La Ventana Vacatioin Planning

Hass · Since 06 Sep 2008 16 Posts

Jenny and I are working on plans for a winter kiteboarding get away and have our sights set on La Ventana. Any input on the following topics would be much appreciated.

1. Good places to stay- Hotels on the beach w/ kite launches? (is that the best way to go?)
2. Take kites / boards or rent / use something down there?
3. Is Jan / Feb a good guarentee for good wind?
4. Getting from La Paz Airport to La Ventana?
5. Any special considerations?
6. Cheap airfare?

Any input would be great!

Thanks,
Joel

coastalsoul · Since 10 Aug 2008 26 Posts Vancouver, BC

IMHO Los Barrilles is better.

it is closer to the airport has better amenities and better swell

shhhhh.

but to answer your questions
it is about an 40min south of la paz

there are several great places to stay

the first year i went i camped but there is also

baja joes which has several dfifferent syles of accomodations

and there are a couple more nr. beachside which i cant remember the names of-sorry

Im not sure you can rent and if you can im sure its not cheap so take gear

there is a kite expo in january sometime.

I got wind in LV the previous two years in Jan & early Feb
and wind in Los barriles is congruous with that.

the problem with LV is theres not a lot to do there nor much in the way of restaurants or infrastructure. los barrilles is a little more developed with more restaurants and places to go. Did i mention the swell is better.

regardless of where you go there are only an hour apart.

GL
R

Nak · Thu Aug 27, 09 9:24 pm

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

If less is more, you will like LV more. It's sleepy, which is why I like it so much. Take gear. Folks rent small houses you can find on-line.

Resorts abound, from fancy to camping. Places to the south near where the beach bends to the east are more crowded, though it's a BIG bay and easy to spread out. Places to the north have fewer people.

I like few people, family and close friends, hence I go north.

Resorts here are listed roughly in order from fancier, to economy, though within each resort there are options. You really can't find a "bad" place down there. There are more than I put on the list

Ventana Windsurf
Captain Kirk's
Mr Bills
Baja Joe's
Casa Verde
Yo Yo's
Campground
Free camping in Arroyos

Dec/Jan/Feb/March have reliable wind

airtime · Guest

Nak · Fri Aug 28, 09 7:20 am

Yeah, I did the San Antonio shortcut... Still it seemed like a lot longer than an hour from LB to LV?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

closer to 2 hours using the cut-off (the way I drive, which is sloooooooow)

E

Bailey · Since 13 Apr 2008 87 Posts

It is an easy 1 hour drive if you go through San Antonio Smile

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

Well the shortcut is paved now which makes it a lot faster than it used to be.

I stayed at Casa Verde and loved it http://www.bajmahal.com/ . I took my wife and met my non kiting family there for Christmas one year and everyone had a blast.

Los Barilles definately has bigger swell and there's waaaaay less people kiting. But I personally think La Ventana is where it's at as far as beauty and vacationing. The kiting there is great too just less swell and more people.

Andy

Nak · Sat Aug 29, 09 8:18 am

The shortcut is paved now? Cool. That would definitely make it faster! I drove it in a little car which didn't do well on the shortcut. Very Happy

Very slow driving... The distance LB to LV is only 48 miles, so an hour does sound right. Sorry for my outdated experience. Embarassed

It took me about two hours before the paving.

windpig · Since 28 Aug 2008 283 Posts Obsessed

Flying into Los Cabos is usually cheaper. It's pretty easy to find rides down there but a rental would be good if you get skunked. As far as accommodations go. Baja Joes is pretty much, one stop shopping in the middle of it all has everything you need, kinda place. No matter where you stay it will be cool. Be prepared to S L O W down (except when drinking tequila and pacifico's) I would not suggest camping really. There is camping there but after being in the sun all day it's nice to get out of it for a while. That said there are some cool camp spots. A lot of Canadian windsurfers at the campsites I noticed. Jan and Feb should be good down there and I will probably see you there.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sat Aug 29, 09 12:26 pm

Flying into lapaz just seemed easier to us. Don't reserve a rental-haggle when you get there. We stayed in el sargento about5 minutesnorth of ventana. Rented very nice place from gorge locals. Casa verde I think. Baja joes is alright but its kind of a zoo out front. I want a peacefully vacation. We would wake up in the morning, and stretch and eat breakfast staring at the ocean with nobody around. We would see el norte coming, head to the hot springs beach and have it all to ourselves.

By the time we diwnwinded to BJ's the place looked like the sand bar. The el sargento roads are also dirtwhuch makes ebrake rental car nonsense much more fun

carolb · Sun Aug 30, 09 6:59 pm **lav classic**

The LaVentana classic is mid Jan and is a great time to be there. We went for 2 weeks and its awesome. Stayed at the more expensive on the beach huts at Baja Joes but he has cheaper ones and we've caught a lot of the other places liek Capt Kirks and Yoyo's too so do some shopping as the quailty and price can range a lot.

Things to catch:

The LaV classic crossing, demos, and the events. Great gear, kiting and band at night on the beach

And can't forget the famous Bong-a-thong was won by NW locals both mens and womens div. Still haven't caught it but heard about it!

Burning Bush - I thought this was a huge bong -a -thong so was reluctant to go but it is actually an amazing piro show with a band. Very cool to catch.

Rent a car out of LaPaz and go to the Soriano and get all your food, beer and alcohol befor coming to LaV. Shopping in LaV is like shopping at a convenience store and gets spendy.

The water is choppy, the waves are weak unless you're lucky and catch a rare day compared to SPI, but the lifestyle, scene, and party are worth it.

Hass · Since 06 Sep 2008 16 Posts

Thanks for your input eveyone, the plans are starting to come together!

A couple more questions:

Has anyone ever stayed at Ventana Bay. Its near El Sargento. I'm wondering if it is too far off the beaten path?

Also, has anyone scuba dived near La Ventana? What is the hook up? Is it something we can just find when we get there?

Thanks again,

Joel

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

There is an excellent reef to dive/snorkel 25 minutes away at the renamed, "Bahia de los Suenos,"--many locals, and most maps still call it 'Bahia de los Muertos' but the new fancy developers felt that Bay of Dreams sounds better than Bay of the Dead--to the south east--easy drive. Swim out on the east end of the bay and follow the shore. You will get to a really great reef with lots of life. Lots of scuba out of La Paz, but unless the new resort Suenos has gear there won't be anything to rent in LV. 10 years ago Baja Joe took me on a dive, but I think that was just for fun on his part with an extra set of gear he had.

Waves? Not really, but sorta. What you do get are many windy days in a row, blue water, and the sun setting behind the mountains as you kite, with miles of Cardon forests. The sunrise there is pretty much off of the chart.

Most everyone who goes there figures out a way to come back, again, and again... Many Hood River and Canada kiters have property there now. There is a reason.

Eric

purdyd · Since 27 Nov 2006 41 Posts

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Sep 07, 09 7:48 pm

Looks like a nice place to me. El Sergento is only like 5 minutes from LaVentana. There is actually an awesome downwinder if you start just north of sargento at the hot springs beach.

just be careful where you come into shore. ESPECIALLY during the low tide. The rocks that fringe many of the beaches are COVERED and I mean COVERED in sea urchins.