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There are a lot of active things to do in La Ventana for both wind sport enthusiasts, and those who may be joining them. While the area has earned its reputation as a kitesurfing and wing foiling sport mecca, there’s a lot to do in the region that doesn’t involve wind! So whether you want to give wing foiling or kite surfing a go, are tagging along with a wind obsessed companion, looking for active inspiration on a rest day, or a serene place to rest your muscles, we’ve got you covered.
La Ventana, Mexico had a population of 300 and a fishing economy that was quietly fading. Then the wind sport community found it. Today, every winter, it becomes one of the most unlikely concentrations of fit, adventurous, financially independent people over 50 anywhere in the world – expat retirees, digital nomads and seasonal snowbirds who chose a dusty Baja village over a Florida golf course. Here, a generation is fundamentally reimagining what the second half of life looks like.
Things to do in La Ventana FAQ
Is La Ventana good for beginners at wing foiling? Yes. Winds are predictably good Nov-Mar, and being located on the eastern side of the Baja, means ocean waves are minimal. La Ventana beach is in a C-shape, so even if beginners get blown down, there is a beach to catch them. There are several companies offering lessons and rentals for beginners in La Ventana.
What is La Ventana Mexico known for? While originally known as a small Mexican fishing village, it is best known as a wind sport mecca for kitesurfing and wing foiling between November-March.
How far is La Ventana from La Paz / Cabo? La Ventana is a 45 min drive from La Paz, and a 2.5 hour drive from Cabo. Both La Paz and Cabo have international airports.
When is the best time to visit La Ventana Baja? If you are coming for wind sports, November-March, when the north wind afternoon thermal blows daily. Outside these months La Ventana is much quieter, but it’s best to avoid the rainy and storm season of July – October. September and October are the most active months for hurricanes and heavy rainfall.
What is hot springs beach La Ventana like? Unique, in that it features salt water heated from beneath the earth, contained by rock pools which you can build yourself along the shore. The water and rocks can get very hot though, so the rising tide and lapping waves pushing cooler water into the mix is welcome.
Do you need a car to visit La Ventana? It’s not absolutely necessary, since you can hire a ride from La Paz or Cabo, if arriving by air. But, the town is spread out, so having a car allows more freedom to explore the areas beaches, hiking and biking opportunities.
Is La Ventana good for non-kiters? Yes. If you are an active adventurer there is a lot to do in La Ventana even if you don’t kitesurf or wing foil: hiking, biking, snorkeling, diving, swimming and SUP paddle boarding (in the morning when the bay is flat calm). But La Ventana also has great beaches to just lounge if that’s your thing.
La Ventana
La Ventana is not really a town. It’s more of a strip of development spanning two towns, stretching from La Ventana in the south to El Sargento in the north. The southern area hosts most of the original small town amenities, and to the north is where recent newer development has taken place – including more up-scale vacation homes. It’s a dusty strip of well-traveled road in between, leaving local cars caked in dust. Most of the northern roads are unpaved, and many of the side streets are bumpy dirt treks, primarily accessed by beach bound wind fanatics when the north wind picks up after noon.
La Ventana is a 45 minute drive from La Paz, and 2.5 hours from Cabo San Lucas. The permanent population is just over 300 residents. But that population swells during the months of November – March with kiters and wing foilers, many from BC, Canada, and southern US states. While there I visited British Columbia friends who spend their winters in La Ventana. There were times when the number of BC plates seemed to outnumber Mexican plates!
La Ventana is a snowbird fitness capital during the winter. You would be hard pressed to find a larger concentration of active, capable and adventurous people anywhere else on the continent. Think expat retirees and digital nomads prioritizing lifestyle, mixed with a small population of Mexican locals.
I came to the Baja for a Wild Women adventure tour kayaking/camping/hiking with a group of female friends, but I added a week with a rental car (one way from La Paz to Cabo) to explore the La Ventana area fully. While you can certainly get transportation from Cabo or La Paz to La Ventana, having a car will up many more options for adventure in the area. Many of the activities and destinations noted in this article where made possible by having my own vehicle.
Organized adventure tours
Check out these active adventure tours offered in the area. Options include: Ocean Safari, Wingfoiling discovery, Kitesurfing discovery, Cactus Forest bike tour, snorkeling and dive tours, ATV tours, and boat tours around the peninsula.
Active things to do in La Ventana
While it’s possible to lounge on the beach in La Ventana, you’ll find that most visitors are interested in mixing up that beach with activities.
Wing foiling La Ventana & kiteboarding La Ventana
From November to March La Ventana has a predictable northern thermal wind. This is created by La Ventana’s location between a hot desert peninsula and the cooler Sea of Cortez. The consistent sea breeze kicks in around noon, building in strength throughout the afternoon to around 15-25 knots, making it ideal for water wind sports. While the sea is flat calm in the morning, it predictably becomes a sea of colorful sails and kites in the afternoon.
You can bring your own gear, but rentals and lessons are readily available. Since I had been on a kayaking adventure the previous week, I didn’t have my own gear, so I rented from Elevation Kite Boarding https://elevationkiteboarding.com Rates in Feb 2026 were $165 USD/day for a full set up including wet suit. You can also rent a wing, board or foil separately. Weekly rates for a full set up were $875. Check their website for current rates. If you plan to get multiple days in, and own your own gear, it would be worthwhile bringing it down.
A few folks I spoke to said the airline rates to carry gear were reasonable, and a couple mentioned no additional charge – hard to believe in 2026, so be sure to ask! But the rental option also allows you to try new gear, and to switch sails during the day if you wish. It’s an excellent option for trying out new sails, boards and different brands. For example, I use an F-one wing with hand hold hoops at home. I was able to try a Duotone wing – once with a solid bar hold, and another time with two bar holds. (For the record I preferred the solid bar hold, because it felt more like a windsurfing set up, which was very familiar)
Lesson packages are also available. Connect with lessons@elevationkiteboarding.com or WhatsApp +52-612-177-9847 to learn more. I took advantage of their “downwinder drop off” for an extra $20 USD. Rodrigo loaded my gear in his truck and dropped me off about 1.5 kms north so I could sail away from the crowded southern beaches, but also not need to worry about being blown down over time. Elevation had a station on the beach with pumps to inflate the wing once you arrive. I’d highly recommend this option if you are learning, or just wanting to stay clear of the kite boarders and their lines. The south area of La Ventana’s beach is like a big catcher’s mitt if you happen to get blown down though, so there’s no fear of never getting back. But it might involve a walk of shame with your gear if you can’t manage upwind sailing!
There are lots of lesson options available in town, but if you’re wanting to book in advance for a private lesson, this is a good option: wing foiling discovery lesson with Ventana Wind Co. All equipment, instructor and pick up included. Keep in mind, that wind conditions need to be favorable, so it is best to allow for a few alternate days during your stay.
Check Mas Viento for wind conditions
Be sure to monitor wind conditions on the Mas Viento Facebook page. The page is managed by a retired meteorologist and wind weather enthusiast. He posts daily forecasts for the week, complete with “nerd notes” explaining his predictions. Everyone in town relies on it.
Walk the beach
There’s more than 10km of beach to walk along the C-shaped bay of La Ventana, and a whole lot more if you continue along the south shore. I found beaches mostly empty in the morning, and sparsely used in the afternoon – outside of wind sport concentrated areas.
South beach has finer sand and very little development, outside of sparsely placed vacation homes. It makes a great area for a beach rest or swim day, since those kitesurfering and wing foiling avoid the area, with the exception of a few beginners who get blown down.
Paddleboarding La Ventana Sea of Cortez
Mornings are calm in the Sea of Cortez off La Ventana. That is because the area is on the eastern shore of the Baja, not open to Pacific coast ocean tidal waves. And in the morning it is yet to be stirred up with the northern wind which usually arrives around noon, producing some waves. A sunrise paddle and morning glide along the shore will likely be shared with pelicans, not other people.
Paddleboard rentals are available in town. Playa Central Windsports rent SUP’s for $20 for two hours, $50 for the day. They also offer wind sports gear rental and lessons. Playa Central is located further north, just south of the camp ground, than Elevation – where I rented gear.
Check out Playa Central
Playa Central is at the center of town, and houses gear rental and lesson options. The big yellow building also hosts a couple great places for food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus cold beverages. Cornavento Beach Bar and Lako Beach Café Bar are worth checking out for food, atmosphere, mixed drinks and cold beer after a day of play.
Cardon Cactus Forest La Ventana hike
I found the Cardon Cactus Forest south of town fascinating. Mostly because cactus of any type are quite foreign to this Pacific North West rainforest native, but also because it was flat out cool to walk amongst Elephant Cactus over 200 years old. The Cardon Corridor is a 6.5km trail through the cactus forest. Quail Trail is 3.3km. The trail is used by walkers and mountain bikers, with some interpretive signs along the way. Be mindful if a trail is signed “one-way” as a bike path, since cyclists can come up on you quickly. The trails through the Cardon Cactus Forest are flat, and classified as easy. Get the Trail Forks app, to explore all trails in the La Ventana area. It will help you locate trail options and track yourself within the Cardon Cactus Forest.
As with all hiking activities around La Ventana, be sure to take plenty of drinking water. The sun and heat can be relentless, and cactus do not provide much shade.
Ready to geek out on cactus? Here’s what to expect along the trail.
Elephant Cactus: These are the big ones towering in the sky, and which dominate the cactus skyline in the southern area of La Ventana. Elephant Cactus can live over 200 years and weigh up to 10 tons. They are pollinated at night be bats, and can be male, female or both. So much for gender identify politics. Mother nature got there first.
Peninsular Barrel Cactus: These are slow growing, with yellow date sized fruit, which can be eaten. The pulp can be chewed for water.
Ashy Limberbush: The sap of this cactus stains clothing, but can help superficial wounds heal. The sap can also stop stinging from cactus spines, bee stings and mosquito bites.
Baja California Cholla: Wrens nest in this cactus, and it gets pink flowers which bloom Feb-Oct. The fruit from this cactus is green and can stay on the plant for many seasons.
Lollipop Tree: This is one of the few evergreen trees in Baja. It’s an excellent shade tree, with deep purple red fruit which ripens in August. They are edible too.
Hike the Punta Gorda Trail La Ventana
The Punta Gorda Trail is a 5.8km out and back hike, which follows the coastline north of town. I drove as far on the dusty one-way sand road as I felt comfortable, and walked the road from there, along the rocky beach and to the trail head.
I combined hiking the Punta Gorda Trail with a morning outing to soak at Hot Springs Beach. Grabbing a soak after the hike would be great too, but since the hot springs do get quite hot, I found it nicer in the cool of the morning air.
The Punta Gorda Trail is a beautiful hike. I did it between 11:30-1:30/2pm at the heat of the day, but there was a nice breeze off the water. Be sure to take water, and a towel since you are able to swim at the end down by a beach. Use the Trailforks app to track yourself on the trail and stay on course.
The trail is well used and marked, but there are a couple side route options. The day I hiked I didn’t meet a soul in either direction, but did see some folks along the rocky beach before the trail head. Just before the trail head I spotted a pod of dolphins jumping in the water, so be on the lookout beyond just where you’re walking! The trail is dusty sand, with moderate ups and downs, through cactus and rock, mostly exposed to the sun.
La Ventana Hot Springs Beach
Officially called Playa Agua Termales, most locals call the area simply “hot springs beach.” Most hot springs are fresh water, so a salt water natural hot springs by the ocean shore is pretty cool (or should we say hot?)
The rocks and sand are thermal heated from beneath in the earth’s core, in this area. You can create a “private pool” of piled rocks to contain the heated sea water for your own salt water spa.
Timed well with a rising tide, the sea water will begin to wash over the rocks to naturally cool the pool. While you can build your own rock pool, oftentimes you can slide into one already constructed by a previous visitor. You’ll find rock pools at different locations depending on the tide, but it’s best to time your visit mid tide so there is enough water to fill, but not too much that the ocean floods the warmer pools too quickly. Be warned – the rocks and water get really hot in some places!
To access the hot springs I drove to the campground and walked along the beach 30 minutes to get there. But I realized later that I could have taken a higher road and dropped in. See directions and map below for access (ADD GOOGLE MAP here)
There is a 4×4 sand road along the top of the beach too, but it was sketchy in some places, when I walked back along it to check out conditions.
Mountain biking La Ventana Baja
It should come as no surprise that in a town of amateur wind sport enthusiasts, that many would bring their mountain bikes. There are a lot of mountain biking trails north of town along the mountain ridge (see Trailforks map above in Punta Gorda hike section), which are more challenging, and south of town in the cactus flats, which are less challenging and predominantly flat. Download the Trailforks app to check out the host of options. The northern trails branch out from Hot Springs Beach area, and the southern trails branch out from the Cactus Forest. If you want elevation gain and a challenge, my friends suggested checking out Las Manitas Trail in the mountains.
Regular mountain bikes and e-bikes are available for rent in town, and several operators offer guided bike tours. Check out Play Central Kiteboarding, and book bike tour options here.
Marine Seafari or fishing excursion
I didn’t do either of these tours while in La Ventana since I had already experienced some pretty amazing interactions with sea lions, seal pups, rays, tropical fish and coral on our kayaking trip with Wild Women. If you want to experience marine wildlife in the Sea of Cortez while visiting La Ventana, a Seafari excursion is a good day trip option. Playa Central Kiteboarding can help arrange a Seafari for you, or check out and book lots of tour options here.
Tour out of town beaches
While there’s more than enough sand to keep anyone happy in La Ventana, the abundance continues out of town. Seeking serenity away from all the wind sport action? This is where to find it.
Playa Turquesa La Ventana – 15 minutes drive out of town, down a remote road, and you can have the place to yourself.
Los Suenos Bay of Dreams snorkeling – a beautiful fine sand beach, protected from the wind, with an amazing coral shelf just off shore. No need to hire a boat or snorkel/dive with an organized group. Bring your swim googles and look down. The road in is drivable via some Mexican style off-roading through sandy roads and salt flats, but very doable with an SUV.
There’s also an abandoned old resort close by, boarded up, fenced and protected by a guard who walks the area. The guard’s dogs might be off putting to some since they bark upon your arrival and run free, but I found them friendly and curious.
Punta Arena de la Ventana Beach. Another beach area away from town on a south shore point, marked by a lighthouse. This beach seemed to attract mostly local Mexican families. The day I was there it was not busy at all.
Snorkeling and diving in the Sea of Cortz
Since La Ventana is located on the Sea of Cortez, a body of water that Jacque Cousteau called the world’s aquarium, there is some great snorkeling in the area. Expect mobula rays, sea lions, and coral reefs around the Isla Cerralvo – across the bay from La Ventana. But for the cheap and cheerful free version, see Los Suenos Bay of Dreams above!
La Ventana Yoga
Do your muscles need a little stretch after all the activities? Or perhaps some morning meditation with beach yoga is the switch up you need to your yoga routine. Playa Central offers beach yoga, with daily drop in classes, private sessions, and a special SUP yoga experience during the calm morning waters.
During my stay at ChangoMango, they offered rooftop deck classes twice a week for free. The ChangoMango covered deck is elevated, catching the rising sun, and a block from the water.
La Ventana Farmers Market
The La Ventana Farmers Market is held weekly on Thursdays, 8am-12 noon. It’s a great place to purchase produce, and patronize local small businesses. While there I picked up a colourful beach bag/grocery bag, recycled and constructed from an old kitesurfing kite. I also picked up a really unique hooded jacket vest made of recycled kite material. A colourful, unique and one off find, it was the perfect souvenir for La Ventana.
The farmers market is located just off the main road, to the west (opposite side to the ocean) between La Ventana and El Sargento. Look for parked cars and people gathered on Thursday morning, and you can’t miss it. For locals, the farmers market is a social gathering to catch up with friends weekly. It’s a buzzing environment of vendors, tents and people.
Villages a drive away
If you’re in La Ventana for a week or more, you may wish to plan a few day trips. Below are some options for exploring the area in the vicinity of La Ventana, as well as the Pacific coast and Sea of Cortez and interior regions of southern Baja California Sur.
El Triunfo
El Triunfo is a cute old silver mining town about 30 minutes drive from La Ventana. It’s a small town with a large mission church on its skyline. It’s also great place to grab an ice cream cone, at the Real Ice Cream shop. We stopped there on our Wild Women adventure, and I returned on my own on the route back to Cabo from La Ventana.
La Paz
La Paz is officially a city, but presents as a large town of 4 way stop gridded roads. There’s a beautiful boardwalk area along the waterfront, lined with palms. Due to the Sea of Cortez and the bay in La Paz orienting west, it is the only place in southern Baja that is not on the Pacific coast, where you can witness a sunset over the ocean.
La Paz is where many snorkeling and kayak day trip tours on the Sea of Cortez embark from. Be sure to check out these options and book in advance. INSERT GETYOURGUIDE LINK HERE. There are some touristy bits close to the waterfront, but La Paz is mostly an authentic Mexican town. There’s a major airport there too.
Todos Santos day trip from La Ventana
Todos Santos is a charming, historic, artsy town on the Pacific coast side of southern Baja. The town also comes with a lot of history.
The Mission Santa Rosa de las Palmoas was established in 1733. The church and school is a significant landmark in town, representing the area’s deep colonial roots.
You could easily combine this with a visit to Cerritos Beach. Parts of Todos Santos feel quite touristy though, and you’re sure to spot a few tour buses with visitors venturing from Cabo resorts on day trips, a couple hours south of the town.
Be sure to grab a photo in front of the “Hotel California”, because you know, you might never want to leave!
Playa Los Ceritos Beach
Los Ceritos Beach is a surf town on the Pacific Coast. It’s about 1hr 30 minutes away from La Ventana. Los Ceritos Beach is one of the few safe beaches for swimming on the west cape. It’s also great for beginner surfers.
The area has suffered from popularity though. Numerous resorts have popped up, and more new beach front developments looked to be on the way. I found it super busy, with a resort vibe, but perhaps I was tainted by the relative uncrowded beaches and solitude experienced on the east coast of the Baja.
Sierra de la Laguna hot springs and Sol de Mayo waterfalls (Fox Canyon waterfalls)
Located in the Sierra de Laguna National Park, close to Santiago, access to the hot springs and Cascada Sol de Mayo (Fox Canyon waterfall) is available to overnight campers and day use visitors in the canyon area. Located about 1hr 30 minutes south of La Ventana, this would be a full day trip, or something to plan on its own and spend a couple days camping. If you are driving to La Ventana from Cabo, it would be a great place to spend the day on route. Sierra de la Laguna hot springs and Sol de Mayo waterfalls offers a unique glimpse into the interior mountain and canyon region of the southern Baja, an area that many tourists miss.
We camped while on our Wild Women Expeditions trip, and enjoyed the hot springs by a full moon at night, as well as the next morning. The waterfalls were beautiful, as was the hike in to access them. Check out the photos below to get a sense of the area, and link to my article “Kayaking Espiritu Santo Island, camping & hiking Baja Mexico: a women’s adventure getaway” to learn more about organized tours to this area.
Where to eat in La Ventana
There are numerous spots to dine in La Ventana. I joined local friends at Las Palmas Restaurant and Bar one evening. Located north of town, the Mexican food was authentic, well priced and the margaritas were amazing. Las Palmas has a huge outdoor deck overlooking the ocean, as well as indoor dining.
Other restaurants I visited
Baja Bites (El Sargentao, north end of town) Highly recommend the seafood tacos.
Baja Joe’s Garage Bar and Restaurant (a La Ventana classic, sometimes with live music). I did drinks with friends and happy hour there. There’s a cool beach vibe ever present. Baja Joe’s is a La Ventana original – for food and accommodation.
ChangoMango (amazing healthy smoothies for breakfast, acai bowls and fresh fish or shrimp tacos lunch and dinner, fun open outdoor bar) I stayed at ChangoMango, and can attest that half of town showed up to the bar and restaurant to watch the Superbowl, but many who were not guests also returned nightly for the food and drinks. ChangoMango is right across the street from Baja Joes. The open bar and dining area is at the entrance, just behind the rock wall.
La Ventana View lists a bunch of other options. Check them out here.
Where to buy groceries & beer in La Ventana
If you’re looking for a classic large grocery store, you won’t find it in La Ventana. Partly because it’s a small town, and partly because of culture. Small Mexican towns patronize small shops and retailers.
The two main groceries are Star Market and Osca Rita, which are north of town if you’re staying down by Baja Joes or ChangoMango. These stores have a larger selection of items as well as a small produce section. They also sell hard alcohol and beer. There are numerous other small shops along the strip between La Ventana and and El Sargentao to the north. Some have produce, some do not. Most sell cold beer, in 6-packs and as one off sales. Oxxo, a convenience store chain in Mexico, is also located in town, and you can pick up food and beverages there. The farmers market on Thursday morning is another option for fresh produce. My friends said locals do their big shops in La Paz, where stores such as Costco are located.
Where to stay in La Ventana:
La Ventana has lots of accommodation options, ranging from budget to luxury. Below are my recommendations.
Budget options
I found ChangoMango a great place to stay. Rates are extremely reasonable, the beds were great (think Westin Heavenly bed without Westin prices), and the property clean and extremely well kept. Accommodations are unique “pods” centered around an open air courtyard with a pool, deck chairs, and a bar/restaurant – used by both accommodation guests, and people who come to the restaurant from town.
Pods are air conditioned, but have limited space. Think bed, shelves and not much more. But honestly, what more do you need? There is a shower room, and a toilet/sink room for both men and women which is shared. The facilities are stylish and kept immaculately clean. There is also a rooftop deck, and an open deck area with a gas fire pit, which was lovely for both sunrise and sunset.
Access to your pod is by keycode, set up when you check in, and guests can order reasonably priced meals and drinks from the bar and put it on their tab, to be settled up at departure.
The only challenge for some might be gear storage, since there is no room to keep gear in your pod. Most people just left their rigs and wetsuits outside their pod, and there were no issues. Management is local, on site and super accommodating and responsive.
Baja Joes is a La Ventana original. Guests who stay there often come back year after year. It’s another one of those properties featuring both accommodations and a restaurant/bar. Prices range depending on the type of room you book. Some rooms have kitchenettes, some accommodate larger groups, and some feature shared shower/toilet access, while others have private washrooms in the suite. Prices are reasonable.
I know a couple guy friends who stay at Baja Joes each year when they go down as a group. They love the vibe, easy access to the beach, and the ability to accommodate a group. (ADD PHOTOS)
La Ventana Hostel offers both shared dorms and private rooms on a budget. It is located centrally in town, further up from the water than Baja Joes or ChangoMango.
La Window Glamping is located up by Playa Central. Yurt style tents are offered at reasonable prices. The campground area also accommodates tent camping, vans and RVs. or RV.
Midrange options
Situated right on La Ventana bay. Offer standard rooms, studio suites, and larger residences.
Authentic, in the heart of La Ventana. Steps from the ocean with charming casitas, with private terrace and shared access pool. (ADD PHOTO)
Unique private yurt style glamping tents right by the beach. Cater to both the “wind winter season” as well as the summer season. (ADD PHOTO)
Higher end luxury
Luxury accommodation, restaurant, and kite surfing school all in one place. Right on the beach.
Todo Bien is La Ventana’s premiere beachfront destination, oceanfront resort.
La Ventana may be a dusty town, but you’ll leave happy!
Mary Charleson
Mary Charleson is a travel writer and marketing/media strategist for 50+ adventure travellers. She publishes Carryonqueen.com and FiveMinuteMarketing.com. In 2025, Carryonqueen.com earned 2nd place for Best Self-Published Travel Website (Travel Media Association of Canada). Mary also speaks to tourism leaders about modern marketing and inspires audiences to explore.