BajaNomad

Area in between La Paz & Bahia de los Suenos

Corua - 8-28-2020 at 12:12 PM

Hello, so i've been doing some research on that area all along the 286...Los Encinitos,San Juan de Los Planes, Agua Amarga ect.ect

For those that live near and or around this part of baja what is your experince with how things are in regards to services(water,light....)

areas like el sargento or la ventana are also very appealing but $ is a big factor (muchos pesos para mi bolsa)

i dont mind living inland and that stretch of road (286)with all town's or ranchos seem like a good place to settle in the sense that you have access to a major city like la paz.

I'm pretty sure youv'e all been asked a hundred times but i would imagine buying local from the landowners is way better? that going thru a bank or realtor? i mean is there a difference in your experience...

SFandH - 8-28-2020 at 12:40 PM

The first thing I would do is find a real estate attorney in La Paz that knows the area you're interested in to answer questions. Perhaps the initial consultation would be free.

David K - 8-28-2020 at 12:48 PM

Visual aid:


charliemanson - 8-28-2020 at 04:44 PM

you can pick up a nice chunk of dirt just outside and still on pavement on the road to La Ventana, probably 1500 sq meters for around 7-10 k, if not even less, or even trade a decent truck. Covid has crushed that pueblo due to lack of tourism and folks are getting desperate.

Never use a real estate attorney in Mexico as they just up charge you and give it to a Notario who does all the work legally. Real estate attorneys down here are worthless and you can hire a translation specialist for next to nothing.

BajaBlanca - 8-28-2020 at 05:25 PM

As has been said many times before, rent something in the area that you think you like. I tell you, too many stories of people buying and not liking the reality.

Pretty much all over Baja, folks are selling at low LOW prices. But I highly recommend renting in the area first!

Best of luck Corua!

4x4abc - 8-28-2020 at 09:08 PM

yes - rent! for about a year. See how you cope with weather and culture. During that time you'll find out that buying property in Mexico is a bit different. Lawyers are cheap - get one. NEVER lease a property. Pre 1980's procedure. We have internet now - Mexico has advanced. Somewhat. Properties without water and power are cheap. But to make your own power is very expensive. Unless you can live without a fridge and AC. Water needs to be trucked in and that is quite expensive. Phone/internet is the next one. If it is not on the property or right next to it you could get it mañana. That means not today. Not likely tomorrow. You might never get it. I built on a property that is within 100 meters of city water, power and phone. Water was quick. A couple of months. Power was almost a year. The phone required multiple levels of bribery and took abut 6 months.

chippy - 8-29-2020 at 06:07 AM

I think some of you missed coruas intro. He was born and raised in Baja and now lives in Cd. Juarez.

bajalinda - 8-29-2020 at 07:43 AM

La Ventana and El Sargento are very popular with windsurfers/kitesurfers in the winter months. It's oppressively hot and humid there in the summer - too much for me, but many people love it. Given that you are from Mexicali, the heat shouldn't be a problem for you, but not sure about the humidity. Spend some time in different times of the year in places you are considering. Good luck with your search!

brucedog - 8-29-2020 at 08:05 AM

Regarding services, in La Ventana we get water regularly (3x a week for 4-6 hours) and power doesn't go out too often. You can definitely make a nice life for yourself in the manner that you are thinking. As Linda said, it's very hot and humid this time of year.

bajamary1952 - 8-29-2020 at 08:22 AM

I went to that area on the highway last December when I was in La Paz and the road at the end near the coast was completely washed out...so wonder how many times that happens?????

tiotomasbcs - 8-29-2020 at 12:20 PM

You need to look around both N/S and E/West...Doesn't sound like you have done any footwork? Once you have looked around then rent and take in the Ex pat views of the area. Also...weather is very different during winter, Spring, Summer and fall!

charliemanson - 8-29-2020 at 04:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
yes - rent! for about a year. See how you cope with weather and culture. During that time you'll find out that buying property in Mexico is a bit different. Lawyers are cheap - get one. NEVER lease a property. Pre 1980's procedure. We have internet now - Mexico has advanced. Somewhat. Properties without water and power are cheap. But to make your own power is very expensive. Unless you can live without a fridge and AC. Water needs to be trucked in and that is quite expensive. Phone/internet is the next one. If it is not on the property or right next to it you could get it mañana. That means not today. Not likely tomorrow. You might never get it. I built on a property that is within 100
meters of city water, power and phone. Water was quick. A couple of months. Power was almost a year. The phone required multiple levels of bribery and took abut 6 months.


There are some who know nothing who feel they do as in this blowhards comments which is easy to see through. If your from Mex. then you know how little attorneys are regarded and that you use a notario. Funny as I play golf 3 days a week with a real estate attorney who laughs about the misconception between attorneys and notaries and makes a really good living off gringos and openly admits he does nothing more than translate. Are other person in our foursome loves him as he is the notario who the attorney sends his clients to. Guess who buys drinks?

Everyone will have an opinion here and some are just plain wrong.
Good luck in your search and just noticed today driving to play golf with the above mentioned folks that quite a few new signs were up in and around the super cool cardon forest with power above and water underneath. Like I said don't listen to what 1/2 the know it all 4x4 d. bags have to through out

gnukid - 8-30-2020 at 01:57 PM

There is a primary water source in Los Plannes to serve the region and La Ventana/El Sargento, Some properties have wells in Los Plannes. it's a bit salty and has been shown to contain arsenic and particles from long term mining in the El Triunfo region. There is also desal water in large public tanks you can use to fill 5gallon jugs in LV/ES.

La Presa Buena Mujere is a water source for La Paz.

Spring water exists at various points along the mountain range, there are some ranches with their own spring water. When you pass Los Planes and hit the La Curva Ferretaria, in San Pedro and Agua Amarga, the homes and farms get Spring Water from the mountains, it usually comes everyday for about three hours, except one day a week, Sunday, there is no water to give all the water to the largest farm.

Each home should use a 1/2 inch pipe from the 3 inch main to fill their water tanks. You can build a huge cistern and have as much on hand as you want and you can supplement with truck water if you need it, most get by with 2x1100liter tanks.

The Southern shore area along La Ventana Bay is colloquially called "Bahia Turquesa", then Punta Arena and Ensenada Muertos aka La Bahia, they have no water source and use trucked water that costs about $US50+ for a truck which I think is 10,000 liters, not sure. The trucks run constantly almost everyday to serve a few hundred homes and resorts.

Electricity is fairly reliable where it is wired along the road except in hurricane season and during electrical shortages. Supposedly La Paz is adding resource with a barge based generator that should improve reliability. Last year about this time power would go out often, but so far it has not been as bad, but, has gone out a few times recently, so you may need a generator for frozen food and AC in an emergency.

Over the mountain to the south of Muertos from Boca de Alamo to Los Barriles there is spring water to city homes and also trucked water for remote homes that is considered high quality and many people drink the water, but not me. There have been periods of no water due to maintenance issues, so its a good idea to have a very large cistern to get through whatever shortages occur and have truck water as a back up. Its no fun paying for a full truck when you don't the space to store it.

Although Boca de Alamo and El Cardonal are close to Los Plannes as the crow files, or by Panga, most drive the long way, through San Antonio, which is about a 100km and two or three hour drive.

Turquesa and Punta Arena, Cardonal etc. all require you drive on a dirt road which can be washed out and can be a bit remote, without shopping and services.

So, consider your reliance on Cities, services and shopping, if you depend on reliable services it's better to be closer to La Paz, or San Jose. If you can manage without regular shopping, city water and electricity, and can manage solar, trucked water and planning your food for long periods, and are comfortable with a 4x4 off road then it is great place. It's not fun driving to La Paz everyday and can be costly and dangerous to drive due to cows and and drunk drivers.

At the moment, COVID restrictions has caused great hardship and stress on the region, depending on your lifestyle. Many can not work due to restrictions on some business and tourism and restricted access to beaches. So there is a significantly depressed economy and extremely high stress, poverty etc. while people are unable to freely move about. COVID Semafore Status is moving down to level 4 Monday, tomorrow, and more business are allowed to open.

Because of the restrictions, uncertainty and economy, land is of lower value, it is possible to buy 1000/m2+ for $200,000pesos (US10k) more or less, while there are delusional Real Estate agents trying to upsell the same properties for 2-4million pesos while 3-4 out of 5 homes are sitting empty with uncertainty about the future restrictions on mobility and tourist activities and beach access. I do not recommend either a Real Estate agent or Lawyer since the costs will go up exponentially while they add no value.

Many properties are untitled, or ejido land, and have no water or power nearby, which can be good or bad depending on your comfort level. A property with title, water and electricity is much easier to deal with for most and would be considered of higher value.


[Edited on 8-30-2020 by gnukid]

Corua - 8-31-2020 at 08:07 AM

Thank You everyone for the information. i am definitely in need of having to actually head out there when ever possible to see and experience things for myself but its always good to hear and have a small idea of how things may be...hope you all have a good week...stay safe nomads

BajaBlanca - 8-31-2020 at 10:45 AM

It really is interesting how every town and village is radically different. I think if I were you, since you seem to be angling towards the south Corua, I would actually start in La Paz and visit the surrounding areas a bit at a time. La Paz has a place to rent for every budget in the world!

Corua - 8-31-2020 at 10:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca  
It really is interesting how every town and village is radically different. I think if I were you, since you seem to be angling towards the south Corua, I would actually start in La Paz and visit the surrounding areas a bit at a time. La Paz has a place to rent for every budget in the world!



Gracias Blanca, that is what i am aiming for the South especially with it being close to Mazatlan where i frequent but have yet to get on that ferry. un paso a la vez as they say

charliemanson - 9-1-2020 at 01:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by gnukid  
There is a primary water source in Los Plannes to serve the region and La Ventana/El Sargento, Some properties have wells in Los Plannes. it's a bit salty and has been shown to contain arsenic and particles from long term mining in the El Triunfo region. There is also desal water in large public tanks you can use to fill 5gallon jugs in LV/ES.

La Presa Buena Mujere is a water source for La Paz.

Spring water exists at various points along the mountain range, there are some ranches with their own spring water. When you pass Los Planes and hit the La Curva Ferretaria, in San Pedro and Agua Amarga, the homes and farms get Spring Water from the mountains, it usually comes everyday for about three hours, except one day a week, Sunday, there is no water to give all the water to the largest farm.

Each home should use a 1/2 inch pipe from the 3 inch main to fill their water tanks. You can build a huge cistern and have as much on hand as you want and you can supplement with truck water if you need it, most get by with 2x1100liter tanks.

The Southern shore area along La Ventana Bay is colloquially called "Bahia Turquesa", then Punta Arena and Ensenada Muertos aka La Bahia, they have no water source and use trucked water that costs about $US50+ for a truck which I think is 10,000 liters, not sure. The trucks run constantly almost everyday to serve a few hundred homes and resorts.

Electricity is fairly reliable where it is wired along the road except in hurricane season and during electrical shortages. Supposedly La Paz is adding resource with a barge based generator that should improve reliability. Last year about this time power would go out often, but so far it has not been as bad, but, has gone out a few times recently, so you may need a generator for frozen food and AC in an emergency.

Over the mountain to the south of Muertos from Boca de Alamo to Los Barriles there is spring water to city homes and also trucked water for remote homes that is considered high quality and many people drink the water, but not me. There have been periods of no water due to maintenance issues, so its a good idea to have a very large cistern to get through whatever shortages occur and have truck water as a back up. Its no fun paying for a full truck when you don't the space to store it.

Although Boca de Alamo and El Cardonal are close to Los Plannes as the crow files, or by Panga, most drive the long way, through San Antonio, which is about a 100km and two or three hour drive.

Turquesa and Punta Arena, Cardonal etc. all require you drive on a dirt road which can be washed out and can be a bit remote, without shopping and services.

So, consider your reliance on Cities, services and shopping, if you depend on reliable services it's better to be closer to La Paz, or San Jose. If you can manage without regular shopping, city water and electricity, and can manage solar, trucked water and planning your food for long periods, and are comfortable with a 4x4 off road then it is great place. It's not fun driving to La Paz everyday and can be costly and dangerous to drive due to cows and and drunk drivers.

At the moment, COVID restrictions has caused great hardship and stress on the region, depending on your lifestyle. Many can not work due to restrictions on some business and tourism and restricted access to beaches. So there is a significantly depressed economy and extremely high stress, poverty etc. while people are unable to freely move about. COVID Semafore Status is moving down to level 4 Monday, tomorrow, and more business are allowed to open.

Because of the restrictions, uncertainty and economy, land is of lower value, it is possible to buy 1000/m2+ for $200,000pesos (US10k) more or less, while there are delusional Real Estate agents trying to upsell the same properties for 2-4million pesos while 3-4 out of 5 homes are sitting empty with uncertainty about the future restrictions on mobility and tourist activities and beach access. I do not recommend either a Real Estate agent or Lawyer since the costs will go up exponentially while they add no value.

Many properties are untitled, or ejido land, and have no water or power nearby, which can be good or bad depending on your comfort level. A property with title, water and electricity is much easier to deal with for most and would be considered of higher value.


Extremely well written and spot on!

I laugh almost everyday I drive past the crunched up sign reading Puesa bueno mujer. Meaning Dahm good woman!


good luck with your endeavor


[Edited on 8-30-2020 by gnukid]

charliemanson - 9-1-2020 at 01:49 PM

Also, as I forgot to mention, our water is trucked in from los Planos to our get away house and we test the water at my wife's laboratory every month. Some results are perfect evrytime from one driver and different from other drivers when we are in a pinch. Have yet to detect any harmful chemicals or minerals, but the level of salt does go up. Probably depending on which well one uses...some are closer than others, hence the discrepancy