San Felipe Malecon - San Felipe Boardwalk

The heart of San Felipe is certainly the boardwalk along at the Sea of Cortez – this area is referred to as the Malecon. It is the Malecon where everything takes place, meaning most of the events that San Felipe hosts during the year are held there. Have you ever heard the phrase “all the roads lead to Rome?” Well, in San Felipe, the Malecon is our “Rome” and all roads will lead you there! As a town, San Felipe grew around the mountain where the shrine is (next to the Lighthouse), because it was a natural shelter for their fishing boats.

As the town got bigger and new resources made the economy more profitable, the local authorities designated a section of the beach at the south of the mountain as an area to be developed. This development “became” the Malecon, which was already popular to the early pleasure travelers that ventured into this beautiful corner of the world. Since the beginning of the town’s life this area became the preferred gathering place for local and visitors alike, so is not a surprise the Malecon has grown into what it is today.

The Malecon is open to everyone all year, as it is the focal point of the town. The benign weather of San Felipe is a perfect excuse to spend time enjoying the beauty of the Sea of Cortez, marine wildlife, beautiful sunrises (breathtaking moons), folklore and many everyday rituals of this adorable little town. All this and more is offered from the comfort of one of the many benches scattered along the Malecon for your enjoyment.

The Malecon is not just a place of scenic beauty and local culture, it also offers many goods and services providing everything you may need. If you are looking for something special to treat a loved one, the local vendors carry all types of merchandise at very reasonable prices. For vacationers, this is a section of town to look for souvenirs to take back home. If it is dining that you are looking for, the food served by the restaurants along the Malecon will satisfy the most sophisticated palates. You can choose from the local traditional seafood to the international cuisine brought to San Felipe by visionary entrepreneurs who chose the Malecon as their business site. Popular restaurants include Mariscos La Morena and “The Sweet Spot”.

During the bigger festivities and events such as the Baja250, Shrimp Festival and Carnaval, the Malecon is closed to auto traffic as tents, stage and other event related structures take over the street. During the Baja250, the Malecon is where vehicle registration for the race takes place.

The nightlife in San Felipe also takes place along the Malecon. If you are wanting a place to dance, enjoy a cocktail or two and socialize, then the Malecon is the place to be when the sun goes down! However, remember that the night clubs are not the only place to enjoy a good time at night in San Felipe, the Malecon’s versatile personality hosts a very entertaining nightlife right on the street with live bands playing almost every night creating a festive atmosphere and “fiesta” spirit with the sound of the surf and the backdrop of the moon making it the perfect “all night playground”.

A cheap and fun way to enjoy the Malecon at night is to simply buy a 6 pack of beer or your favorite drink, then find a spot along the Malecon sea wall and enjoy the free live music and spectacle that goes on. People watching is free after all. And yes, it is legal to drink alcohol along the boardwalk and street that makes up the Malecon.

Very popular is cruising the Malecon. This is where cars and trucks, some jamming music, circle the blocks that make up the Malecon over and over again. It’s not uncommon to find folks sitting in the back of open pick-up trucks enjoying the slow cruise along the Malecon.

Make your reservations for your next trip to San Felipe, and check the activities calendar, you will find a reason to “follow the road” and enjoy all that the Malecon has to offer.

• Community: El Dorado Ranch
• Location: San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico,