Simple rooms, a bit outdated. They look a bit shabby and dirty, especialy the bathroom. For only a few pesos extra you get a sea side room with balcony. this viwe will give you the possibility to see the sunset and sunrise in the morning. breakfast and dinner was simple but not bad.

We visited the small fishing village of San Felipe while visiting the Bioshpere reserve of Rio Lagartos and a flamingo tour.
Hotel San Felipe is a good choice for lodgings while visiting Rio Lagartos-it is a short drive from the reserve. Rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. They have a.c. but we did not need it as there was a great sea breeze that kept the room very comfortable.
Rooms overlook the lagoon and all of the fishing fleet. The little fishing village of San Felipe is very picturesque-reminds one of the Bahamas of old-small, colorfully painted wooden houses. On the way to San Felipe we stopped at Ek Balam ruins (some of the best preserved stone statuary in all of the Yucatan) and the cenote there for a swim after the ruins.
The flamingo tour is not to be missed-we saw flocks of literally thousands of flamingos and other sea birds (up close) You can take a boat to see the flamingos from San Felipe but the larger flocks are accessed from Rio Lagartos. The trip over to the beach in San Felipe is well worth the 150 peso boat ride-we had the beach totally to ourselves!!!
Not to be missed on a trip to the Yucatan.
There are a few really good seafood restaurants in the village of San Felipe-try Restarant Vaselina (yes, thats right vaseline!!!!) Don't have any idea of how they got that name!!!!

My husband and I spent one night at the Hotel San Felipe as part of our excursion to Rio Lagartos. We spent the previous night in Valladolid and then drove up to Rio Lagartos, stopiing at the ruins of Ek Balam on the way. We arrived in the town of Rio Lagartos in the afternoon and hired a boat to take us out to see the flamingos. We had a lovely 2 hour trip and saw lots of flamingos. We then drove to San Felipe for the night (few lodging options in Rio Lagartos). We stayed in a 3rd floor room with a great private terrace overlooking the water. After purchasing some beer and chips from a local store we spent an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon on our terrace appreciating the great view. For dinner, we strolled into town and had a nice fish meal in a local place. The fishing town is quiet and laid back and very pleasant as long as you are not looking for entertainment. Back to the hotel for a comfortable night before getting up early to go back to Rio Lagartos for a early morning bird outing (no hot water in the shower). Great morning visit, saw a lot more birds than the previous afternoon, and saw lots of flamingos as well. Seeing a large flock of bright pink flamingos was breathtaking.

If you are interested in seeing lots of birds, enjoy nature, and want a relaxing trip in a comfortable hotel we highly recommend a trip to Rio Lagartos with a stay at the Hotel San Felipe.

If your idea is heaven is resort row in Cancun, you can stop reading now.

But if you love real Mexico and long for unspoiled places and people, you've hit the jackpot. And Hotel San Felipe is a big part of what makes this destination special.

The hotel is full of character and sea breezes, but it's spotless, with excellent, comfortable beds. Just outside the hotel, fishing boats come and go. The air is full of birds. Across the lagoon you can spot flamingos. There is nothing to do -- except, of course, watch the spectacular birdlife, gather seashells on the beaches, fish, talk to the lovely locals, explore the Ria Lagartos ecosystem. I guess it all depends on your idea of fun. I call it heaven.

Your host is Jesus. He doesn't speak much English, but if you know Spanish, he's a treasure trove of information. He will also take you in his boat for fishing or beaches. His wife runs the hotel and she does a great job. The rooms have fluffy clean towels and bottled water, and I must repeat this: real comfortable beds. She will prepare a decent breakfast or supper for you, not haute cuisine but good and tasty.

To book a room, you need to either call or send an email to hotelsf@hotmail.com. Ask for a room overlooking the boat harbor. If you want more info about this place, feel free to contact me!