The Baja California Peninsula has its historical origins in the XVI Century when it was discovered by Hernán Cortés on May 3, 1535. The history of San Felipe starts years later with Francisco de Ulloa's expeditions. Ulloa was one of Cortes' captains who navigated in front of the bay on September 1535. A year later, Fernando de Alarcón and Domingo Castillo explired the region and made the first detailed map of the peninsula, giving today's San Felipe it's first name: Santa Catalina. With the passing of the years and after the first expeditions were long forgotten, Father Eusebio Kino rediscovered the Baja California peninsula in the year 1701. Years later Juan de Ugarte who built the first ship in Baja California, used it to explore the area, and arrived in San Felipe on July 5, 1721. Twenty five years later Father Fernando Consag also arrived and baptized the bay with the name of San Felipe de Jesús. In 1766, Wenceslao Link was the first person to reach San Felipe by land, and in 1772 the Lt. Governor of the Californias, José Joaquín Arrillaga called it a port and started using it as such, sending ships as of 1794. Her also established the land route between San Felipe and Ensenada through Valle de la Trinidad. It is not until 1925, during the administration of General Abelardo L. Rodríguez, territorial governor, that San Felipe begins to integrate as an organized unit, when the first fishing camps are established and the government organizes the first sub - delegation and the first school. Octavio Vega Ruiz is appointed as sub - delegate and during his administration that lasted from 1926 to 1942, the basis for the growth and development of San Felipe are established. The sea transportation of both people and cargo, also contributed in a very meaningful way for the integration of San Felipe as a township. Amongst the most celebrated ships of the era were "Trieste", that belonged to José Ascolani, "Pacita" and "Río Colorado", belonging to Arnulfo Liera. By the end of the 1920's, San Felipe had nearly 100 permanent inhabitants and in 1940 appeared for the first time in the census with 287 inhabitants. By 1947, the Compañía Industrial del Golfo de Cortés, belonging to José María Rodríguez Luján, bought the land from Guillermo Andrade's estate, with the purpose of building in the port an international tourist center. In 1948 the highway Mexicali San Felipe starts being paved and it is finished in 1951. At the same time, the Hotel Augies with 15 rooms opens it's doors and its later called Villa del Mar; afterward Trucha Vagabunda and finally Las Palmas Inn. In 1959, the motel El Cortés is opened to the public. During the 1960's a lot of new hotels developments appear in San Felipe, such as: Hotel Riviera, El Pescador, Arnold's del Mar and Arco Iris. Also the tourist camps Costa Azul, Las Arenas, Miramar, Playa Bonita, Playa Laura, Rubén's and others, are open. By 1963, the port had electricity and by 1967, drinking piped water. San Felipe continues growing and by the 1970's, the government building, new restaurants, bars, gas stations and other services are built. At the same time, the small boats anchoring, airport, the sea walk, the main boulevard and the sewage system are also built. Also, the first tourist development is opened: Playas de San Felipe that has the first four star hotel, followed one year after by the Fiesta Hotel also categorized with four stars. By the 1980's La Hacienda development opens and in 1993, Marina Resort and Spa starts doing business.

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