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Arcana
Newbie
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Registered: 8-4-2019
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First Timer - Looking for Guidance on the Way to La Ventana
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]
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Howard
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Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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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.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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Arcana
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I should have mentioned, I'm planning on taking two weeks - 2-3 days down, 2-3 days back, and a week of kiteboarding.
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Howard
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Leaving from...…?
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
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better figure 4 days down - 4 days back.
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4x4abc
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2-3 days down?
You won't see a single beach for camping
November is not a wind month for La Ventana
Harald Pietschmann
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
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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.
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Diver
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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.
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chumlee57
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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
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wiltonh
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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.
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Arcana
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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.
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Arcana
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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.
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Arcana
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| 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
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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]
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Arcana
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| 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.
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AKgringo
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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I travel alone....with a dog!
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.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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solosancarlos
Junior Nomad
Posts: 64
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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]
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apple
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Registered: 11-4-2013
Location: SD
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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
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Arcana
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| 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
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Exactly what I was looking for - thank you so much!
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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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."
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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apple
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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
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