La Ventana is another destination along the Southern Loop that most campers either love for all it has to offer or try to avoid because it is not altogether camper-friendly. Celebrated for its stunning natural beauty and thrilling outdoor activities, La Ventana is nestled along the tranquil waters of the Sea of Cortez and has become a premier destination for wind and kite surfing enthusiasts from around the globe.
The area’s consistent winds and clear, warm waters create perfect conditions for these sports, making it a haven for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. Although La Ventana has many of the modern amenities that attract wind sport enthusiasts and is within an hour’s drive (30 miles/ 48 km) from La Paz, it has a different feel from its wind-driven neighbor, Los Barriles, an hour to the south.
Beyond its reputation as a wind sports paradise, La Ventana offers a variety of activities that cater to all interests. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling and diving in the vibrant coral reefs, fishing in some of the richest waters in the world, or simply relaxing on the pristine beaches.
The surrounding landscape is perfect for hiking and mountain biking, offering breathtaking views of the sea and desert. The local mountain bike association spends lots of time and effort maintaining a vast network of mountain biking trails, creating some of the best mountain biking in all of Mexico, with over 70 trails spanning over 80 miles (130 km) divided into two sections. The relatively flat and beginner-friendly south trail passes through the thick Cardon cacti forest on the southern end of La Ventana. In contrast, the north trail goes up to the hills overlooking Playa Agua Caliente.
The natural hot springs of Playa Agua Caliente, on the northern end of El Sargento just north of La Ventana, are also a place not to miss, especially if you visit the town in winter. Here you can dig your own hot spring in the mud and sand and sit and enjoy the warmth throughout the day.
Things to do in La Ventana
La Ventana is an adventure outdoor sport and wind sports capital of Baja. Beautiful beaches, crystal clear water, miles of trails in the desert and kiteboarders flying across the bay are the trademark of La Ventana.
Here are the things to do in La Ventana and El Sargento.
Go Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding is the most popular tourist attraction in La Ventana. The northern winds and calm water create an ideal environment in winter. Kite surfers visit in huge numbers to fill the sky with colorful kites and take up most of the camping during the winter months.
But people travel from all over the world to kite surf in La Ventana and it is an excellent spot for both professional and beginner surfers.
All the equipment is readily available at operators throughout the town. Moreover, multiple kitesurfing schools on the bay offer gear rentals and learning opportunities. Some schools also have accommodations and offer multiday packages with lessons.
Dig Your Own Hot Springs
Playa Agua Caliente is a natural hot spring located on the northern end of El Sargento. The beach is a perfect spot to take a break and relax in the hot springs that soak from the ground up.
The best time to visit the hot springs is when the tides are low, as they lie right under the sand and pebbles along the shoreline. Here, you’ll dig up some sand and fill up your own personal hot spring. While relaxing, you might also witness some Mobula Rays playing and jumping in the water.
Go Mountain Biking
La Ventana has some of the best mountain biking trails in all of Mexico. There are over 70 trails spanning over 80 miles (130 km) divided into two sections. The south trail passes through the thick Cardon cacti forest on the southern end of La Ventana. The track is comparatively flat and great for beginners.
The north trail goes up to the hills overlooking the Playa Agua Caliente. The local mountain bike association spends lots of time and effort maintaining all the routes.
Moreover, multiple shops in the area offer bike rentals and repairs if needed.
Hike the Punta Gorda Trail
Punta Gorda is a beautiful trail to a scenic rocky beach. It is a 3.6-mile hike showcasing the typical Baja terrain of rocky mountains on one side and shimmering sea on the other. It starts from the hot springs beach and ends at a beautiful and hidden calm rocky beach that is an excellent place for snorkeling.
We recommend starting just before sunrise to enjoy the fantastic views of the sun rising from the Sea of Cortez. Moreover, don’t forget to pack extra water and snacks because unlike the beaches of La Paz or Bahia Concepcion, there are no shops or restaurants on the beach.
Enjoy Snorkeling
Snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding are popular morning activities just before the wind picks up later in the day. If you haven’t brought your own, you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling equipment at local shops.
The reef near an undeveloped beach just north of El Sargento, Bahia de Los Muertos, and Punta Arena are great spots for snorkeling.
Take a Ride to Isla Cerralvo
Isla Cerralvo is an 18-mile-long island just off the coast of La Ventana. It is similar to Espiritu Santo in La Paz without as much of a crowd. Hiking and snorkeling tours of the island are locally available via boat.
Keep in mind visiting Isla Cerralvo can get complicated in winter because of strong winds.
Campgrounds in La Ventana
We separated La Ventana in this edition of the guidebook because we found that La Ventana is not the most camper-friendly destination, particularly for those with larger rigs and for anyone who does not manage to secure a place well in advance of the busy kiteboarding season.
However, there are only a couple of campground options in La Ventana and El Sargento.
Looking for campground contact and location information? Check out our 280-page paperback guidebook with everything you need to know to plan and enjoy your Baja camping adventure!
Playa El Sargento Campground
El Sargento Beach Campground is a basic but nice beachfront campground that offers basic dry camping. There are very few amenities other than a bathroom and showers that are kept pretty clean. You can access a few water spigots for tap water. But there is not a dump station, so you’ll have to ask some of the longer-term residents how they get by.
- GPS: 24.07985, -109.99180
| Price Range | $20+ | Sewer Hookup | N | Laundry | N |
| # of Sites | 30+ | WiFi | N | Pool | N |
| Big Rig Friendly | Y | Cell Service | Y | Security | N |
| Electric Hookup | N | Shower | Y | Pet Friendly | Y |
| Water Hookup | N | Toilet | Y | Tent Friendly | Y |
Brisa del Mar RV Park
Located away from town and on a hill overlooking the water, Brisa del Mar RV Park is a newer campground with full hookups, a hot shower, clean toilets and fast Wi-Fi. It is on a hilltop, so there is no beach, less wind and a much smaller crowd.
There are around a dozen campsites that can accommodate small to mid-size RVs (up to 35 feet). The park has a communal kitchen area for cooking, a washer and dryer, and a terrace offering great stargazing and views of the bay.
- GPS: 24.08153, -110.00071
| Price Range | $30+ | Sewer Hookup | Y | Laundry | Y |
| # of Sites | 10 | WiFi | Y | Pool | Y |
| Big Rig Friendly | Up to 35’ | Cell Service | Y | Security | Y |
| Electric Hookup | 30 A | Shower | Y | Pet Friendly | Y |
| Water Hookup | Y | Toilet | Y | Tent Friendly | Y |
Other Camping Options In La Ventana:
As this area is developing rather quickly, like Playa Los Cerritos, there are a variety of camping options that range from informal dry camping to formal full-hookups. Here are a few more to investigate if you’re interested in swinging through La Ventana for a bit.
- Campground del Ejido de La Ventana y El Sargento (24.05583, -109.98858)
- Bungalows & Campground El Sargento (+52 612 158 8927, 24.08925, -109.99314)
- Tango Azul Resort & RV Park (+52 612 204 8352, 24.06790, -109.99541)
- Kurt N Marina (+52 612 114 0010, 24.05094, -109.98938)
- Casa Verde (+1 778 679 5242, 24.04936, -109.98890)
- Cardon Alley (+52 612 139 8295, 24.04515, -109.99144)
- El Amigo Trailer Park (+52 612 136 4031, 24.04126, -109.98730)