If there’s a place on the Yucatecan coast that feels like a well-kept secret, it’s San Felipe. While other coastal destinations have been filled with concrete and large hotels, this small fishing port has chosen to stay true to its roots.

Here you won’t find beaches with direct street access; instead, there’s a lively boardwalk, an impressive nature reserve, and architecture unlike anywhere else on the Peninsula. San Felipe is, quite literally, a wooden rainbow on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

A Past of Cattle and Nets

To understand San Felipe, you need to look back. Many years ago, before tourism knocked on its door, this was a strategic shipping port. From here, cattle and meat produced in the haciendas of Mérida and Tizimín were sent to other coastal points. That commercial activity shaped the character of its people: hardworking, proud, and deeply rooted in their traditions. Today, that heritage translates into a spotless, well-kept town where fishing drives the economy and visitors are welcomed as honored guests.

What to See and Do: Experiences You Can’t Miss

Here’s a detailed list to make the most of every corner of this port:

Get Lost on the “Mural Route”

Recently, San Felipe has undergone an artistic transformation. In addition to its already famous wooden houses with tin roofs, the town is now an open-air gallery with more than 16 large-format murals.

What to look for: The murals portray the life of the port—you’ll see the weathered faces of fishermen, the elegance of pink flamingos, the strength of the jaguar, and scenes of everyday life.

Photo tip: Walk through the inner streets, don’t just stay on the boardwalk. The colors of the wooden houses (yellows, turquoises, and fuchsias) combined with the murals create the perfect backdrop for any photo.

Take a Boat Across to the “Island” (San Felipe Beach)

In San Felipe, the town and the beach are separated by a water channel. To swim in the sea, you need to go to the boardwalk and ask a local boatman to take you across (it’s just a 5-minute ride).

The experience: You’ll arrive at a stretch of white sand and crystal-clear water, shallow and calm—perfect if you’re traveling with kids. There are palapas where you can relax and enjoy the breeze without the crowds of commercial beaches.

Photo Safari in the Ría Lagartos Reserve

San Felipe is the gateway to this protected reserve. Boat tours are the star activity.

Flamingo watching: Depending on the season, you’ll see colonies of flamingos feeding.

Pure nature: The tour usually includes a ride through the mangroves, where it’s easy to spot crocodiles, tiger herons, ospreys, and the famous “Mayan Bath” (a white clay area rich in sulfur that leaves your skin feeling amazing).

Explore the Kambulnah Spring

This is one of the area’s best-kept treasures. It’s a freshwater spring that emerges in the middle of the mangrove ecosystem. It’s a place of absolute peace where you can observe how fresh water mixes with the salty environment, creating a microclimate where local wildlife thrives.

Sunset on the Boardwalk with a Marquesita

As evening falls, all activity shifts to the boardwalk. It’s the moment when boats return from fishing and the sky turns orange and violet over the Gulf.

The plan: Look for a marquesita cart (a typical Yucatecan dessert, like a crispy wafer roll filled with Edam cheese) and stroll while watching children play and fishermen clean their nets. It’s the essence of authentic Yucatán.

Sport and Experiential Fishing

If you love fishing, you’re in the right place. You can book a fishing tour where locals teach you their traditional techniques. There’s nothing more satisfying than catching your own grouper or mackerel and having it prepared at a local restaurant.

Flavors You Must Try

San Felipe’s cuisine is straightforward, fresh, and unpretentious.

• Ceviches and cocktails: Made with local lime and seafood caught the same day.
• Fried fish or cooked to your liking: “Rubia” and grouper are the kings of the table.
• Lobster season: If you visit between July and February, lobster is a must. It’s prepared in incredible ways and at prices far more affordable than in Quintana Roo’s tourist zones.

How to Get to San Felipe, Yucatán

🚗 By Car from Mérida

Take the highway toward Motul and continue until you reach Tizimín. Once in Tizimín, drive through the city and follow the signs north toward San Felipe/Río Lagartos. The total trip takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

🚗 By Car from Valladolid

It’s a very simple trip of about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Take Federal Highway 295 north toward Tizimín, then continue straight to the coast following the signs.

🚌 By Bus or Public Transport

From Mérida, you can take a Noreste bus to Tizimín. Once at the Tizimín terminal, you’ll find colectivos (shared vans) or local buses that depart frequently to San Felipe. If you’re coming from Valladolid, colectivos also run to Tizimín for the final transfer.

Best Time to Visit

To enjoy pleasant weather and avoid the intense heat, it’s recommended to visit San Felipe between November and March. If your main goal is to see the largest number of pink flamingos, the best season is spring, between March and June. Remember that lobster season begins in July, making it an excellent time for food lovers.

Photos of San Felipe