mexicali's Tourism and Convention Bureau is actively involved in supporting the follow up meetings regarding the status of the four lane highway, and everything that has to do with San Felipe's development.

San Felipe has something for everyone. For the tourists driving their RV's there are over 1200 RV camp spaces at very affordable prices. There are tourist and sporting attractions like water-skiing, sailing, tennis courts, a golf course, and a beach club. Young tourists can enjoy dancing at the fine discotheques.

To offer a greater variety of attractions, one of the resorts finished in 2004 the first nine holes of a championship golf course along the beach. The other nine holes will be finished by 2006. There are another two golf courses that will be built by 2009 at two different resorts.

It's also the fishermen's ideal paradise, as they can enjoy catching many different kinds of fish. With its warm waters and a man made coral reef that attracts fish all the time, the fishing lovers are bound to enjoy the greatest time of all.

The need to grow has taken San Felipe to build housing developments for every budget. Real estate starts at $30 dollars per square meter and up to $200 dollars plus per square meter. 

There is an airport that services some air clubs like the "Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association," and the "Baja Bush Pilots" and over 7,000 private flights per year. The runway can handle planes like the Convair 440 type that seats 80 passengers. The tourist developers have agreed to guarantee half the seats paid in US Air to garner scheduled air service to San Felipe.

As you can see, San Felipe has something for the American tourist and is waiting for you to experience the warmth of its people, its wonderful landscape, and the relaxing time you can enjoy on its beautiful beaches.