San Felipe Yucatan Mexico: The tarpon Capital of the world
Also known as “The Tarpon Capital of the World”, San Felipe Yucatan Mexico is a small fishing village located 160 miles (3 hr 30 min driving) from Cancún and 122.9 miles (2 hr 30 min driving) from Mérida, Yucatán.
San Felipe at a Glance
With only 2,000 inhabitants, San Felipe, Yucatán is one of Mexico’s hidden gems. Its colorful streets (wooden hand-made houses), peaceful atmosphere, breathtaking sunsets, warm people, and delicious food, make this place simply unmatchable.
The whole area offers a sub-humid warm climate, with an average temperature of 25.6 °C.
The whole economy of the village is fishing. Villagers wake up at 5 am to go out to open waters and leave the estuary only for Mena Fly Fishing Anglers.
A Natural Reserve with the Perfect Conditions
San Felipe, Yucatan has an extremely privileged location. The combination of its climate and its geological and hydrological characteristics makes it one of the main nesting areas in Mexico (for birds, fishes, and land animals).
This is the ideal location for anglers of all ages and skill levels, with many tarpons weighing between five and fifteen pounds and some unusual fish topping 25 pounds.
The great extension of mangroves are a refuge for a great variety of species, (which eventually go out to the sea):
- Fish: tarpon, grouper, snapper, corvina or sea bass
- Sea life: lobster, octopus, rock shrimp, sea turtles Crustaceans and molluscs, sea turtles, pink flamingo, crocodiles
Migratory birds: countless species, sticking outt the beautiful Pink Flamingo - Land animals: raccoons, armadillo, spider monkeys, ocelots, white-tailed deer, panthers and jaguar.
A Quiet Fishermen Village to Find Peace of Mind.
The main activity in town is commercial fishing (grouper, lobster, and octopus), and activities related to this industry. Very few people are into agriculture and even fewer people are into tourism.
The Village and the estuary are empty during the whole day until sunset when fishermen are making their way back.
On Sundays, families go out to the main street to eat and socialize.
Recommendations when you visit San Felipe Yucatan, Mexico
- Exchange money (dollars to pesos). Very few places accept credit cards so consider that the easiest way to cover personal expenses outside Mena Fly Fishing services, is cash (we do accept cards).
- Bring a jacket. Even when there’s a very warm climate, the temperature can suddenly change.
- Plan in advance. We can make everything work, however, we need some time. Remember that San Felipe is a fishermen’s town, with a very laid-back atmosphere, so a lot of things that you can get very easily back at home, may not be as easy to get here. For example medicine, dietary restrictions, technology, gear.
