Baja UPDATE

BrokenDC10 · Post by **BrokenDC10** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:16 am

John,

Yeah, that's what I came up with. I think Ventana might be a bit more windy - not sure.

I am going down Jan. 18th with a bunch of buddies - staying in town there in a house that one of them owns.

Craving wind and can't wait for a fix! Also will be getting my new Sonic to test out. Pretty stoked to get my hands on it.

- Mark

elli · Post by **elli** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:01 pm

We are going to Costa Rica, and based on our itinerary and other itineraries that we considered, you loose two days on getting there and 1-2 days on the way back depending on airline. If you have a week, that can eat your time.

jowall · Post by **jowall** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:44 pm

Like Fearlu said earlier in this thread, direct flights OAK => Cabo. Then drive to Barriles, Ventana. I haven't booked a rental car yet, as it may be cheaper and less headache to take a taxi. It's about $90 from the Cabo airport to Barriles. If I rent, I've got to get something big enough to hold a family, luggage and bunch of kiting equipment.

BTW, the airfare on America West was $320/person (including $100 Mexican tax). 3 tickets + 1 lap child, $500 for the house and $200 for the taxi/rental car. This vacation is cheaper than renting a house in Tahoe for the week and buying lift tickets. And I get to kite a few days (hopefully).

-John

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:01 pm

I don't want to rain on the Los Barriles Parade but the wind, beach, swell and boat mooring/traffic is far superior at La Ventana for kitesurfing. I talked with several people "in the know" who have confirmed this. That said, it's all good! Enjoy.

andyandmarlys · Post by **andyandmarlys** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:33 pm

Just got back from a 9 day trip to Baja last night... Hopefully this helps out those who are going down...

We flew Alaska airlines to Los Cabos---- Cheapest airfare to baja though alaska... We booked a rental car through travelocity and ended up with Alamo... $130 for 9 days including required insurance for a basic Nissan Sentra type car.... DEFINATELY WORTHWILE and easy. So we got into Los Cabos and an hour later we were on Highway 1 going north in our rental car towards Los Barriles. After an hour's drive (easy drive) we pulled into Los Barilles. We ended up staying at Los Barilles Hotel for about $65 a night... Very clean and nice AC rooms.. Pool and Hottub... We headed about 2 miles north out of town to north beach (the main kiting beach)...Here is the problem... if you don't have a car, this would be a very very long walk... Anyhow, we met up with Don and Emily Lester at north beach... I rigged up my new slingshot turbo diesel and had a quick early evening sail before heading in for a BBQ/beach fire with a bunch of bay area locals... Anyhow, we stayed another day, sailed in pretty light winds, and repeated the BBQ again.. The town is not really centralized, but spans along a rugged dirt and asphalt street. THere is free internet at the Oasis Coffee House... and they serve a good cup of coffee as well.. There are alot of older white men driving around on ATV's... not sure where they are going.. but they are there... There is alot of fishing from Barilles, some fancy hotels, a moderate sized supermarket, and a mix of local restauraunts... We were curious about La Ventana, and headed north for our third day.. About 45 minutes north on 1, we took a right turn after a large group of palm trees as we entered the town on San Antonio (as per the directions I received from a local) and the adventure began... For about 13 miles, we drove along a bumpy washboard dust road. Seemed like 30 miles....thought we were in the middle of nowhere... but finally found a paved road.... took a left, went 5km, and then took a right at the sign for la ventana... About 6 more km and we arrived to a great sandy beached village of La Ventana.. we pulled into Baja Joe's and checked out his place.. He has a nice shop, computers with internet, and a great beach location.. Wind was light, but there were several people out riding larger gear (from what I understand, there was no wind in Los Barilles that day.... likely it was a thermal only wind without the influence of El Norte.) Anyhow, we looked around town... Much less commercial and primarily wind enthusiasts and locals... No white guys on ATV's here... Just locals and kite/windsurfers.... No super market... about 8 very small restauraunts....pretty much all open air and very cheap. There are some very small markets with dust covered food, but definately no real super markets. There is very little here besides this... The food in the restaurants however is very good and cheap... We ended up going to a taquria stand and Marlys and I had lunch for about $5.. super fresh seafood.... Anyhow, we ended up staying at Baja Joes (very glad we did) next to the beach, and I kited for 4 of 5 days.. Watch out for sea urchins as you step into the deeper water at low tide... I found out the hard way... Winds were off totally for one day.. Baja Joe said that this was the first windless day in over 30 days.. On the windy days, I rode both my 12m and 8m Turbo Diesels.. Winds were generally between 20-30 from 11-4 and dropped off promptly thereafter... I was surprised to find that ventana had big swell... as did Los Barilles. However in Ventana about 2 miles on a broad reach there is a reef that this swell breaks on... I was expecting flat water, but found myself playing in head high waves at the reef. Closer in than the reef, the beach is shallow enough that there are chest high waves to play with... These waves sometimes get crowded, but are sometimes empty too. Anyhow, we met some folks at Baja Joes... really mellow.. tried all the restaurants and drank $1.40 30oz beers nightly...

Anyhow, we returned to Los Barilles after 5 days and stayed another night.... Had a decent 12m sailing day... Wind was definately not as strong as ventana... tried to find some waves, but didn't find anything breaking... Barilles is more choppy than ventana from what I found... I talked to the Barilles crew and they said the wind had been 12m the last few days I had been gone...except for 2 dead days... Whereas I rode both the 12 and 8 in ventana, the 12 was the only kite I flew in Barilles. different places and I am glad that I got to visit both.

If I had to visit only one, hands down it would be Ventana... If you rent a car though, it is easy and cheap to do both.. Ventana would be possible to do without a Rental Car, however Barilles would be a pain.... Considering the cost of our rental car for 9 days ($130) it is a no brainer to hit both, and save money on the taxi fares..

We had a great time... Marlys liked La Ventana better because there was more of a wind sheltered social meeting area in Ventana than Barilles... for those going with non-kiters, I can assume they would appreiate this more as well.

Anyhow, feel free to ask any questions... I am in the Seattle area now, and will be headed back to the Bay Area after new years...

fearlu · Post by **fearlu** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:01 pm

LaVentana is clearly the venue of choice. But, Barilles beats Alameda in the rain!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:04 pm

say hey....The computers at Joes are always booked. Finally snuck around on some other guy's laptop. Well, my bod is complaining plenty, since the wind has been so good....today was the worst, but I still got 1/2 hour on my 12. Full rio crowd around here....Dan & Michelle were nice enough to show us their pad....quite sweet...and Scott just pulled in to town for a couple weeks.

OK, only 'cus Ollie owns this place, I will rap a bit on the type 7....It is an all around kite, and it does most things pretty well....I do not send it like Ollie, so if I wanted the BIG air, I might want the HIR, but the 7 is fun unhooked, looping and for airs. I was having a blast with the 15, and Alex pulled a triple unhooked kite loop, albeit he was on the water for the last spin.....(and he was on the 5).....Guys who have never tried the wave bar should really find a way to give it a go. I think it gives you all the safety and wave advantages of a flat kite, while maintaining light bar pressure, and full on yank of a c kite...

There is a good crew here, although there are lot's of people learning.....the wind has been nice, and plan on a day of travel to get here....as others have said. After 5 days of kiting, I am finally getting a bit in shape...three more days, then I will lose it all 'till spring...oh well...

Hope the next group gets it as good as Dave and the smith fam did...

bob

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 8:29 am

you poke n that at me....
big guy?...

dave i was lookn forword to rain kiteing alameda,any time SOON.
...now iam getting a passport!

andyandmarlys · Post by **andyandmarlys** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 9:23 am

Dont underestimate rain kiting in Alameda... Ventana and Barilles are fun, but I still prefer alameda in many ways.... especially when Alameda has a low tide..

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 9:27 am

andy
iam gonna copy your post and use it as my (this should good) itinareary.
thanks for the post

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