Windance | West Coast Guide

La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico
One hour's drive east over the mountains from La Paz, the capital city of Baja Sur. back to Baja page

Skill Level: 1-07	Amenities: Several campgrounds with flush toilets, rental/accommodation businesses, restaurants and several convenience stores with bottled water and everything else you need.
Sailing conditions:	3.5-10 meter sails, flat water to rolling swells up to 15 feet on the very biggest days. Typical sailing is 5.5-7.5 in the late-morning and 4.2-5.2 in the afternoon. The water is warm, but the wind can be cool so 3/2 convertible wetsuits are common.
Rigging area:	Rig on the beach in the sand. If you are camping, stake out a large tarp to make a good rigging area. Bring a car cover or extra tarp to cover your rigs and protect them from the sun when you aren't on the water.
Launch:	Launching is typically from a sand beach into small shore break in front of camping area. Some years the sandy beach washes out leaving residents to maintain a sandy alley through the rocks for launching.
Camping/Parking:	Most visitors stay at the Playa Miramar Campground. There are no assigned spaces in and space can be tight so meet your neighbor before you set up camp on top of them. Outside of the campgrounds there aren't any "no parking" signs anywhere, and there is a "frontage" road that parallels the main road to El Sargento that is often used by gringo landowners for parking when they go rip.
Extras:	Most visitors choose to stay in the campgrounds and the prime spots are usually full mid-November through late February. The grounds can get quite crowded, so be prepared for a communal atmosphere. There is incredible fishing in the immediate area and excellent diving close by too. There are also lots of other places to camp alone without amenities in the area, and along most of the Baja Peninsula for that matter.
Warnings and hazards:	Standard Safety Tips Site specific: Some years, the beach and shallows are covered by a nice, thick layer of sand. Other years (due to hurricanes and other natural forces) there may be boulders, barnacles, sea urchins and/or razor clams at the waterline, in the shallows, and at the "points" that jut out North and South of the campground. Those points can easily damage fins and windsurfers who stray into the shallow water. Beware of the shallow sand bar right in front of the camp as well. This can be a great place for jumping, but be careful when landing (or crashing) and remember also that low-tides and big fins don't get along. There are also flying needlefish and scorpions. Early in the season there are stingrays in the sandy areas and jellyfish in La Ventana Bay, and if there have been hurricanes periods of no-wind can be filled with millions of Bo-Bo's, the local mosquito. Early summer is shark mating season, and local fishermen often catch them off the light house at los Muertos, only 4 miles away. All that aside, La Ventana is one of the most special windsurfing spots around, and leaves a positive mark on everyone who has been there. Special precautions should be taken when sailing in the ocean. One should always be aware of the local currents, tides and underwater obstacles.
Directions to get there:	La Ventana is about one hour from the city of La Paz, the capital of Baja. If you fly, fly into La Paz as it is 3 hours closer than the Cabo airport. If you drive to La Ventana from the U.S., you will reach La Paz in 2 very long, or 3 long days drive form San Diego. From La Paz, take highway 286 signed to the town of Los Planes. At the summit of the mountains, La Ventana bay will be visible to the East, Northeast. At the bottom of the mountain and after the second arroyo crossing, turn left on the road signed to La Ventana and El Sargento. It is the only other paved road. Travel North about 7km to La Ventana. The Campground is at the North "edge" of the small town on the ocean side of the street before a left bend that goes up a small hill and is directly across the street from the Puesta del Sole mini mercado and bar.
Site owner:	The local Ejido own and operate the town campground for 60 pesos per night, but there are other options in the immediate area as well.
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Comments and news about this site:	If you have any news about this sailing site, or mistakes or additions for this page; please Email us at windance@windance.com.

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