Activities
Las Caras de Mexico Golf Course
The Las Caras de Mexico (Faces of Mexico) Golf Course is San Felipe's first and only golf course. This 18-hole championship course offers players a truly unique opportunity to play one of the Baja's most extraordinary courses.
Designed by world renown golf architect, Bradford Benz, the golf course combines the archaeological, historical, and social Mexican culture with the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Life size bronze statues depict famous historical Mexican figures on throughout the course thereby giving each hole a unique historical significance on the history of Mexico. The course provides fully carted golf paths and a number of other nice touches not commonly found on other courses.
To take a virtual tour of the course, please click on this link: http://www.eldoradoranch.com/Media/Virtual_Tour_LVDM_GolfCourse.htm
To research the course layout, statistics and photos of each hole, please click on this link: http://www.lascarasdemexico.com/Golf_Map.html
Best of all the course is situated in one of the most magnificent settings in the world. With the neighboring mountain range featuring peaks as high as 10,000 feet you will play under a cathedral of 270 degrees of mountain ranges. Because the terrain gentle slopes towards the Sea of Cortez, most fairways and holes have magnificent sea views as well with several holes located right above the beach on the Sea of Cortez. Add in warm year round sunny weather and you’re assured that you'll be afforded ample opportunity to golf.
You will also be pleased to learn that extensive efforts were taken to ensure that the golf course was incorporated into the pristine environment with minimal impact. Plants that had to be removed were dug out by hand and transferred to a nursery rather than simply run over by a bulldozer. Additionally, El Dorado Ranch in conjunction with environmental and golf consultants developed a unique hybrid of salt tolerant paspalum grass. Now previously unusable water sources that were too salty for human or agricultural use are used to water the course thereby not depleting the precious environment of water.
Las Caras de Mexico is a new course and as a result is receiving little golfing pressure. Players love the casual pace of play and are rarely rushed by other parties adding further enjoyment to their golf experience. When you combine the quality of the golf course, the beautiful setting, and casual pace of play it’s no wonder that those who have been fortunate to play the course regard it as the Baja’s best kept secret.
San Felipe
Activities & Tours
What's your idea of fun? Volleyball? Water skiing or jet-skiing? Wind surfing? Fishing? San Felipe's beautiful beaches offer a variety of activities. Or do you like solid ground underfoot? If so, dunes and mountains are ideal for back- and off-road motorcycling, four-wheeling, and horseback riding. Hikers, nature lovers and history buffs will also want to explore. For a brief photo tour of activities in San Felipe, visit http://www.laventanadelmar.com/Media/Photo_Tour_1.html
One of the first things you'll notice in San Felipe is the incredible tidal change, up to a mile of beach can be exposed on some days. It's said to be the second biggest tidal change in the world. Nevertheless, beach combing can be incredible, but you must also be aware that the tide comes in as fast as it goes out.
Sportfishing
Just in the last few decades has San Felipe's main economic source turned to tourism, before this fishing made this town & there is still alot of good fishing available to the visitor. March through October seems to be the high season with catches of white sea bass, corvina, cabrilla, yellow tail & grouper. San Felipe has a few large boats available for the one day or multi-day trips to the local fishing grounds. Also popular if the local fisherman & their pangas for a 1/2 day or 3/4 day of fishing.
Watersports
The Bay of San Felipe provides for endless watersports. It's calm waters are perfect for water & jet skiing, as well as kayaking. Many kayak adventures start here headed south. Both jet skiis & water skiing are available from local rental agencies. You'll also find young men trailing "banana boats" from their pangas looking for beachgoers who are eager to jump on the yellow rubber boats and be pulled through the wake.
Windsurfing enthusiasts also come to San Felipe for a quick weekend getaway when they don't have the time to hit the hotbeds of the East Cape to the south. Spring seems to offer the best winds.
Catamarans are also available for rent in San Felipe and the winds of the outer bay provide for exhilarating rides. A catamaran regatta is held each year.
Sail boats aren't as common as points south, but more & more sailors are towing their boats down & putting into the water here, many for the beautiful sail to Bahia de Los Angeles about 200 miles to the south.
San Felipe can become windy in the late fall & early spring. The storms which cause these winds are called chubascos. The winds shoot down the coast from the north and can last 3 or 4 days at a time. Depending on the strength of the storm, sailing may be hazardous except for the expert.
Adventure Tours
San Felipe is a border between the desert & the sea, so naturally off road enthusiasts and nature lovers make up a significant number of visitors here. You'll see & hear dirt bikes, ATV's and dune buggies pass through town headed for the desert or the nearby sand dunes at the southern edge of town. This is the transport of choice for many people staying on the outskirts of town. Rentals are available in town. We recommend enjoying the surrounding area, but please show a healthy respect for the fragile desert environment. For off road rentals, tours, and to learn how to race, please visit http://www.eldoradoranch.com/Resort/Recreation_ATV.htm
The Baja 1000, 500 & 250 also pass through or nearby San Felipe. Sponsored by Score International Racing, these racing bring a festive attitude to town.
Side Trips
San Felipe is an isolated desert beach town located on the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez which one of the reasons this small fishing and retirement village attracts so many outdoor enthusiasts.
In order to get a proper feel for the town, visitors are recommended to hike the short distance up a small hill to the Shrine of the Virgin Guadalupe. Here you'll command a near panoramic view of the town and bay which makes up San Felipe.
South of Town
You'll find miles of sandy beaches, some with collections of vacation and retirement homes and others completely isolated. A somewhat maintained paved road leads past these beaches and camps to Puertecitos (Little Port) 80 kilometers away. On the way you'll notice giant Cardon Cactus, among other species, in an area called the "Valley of the Giants". In fact Mexico donated a 60 ft.+ tall Cardon from this area to the World Fair in Spain a couple of years ago.
Puertecitos can barely be considered a town, more like an American retirement colony. Houses surround the small cove. A small airstrip, one or two tiendas, a cantina serving beer & tequila plus a gas station which is rarely opened make up this settlement. There is a reason to visit and it's the hot springs in the rocks on the seaside of the small point. One of the best times to visit is after high tide when the sea water has cooled the scolding mineral water enough to relax in the pools.
After Puertecitos, the road is dirt track and only 4wd or other sturdy vehicles should venture further. Make sure you have supplies including water and gas if you plan on heading south. You'll come along various fish camps and small settlements such as El Huerfanito and Punta Bufeo plus a retirement home or two. You won't find any hotels, but you may be able to rent a cabin. Be prepared to camp.
The largest settlement you'll reach is the scenic bay of Bahia San Luis Gonzaga, 75 kilometers (5-6 hours) after Puertecitos. Here a cluster of fisherman and their families scratch out a living off the sea. You'll also find American vacation homes and Papa Hernandez' and Alfonsina's Camps where you can buy supplies, find meals, go fishing or just set up camp. You'll also come upon the airstrip as many Americans fly their planes down. From here you can drive another 65 kilometers on a graded dirt road to Highway 1 coming out 30 kilometers north of the Bahia de los Angeles turnoff.
West of Town
If you head towards the Sierra de San Pedro Martir, you'll cross a dry lake bed to reach Cañon Diablo (Devil's Canyon) near the base of Baja California's highest peak, Picacho del Diablo. In the spring the Canyon is known to have waterfalls and pools of cool Sierra runoff from the winter storms. You'll also find Indian caves and fossils if you know where to look. If you adventure to the Canyon, please make sure you are well supplied and be prepared to camp as you won't find any supplies or settlements here. Also, make sure you have a sturdy vehicle to make the trip, this is Baja 1000 country!
To Ensenada
If you prefer something a bit more tame, try the beautiful drive across the peninsula to Ensenada on Highway 3. To get there, head north out of town on Highway 5 towards Mexicali, then, after about 50 kilometers, take the turnoff at Crucero La Trinidad east on Highway 3. This 145 km drive takes you out of the desert and into the higher elevations with various farmlands and chaparral. You also pass the dirt road exit (sturdy vehicles only) to pristine Parque Nacional Constitución de 1857 and Laguna Hanson (please see the Ensenada Directory for more information). Other highlights of the trip include the turnoff for Mike's Sky Ranch, a famous guest ranch high in the rugged Sierras.
As you drive on you'll pass the towns of La Trinidad and Ojos Negros where you'll be able to find fuel, meals and supplies before arriving in Ensenada.