Visit to San Vicente, Baja California, Mexico...

San Vicente, Baja California, Mexico is not exactly a destination for most Baja California visitors, and most tourists who visit the town are simply driving the transpenninsular highway, on the way to somewhere else. If most tourists do stop in town, it's probably for one of two reasons: 1) To purchase gas at the Pemex station, or 2) You get stuck behind the only stop light in town, which is located at the intersection of Highway 1 and Calle Niños Heros. Other than the aforementioned reasons, there aren't a whole lot of reasons why a tourist would stop in San Vicente.

Photo: After you cross "Puente San Vicente," which is dry wash, you climb the hill and you enter the town. The first looser motel is immediately to your left, after climbing the hill.

Photo: Misión San Vicente, is located on the north side of town, and down a dirt road.

San Vicente is a small town, with a population of maybe a couple of thousand souls, if you include the many stray dogs, and it's located about an hour's drive south of Ensenada, along Mexican Federal Highway 1, and is probably best know for the collapsed adobe ruins of Misión San Vicente Ferrer, which dates back to the 1780's. I won't go into the history of the mission, as all you need to do is to Google it, and you'll get more information than you possible could hope for... San Vicente features a modern church that is in daily use near the site of the mission ruins. San Vicente features easy access to the Pacific Ocean, since its located in a valley only a half hour or so distant from the ocean, and such coastal attractions such as Eréndira and Puerto San Isidro, which are accessible via decent roads. San Vicente features a Pemex gas station, a grocery store across the highway from the gas station, a couple of tire shops, an auto mechanic that can repair just about anything, many other basic services, and three motels. Entertainment is a little scarce, as I noticed only one bar in town, but that bar offered billiards. There are two sit-down restaurants, and many small taquerias, loncherias and push cart vendors.

Photo: Looking north, Saturday afternoon highway traffic can get quite heavy at times in San Vicente. Note the traffic signal, towards the rear of the photo, which regulates traffic across the only named street in town, Calle Niños Heros.

The only paved street in town is the highway, and the only named street is Calle Niños Heros, which crosses the highway, and features the only traffic signal in town. The north and south city limits are marked by huge topes, or speed bumps on the highway, and the bump located on the north end of town seemed to be the size of Mount Everest, when my Toyota Camry was forced to negotiate it. Calle Niños Heros isn't paved, but its wide, graded and smoothed, thanks to the decomposed granite infrastructure and the sometimes heavy local traffic.

Photo: Mexico Federal Highway 1 is flanked by frontage roads, and its no exception in San Vicente. The frontage roads aren't paved, as per the norm, in small-town Baja California...

Photo: These guys kick up dust on the dirt frontage road which parallels Highway 1 through the small town of San Vicente.

San Vicente only offers basic services, as there are no destination resorts, honky tonks, or any other gringo-friendly amenities. It's a small Mexican town, populated by real people, who mostly earn their living catering to highway travelers, and working the parched, yet fertile land to the west of town.

Photo: This dirt, un-named residential street is quite typical of the residential streets found in San Vicente.

Why did I choose to spend the night in San Vicente, which is a small town that offers the visiting gringo practically nothing? Simply put, I am a happily married man in my mid-50's, so I left the honky tonk scene many years ago. I speak Spanish and an very familiar with the customs of Mexico, so I don't need any babysitting or entertainment. I prefer to eat indigenous food, and I like to admire the local culture. My needs are simple, and I'm happy to spend the night in a one-star, MEX $200.00 room, which would make any Motel 6 seem like the Waldorf-Astoria, in New York City. Not to mention that I was tired, and I needed a place to stay.

Photo: This is the tire guy that fixed the left-rear tire of my Camry for the small price of MEX $30.00. Quite a bargain!

If you're a lover of small Mexican taquerias, loncherias and push cart vendors, you'll love San Vicente, as with the exception of two sit-down restaurants, that's the local cuisine offered on the streets of San Vicente. I ate myself silly during my visit to San Vicente, and it's all documented by clicking on this link that describes by dining adventures, during my overnight stay in San Vicente.

Photo: This photo, taken on the south end of town looking north, shows Highway 1, and the major intersection in town, Calle Niños Heros, which is marked by the only major intersection in town.

If you're interested in excitement, look elsewhere, but if you want to sample small-town Baja California, a visit to San Vicente is highly recommended. I love the place!

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