People ask us what it is like to live in San Felipe, and the honest answer is: it depends on the week. Some weeks are busy -- visitors in town, projects at the house, a community event. Other weeks, the biggest decision you make is whether to eat tacos on the malecon or grill fish at home. Both are valid.
Here is a roughly typical week for a lot of the residents and part-timers we know at La Hacienda. Your version will be different, but this gives you a feel for the rhythm.
Monday: The Slow Start
Morning coffee on the terrace. This is not a figure of speech -- it is the actual highlight of most people's Monday. When your terrace looks out over the Sea of Cortez, you are not in a rush to finish your coffee and get to the office. Some people read. Some people just sit there. The pelicans are doing their thing. The water changes color every fifteen minutes. It is hard to explain how much better Monday morning feels when there is no commute.
Later in the morning, a trip to the grocery store or the local market for produce. The markets in town sell fresh fruits and vegetables at prices that would make your Whole Foods receipt cry. Avocados for a few pesos. Limes by the bag. Tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes.
Tuesday: Beach Day
The beaches here are wide, uncrowded, and the water is warm enough to swim in from about April through November. During peak season, the beach at La Hacienda feels like having a private stretch of coastline -- there are no high-rise hotels blocking your view, no vendors hassling you, no fighting over a spot.
Some people kayak. Some people fish off the shore. A lot of people just bring a chair and a book and let the waves do the talking. If you are feeling ambitious, the ATV rental place in town will set you up for a desert ride in the afternoon.
Wednesday: Town Day
Wednesday is when a lot of people run errands in town. San Felipe is small enough that you can hit the hardware store, the pharmacy, and the fish market in one trip. The malecon (the waterfront boardwalk) is a good spot for lunch -- there are a handful of restaurants with ocean views and cold beer that serve fresh catches from that morning.
The expat community has its regular meetups. There is usually a lunch group, a book club, or a cards game happening somewhere. People look out for each other here in a way that feels old-fashioned -- if you have not been seen in a few days, somebody is going to check on you.
Thursday: Project Day
A lot of homeowners at La Hacienda are building or finishing their homes, so there is always something going on. Talking to contractors, picking out tile, watching the walls go up. Construction costs in Mexico are significantly lower than in the U.S., so people are building their dream homes for a fraction of what it would cost stateside.
If you are not building, Thursday might be a day for working remotely (yes, we have reliable internet), going for a hike in the desert hills behind the community, or taking a long drive down the coast to explore the tide pools.
Friday: Sunset Social
Friday evenings at La Hacienda are something special. People gather on their terraces or at a neighbor's place to watch the sunset. The views from the upper lots -- with the Sea of Cortez stretching out to the east and the mountains turning purple behind you -- are the kind of thing that makes you stop mid-conversation and just stare for a minute.
Dinner might be grilled fish, carne asada, or a trip to one of the local restaurants. San Felipe is not a food destination the way Ensenada is, but the seafood is fresh, the Mexican food is authentic, and there are a few spots that surprise you with how good they are.
Saturday: Adventure or Nothing
Saturdays go one of two ways. Either you are doing something -- a fishing charter, a day trip to Puertecitos or the hot springs, a horseback ride along the beach -- or you are doing absolutely nothing, and that is perfectly fine. The beauty of living here is that there is no pressure to fill every hour. The pace of life is deliberately slower, and most people who move here were looking for exactly that.
Sunday: Reset
Sunday mornings are quiet. Church for some people. A walk along the beach for others. The town has a lazy Sunday feel that carries right through to the evening. By the time the sun sets, you realize you have spent an entire week without sitting in traffic, without checking a parking meter, without rushing anywhere. That is the thing about San Felipe that is hard to convey in a brochure -- it is not just about the views. It is about the pace.
Curious what your week could look like? Get in touch and we will show you around. Fair warning: it is hard to leave.