Security in San Felipe during Holidays

San Felipe hosts many events throughout the year that attracts tens of thousands of visitors, but none of them are as large as the Easter Celebrations known as “Semana Santa” or “Holy Week”. During the week of Semana Santa, it is estimated that the quaint little fishing village of San Felipe can see up to 30, 000 visitors (more than the number of residents) and of course all of them want to be on the Malecon! This influx of people, many from Mexicali but also from California and mainland Mexico, lasts for an entire week. One would think that this many visitors, four wheeling, drinking and partying would make San Felipe unsafe…they would be wrong.

The City of San Felipe (which is really not a city but a little seashore town) is committed to ensuring the safety of both visitors and resident alike. This is only possible thanks to the coordination of institutions like the local Police, the international Red Cross, the Fire Department and the Mexican Navy. Through a combined effort, these “safe keepers” locate themselves in strategic places throughout the city with the only purpose being to assist and attend to anything that visitors and residents may need.

Security during Semana Santa is not an easy task. Due to the large numbers of people congregated in San Felipe during this one week, the municipality of Mexicali sends thirty police cars and officers to work in coordination with the local police. The Red Cross also receives help from Mexicali with personnel and equipment to ensure that if there is a medical emergency that they can respond quickly regardless of the crowds.

As you can imagine, the traffic on the roads during “Holy Week” is crazy but that too gets special attention from the Green Angels, an organization created to support any traveler in distress on all the highways in Mexico. As there is no part of San Felipe that is not busy during this celebration, the Mexican Navy patrols the beaches. The Navy is in charge of everyone’s security in the water and on the beach.

Even though each department is in charge of a different part of “crowd control” and safety, extra measures are brought in such as satellite trucks, special radios and communication equipment so that everyone can work together and respond in a timely manner to emergencies, no matter how small or large. Luckily, most of the time these security teams or as I like to call them, “safe keepers” are simply answering questions, posing for pictures and making all the visitors of Semana Santa feel welcome and at home.

If you ever get the opportunity come and spend Holy Week in San Felipe. It is the experience of a lifetime and the Department of Tourism, the Municipality and all levels of law enforcement work really hard to make it the most enjoyable and safest experience possible.

El Dorado Ranch | San Felipe