Wednesday, November 14, 2012

San Felipe, Yucatan




In spite of the modern road you see here that links Rio Lagartos to San Felipe the traffic is nearly nonexistent. It makes a particularly nice bicycle ride especially in early mornings with the sun and wind at your back. 



On the only road entering San Felipe the immaculately kept cemetery with its dazzling adornments of colorful plastic flowers is worthy of your scrutiny.

San Felipe makes an interesting stopover on the way to somewhere else. This is only a fishing village not geared to tourism or travelers. The only hotel has a lack luster attitude with no off season rates. Finding something to eat is the same story. The waterfront is smartly painted, and the town is very clean.

There was one thing that could be of interest; a boat ride across the bay to the Gulf of Mexico beach could be procured for one hundred pesos, and the guide said he would wait for you up to one hour for that price.


San Felipe makes an interesting stopover on the way to somewhere else. This is only a fishing village not geared to tourism or travelers. The only hotel has a lack luster attitude with no off season rates. Finding something to eat is the same story. The waterfront is smartly painted, and the town is very clean.
There was one thing that could be of interest; a boat ride across the bay to the Gulf of Mexico beach could be procured for one hundred pesos, and the guide said he would wait for you up to one hour for that price
Getting to San Felipe:
Buses and vans (colectivo taxis) depart frequently from Tizimín.
From Rio Lagartos there are several buses a day to San Felipe.
The Noreste Bus Terminal on Calle 67 between Calle 50 and 52 in downtown Mérida has buses that depart several times a day to Tizimín. 
Related links:
Rio Lagartos is a picturesque coastal fishing village on Yucatan’s Gulf Coast 95 kilometers north of Valladolid, 46 km from Tizimín, and 230 km from Mérida, Yucatan.  The name, Rio Lagartos, implies river of alligators, but there are no rivers in Yucatan. This is a bay or ciénaga protected by a barrier island. There are, however, lots of alligators and crocodiles.

Rio Lagartos is situated within the 60,000 hectare Reserva de La Biosfera Ria Lagartos (Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve).  The topography is low coastal scrub, mangrove salt marshes, expansive lagoons, sand spit barrier islands, sandy beaches, and fresh water springs. Read more. Rio Lagartos



On the infrequently traveled road from Rio Lagartos to Las Coloradas between kilometer 8 and 9 there is a culvert and nearby a small, difficult to see sign denoting 50 meters to the entrance. If you are looking for the perfect unspoiled jungle getaway with no tour buses or trinket shops this is for you.


Two hour express bus service to Mérida and less then half an hour to Valladolid make the out of the tourist loop town of Tizimín an ideal staging place for several seldom visited delightful side trips.

Nearly all the above side trips can be made by bus/bike and/or car.  Read more: Tizimín



 

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