BajaNomad

First Timer - Looking for Guidance on the Way to La Ventana

Arcana - 8-4-2019 at 05:04 PM

Planning to drive my jeep to La Ventana to do some kite surfing and intend camp on or near the beach along the way.

Looking for general recommendations on must-see places along the route. My understanding is that it is fairly desolate between here and there but have also been warned that I could be robbed while I sleep.

Curious what to expect, whether or not those warnings are from people that don't know what they are talking about, or conversely if there are things I need to know/be aware of before taking this trip.

I'm planning on taking two weeks - 2-3 days down, 2-3 days back to San Diego, and about week of kiteboarding somewhere near or in La Ventana. Schedule is still fairly flexible. Planning on November or December, but hoping for early November as long as the KB season is in full swing.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

[Edited on 8-5-2019 by Arcana]

[Edited on 8-5-2019 by Arcana]

Howard - 8-4-2019 at 05:11 PM

Stops along the way depends on how much time you have.

Once you cross the border, how long would you like to take to get to La Ventana? One week would be great as there are numerous things to see along the way and camp safely.

Give us your time frame so we can make recommendations.

Arcana - 8-4-2019 at 05:21 PM

I should have mentioned, I'm planning on taking two weeks - 2-3 days down, 2-3 days back, and a week of kiteboarding.

Howard - 8-4-2019 at 05:33 PM

Leaving from...…?

mojo_norte - 8-4-2019 at 05:40 PM

better figure 4 days down - 4 days back.

4x4abc - 8-4-2019 at 07:09 PM

2-3 days down?
You won't see a single beach for camping

November is not a wind month for La Ventana

gnukid - 8-4-2019 at 07:25 PM

November is typically one of the best months for kiteboarding in La Ventana. You can use ikitesurf.com and see the year to year archives. Many kiters do take just 2-3 days to drive down since they want to be there as long as possible. So all totally doable but you'll have no time to see anything except hang out in La Ventana, you could also fly down, shuttle to La Ventana and save the 5 day drive time. In La Ventana the main campground is walking distance to everything.

Diver - 8-4-2019 at 08:30 PM


With a late start, stop at Los Olivos and dine at Jardines, or for beach camping stop at Fidels El Pabellon.
Early start gets you to primitive camping at Santa Inez just south of Catavinia.
Next day to the beaches south of Mulege or push on to Loreto for beach camping.
3rd day gets you to La Ventana.

We'll be doing the trip down again this fall.

chumlee57 - 8-4-2019 at 08:50 PM

Great plan, if it happens to be a Monday at Los Olvios, try viejo Molino out at the San Quiten boat launch area, great spot as well. Time is always an issue, but if you could spend another day here or there, I would take a diversionary trip to a place you haven't been before, from what you are planning, it looks like a quick trip to Punta Chivato camping beach would be a nice diversionary tactic.
November is a tough month, to figure, a stellar month to hit Baja, and you may be able to absolutly cash in on some north winds ( during Santa Anas ) Thinking you should paln a full day in and a night of camping and then a day if you can squeeze it to enjoy the beach, you can be in La Ventana easy in one day from that area.
If you can stop at San Ignasio for a lunch time meal and walk the quaint downtown park area, that would be a nice walkabout as well, travel with patience and enjoy

wiltonh - 8-4-2019 at 09:08 PM

I have been going to LV for about 18 yeas and have sailing charts for each year. The first two weeks of November are almost always hot and lite winds. I would move your trip into December if possible and I think you will get much better wind. It is year dependent and there have been a few years where it has been windy the first part of November but not all that many.

I drive from Oregon and usually plan on at least a month including driving time.

Arcana - 8-5-2019 at 08:42 AM

Quote: Originally posted by wiltonh  
I have been going to LV for about 18 yeas and have sailing charts for each year. The first two weeks of November are almost always hot and lite winds. I would move your trip into December if possible and I think you will get much better wind. It is year dependent and there have been a few years where it has been windy the first part of November but not all that many.

I drive from Oregon and usually plan on at least a month including driving time.


Thanks for this. I'm flexible on when I go, so early December would work just as well. I'll move the trip.

Arcana - 8-5-2019 at 08:44 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
2-3 days down?
You won't see a single beach for camping

November is not a wind month for La Ventana


I have a ton of flexibility - can move the dates, amount of time I take, etc. Is early December any better? How many days would you allow for a few nights of beach camping on the way down with the expectation of 6-9 hours of driving each day? Figuring I'll stop along the way for food/drinks but for the most part, coastal scenic is what I'm going for.

Arcana - 8-5-2019 at 08:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chumlee57  
Great plan, if it happens to be a Monday at Los Olvios, try viejo Molino out at the San Quiten boat launch area, great spot as well. Time is always an issue, but if you could spend another day here or there, I would take a diversionary trip to a place you haven't been before, from what you are planning, it looks like a quick trip to Punta Chivato camping beach would be a nice diversionary tactic.
November is a tough month, to figure, a stellar month to hit Baja, and you may be able to absolutly cash in on some north winds ( during Santa Anas ) Thinking you should paln a full day in and a night of camping and then a day if you can squeeze it to enjoy the beach, you can be in La Ventana easy in one day from that area.
If you can stop at San Ignasio for a lunch time meal and walk the quaint downtown park area, that would be a nice walkabout as well, travel with patience and enjoy


I keep hearing that November is hit or miss, so might move to early December. Any better in your opinion?

[Edited on 8-5-2019 by Arcana]

Arcana - 8-5-2019 at 09:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard  
Stops along the way depends on how much time you have.

Once you cross the border, how long would you like to take to get to La Ventana? One week would be great as there are numerous things to see along the way and camp safely.

Give us your time frame so we can make recommendations.


Thanks Howard. Super flexible on my end. Was thinking of 6-9 hours of driving each day and can go anytime November/December except around Thanksgiving/Christmas. Otherwise I have both months off. Figured 2 weeks was enough time to get from San Diego to La Ventana and get some decent camping and kiteboarding in at the same time. Any advice on safe places to camp (the more remote beaches the better), that'd be perfect.

I travel alone....with a dog!

AKgringo - 8-5-2019 at 11:46 AM

I have spent a few nights in La Ventana, once in the campground, and a couple of times on beaches out toward the end of the road. The campground in town is a good one, but mainly because of a large rowdy dog I adopted, I stayed more remote the last trip. No bad vibes for me in that area!

I never got past the beach sessions for kite boarding, so I have no useful information about going to La Ventana vs Los Barriles, as a destination, but L.B. is one of my favorites!

Check out this thread posted by JZ; http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=92987&got...

If you spend any time down there and fail to check out that road, you will be missing out on a memorable part of your trip! The wind doesn't cooperate every day, so make a loop down the coast road, check out Los Barriles, then drive up Mex 1 to San Antonio, and cross back over to the La Ventana/Los Planes area.

solosancarlos - 8-5-2019 at 11:50 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
2-3 days down?
You won't see a single beach for camping

November is not a wind month for La Ventana



Wow, and you say you have been in La Paz for how many years?

Hilarious


Arcana, We will send you a U2U to save you time from having to wade thru all the ego bluster here.


[Edited on 8-5-2019 by solosancarlos]

apple - 8-5-2019 at 06:45 PM

This is how I'd do it I think:
Day 1 San Diego to Guerrero Negro , Camp at Laguna Ojo de Liebre
Day 2 Guerrero Negro to Bahia Concepcion, Camp at Playa Coyote specifically)
Day 3 Bahia to La Ventana, probably arrange a place to stay there. I don't remember any camping spots there, but I haven't been in like 5 years

Arcana - 8-5-2019 at 07:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by apple  
This is how I'd do it I think:
Day 1 San Diego to Guerrero Negro , Camp at Laguna Ojo de Liebre
Day 2 Guerrero Negro to Bahia Concepcion, Camp at Playa Coyote specifically)
Day 3 Bahia to La Ventana, probably arrange a place to stay there. I don't remember any camping spots there, but I haven't been in like 5 years


Exactly what I was looking for - thank you so much!

Howard - 8-5-2019 at 07:38 PM

No disrespect to Apple but I disagree with that itinerary unless you leave at O dark thirty. It can be done and we have all done it but why if you have the time?

Keep in mind that it gets dark much earlier that time of year and in no way do you want to drive in the dark. Also, there is a time change as you pass GN and the rest of the way is one hour later. If you want to leave SD in the dark and hit the border around 0600 that would work you can make GN after a long day. Just do your homework as you are doing and play everything loosey goosey along the way.

As Paul says, "No hurry, no worry."

apple - 8-5-2019 at 08:32 PM

You're right, that first day is a long one, but there's got to be one long day if you're going to do it in 3. Bahia Concepcion is a must stop for me, but that's a personal thing.
I think Day 1 to San Quintin, Day 2 to Bahia Concepcion (or Mulege) would work well too

Bajazly - 8-5-2019 at 08:33 PM

I agree with Howard on the first leg. We went down in Early November a few years back and as I remember we crossed San Ysidro just before dawn and we pulled into GN right at sunset but we were pulling a 24' boat too so, there is that but it is a long drive to GN.

If you make that the first day the rest should be cake because we made Punta Chivato the next day way before dark and we spent a couple hours getting into PC dragging the boat.

mtgoat666 - 8-5-2019 at 08:52 PM

Catavina a nicer place to stay than GN. Catavina is preferable as you can spend a pleasant afternoon/evening exploring the rock piles, and climbing rocks.

Howard - 8-5-2019 at 08:57 PM

Agreed 100% on Coyote or almost any of those beaches/coves would work as well. Also don't forget the construction around Santo Tomas might hold them up for an hour.

Just have a plan with a few alternatives AND DON'T BE IN A HURRY ANS SMELL THE CACTUS ALONG THE WAY! :birggrin:

kiterkip - 8-28-2019 at 05:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Arcana  
I should have mentioned, I'm planning on taking two weeks - 2-3 days down, 2-3 days back, and a week of kiteboarding.


I have been kiting La Ventana for many years, and since 2011 I've always made the drive.
I'm maybe more insane about getting out on the water and kiting than you are, so here's my driving scheme:
Leave San Isidro crack of dawn with a full tank and a bag of sandwiches. Re-fuel in El Rosario just to be safe before an long stretch with no gas. Arrive about dark at Guerrero Negro. Up at dawn for another long day. Arrive at La Ventana after dinner.
Be super careful with speeds or any violations in Visciano, and more so in Ciudad Constitucion (the home of crooked cops)
Here's a CC cop peeed off and demanding mordida in 2013:

David K - 8-28-2019 at 05:24 PM

To unload, camp, and repack at dawn... just dumb. Camping is fine if you can spend some time around your camp. Use the motels so you don't have to repack for just a few hours sleep. Great places and cheap at Baja Cactus in El Rosario and La Huerta in San Ignacio plus many places in Guerrero Negro. You would enjoy Bahia Concepcion (El Coyote, El Requeson, or others) if you find a spot. Half of Canada comes down and parks their RVs along the shore there in the winter.

Leave uber early if you can each morning and I hope La Ventana is worth the mad dash to spend all your relaxation time at! There is just so much more to Baja that you will be missing.