San Felipe Yucatan Mexico: 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.
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.
A Natural Reserve with The Perfect Weather 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).
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.
World-Class Tarpon Fishing in San Felipe Yucatan Mexico
This is the ideal location for anglers of all ages and skill levels!
With juvenile tarpons all year long weighing between 5 and 15 pounds and some unusual fish topping 25 pounds. That’s why we are considered the #1 Tarpon Fly Fishing Destination.
Migratory Silver King is an option depending on the tarpon fishing season.
Tarpon also shares environment with grouper, snook, barracuda, snapper, corvina and sea bass which can be caught too.
San Felipe is not only about fishing
The main activities in town are 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.
On Sundays, families go out to the main street to eat and socialize.
But the great extension of mangroves are a refuge for a great variety of species like:
- 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.
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.