Travel

East Baja on the Sea of Cortez

LA VENTANA
Located just a 40-minute drive south east of La Paz on the Sea of Cortez. The season usually runs November thru March. The consistent wind and warm water makes for a great wintertime vacation. Typical days see the wind pickup around 11:00am and continue until just before sunset. Wind ranges from 13 to 24mph. It starts in the low wind zone and increases as the day goes on.
There are many places to stay resort wise. Check out our business members websites www.bajajoes.com and www.captainkirks.com or a couple of campgrounds that are located within the vicinity. The local cuisine is unlike any others. Forget about Rubios, you haven’t tried a fish taco until you have tried an authentic fish taco from any one of the many restaurants located in La Ventana or El Sargento. To read about last years Beach Cleanup winner's trip, click here
		The locals are great people. Who knows if you get to know them well you may be invited to spend a traditional Mexican Christmas Eve with them or be invited to the Mayor’s daughter’s quince, or go on a goat hunt for the evenings Potluck Dinners in the campgrounds.


No wind days??? No worries, you are on vacation in Baja! Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Volleyball, Fishing, name it it’s there for the experience! You are a short distance from La Paz and Cabo San Lucas for shopping, and a short distance away from some of the best surf locations. The flocks of people come from all over the world. Be prepared to make new friends. For maps, guides, and traveling information in the Baja, contact www.vagabundos.com

	SAN FELIPE
Getting There Go south on the 405/5 to San Diego. Take the 805 south to 8. Take highway 8 to El Centro. (If you live in the Inland Empire you may have a shorter trip to El Centro by way of Indio then south on 86 or 111 to El Centro.) Estimate about 2.5 to 3 hours to El Centro.From El Centro follow 111 south to Calexico, cross the border into Mexicali. Follow Calzada Lopez Mateos (the main road) to the third traffic circle where you will bear right and follow highway 5 to San Felipe. This road is very well marked. Once on highway 5 travel south about 120 miles to San Felipe.To bypass downtown San Felipe turn right at the traffic circle onto Mar Caribe and follow the road south. The only turn you will make is at the ‘T’ near the airport. Travel about 26 miles south. If you are traveling at night you will need to watch carefully for the campground signs on the left.

Weather Kiting can range from easy open ocean conditions to fairly extreme high-wind chop. Early morning and late afternoon winds are generally lighter. Winds blow from side-shore to slightly side-off shore. There are no rescue services in Mexico, kite safe and within your abilities. It can be extremely dangerous if you kite in conditions beyond your ability! The infamous San Felipe tides are not a factor at Nuevo Mazatlan. At low tide the walk to the water is increased only about 200’. Expect cold nights in the 40’s during the winter months and normal desert temperatures during the day and at other times. Camping Nuevo Mazatlan is the nicest campground south of San Felipe. Many trees at every campsite, decent restrooms that the campground supervisor strives to keep clean, showers (cold!), running water from faucets, and a beautiful beach. Bring firewood, le~na (lenya) is available in town but it is hard to find and expensive. Also, bring your own toilet paper. Ice is available in town. On holiday weekends the "tamale lady" comes around with fresh tamales around breakfast time. Trinket vendors are always around to sell you hammocks, silver jewelry, etc.
SAN FELIPE WEBSITE	0ther accommodations in town are: Motel El Capitan - 01152(657)7-1303 in town El Cortes Motel -01152(65)61-8324, (657)7-1056 ½ mile south of town Las Palmas Inn -01152(667)7-1333 ½ mile south of town Hotel Las Missiones -01152(657)7-1218, 800-336-5454, 619-422-6900 1 1 ½ mile south of town. These phone numbers were obtained from guidebooks and I cannot be sure of their accuracy.
San Felipe This fishing "village" of about 8,000 population offers pretty complete services to tourists. The town has a large population of "norte Americano" residents. The main drag has liquor stores galore, markets, bakeries, drug stores, restaurants, bars, etc. Restaurants Farther south on Mar De Cortez is "El Nido." This is a chain restaurant in Baja. Ranch style, good steaks, seafood, and Mexican specialties, great Margueritas, and the only place we have been offered chips and salsa with our meal in Baja. Be prepared for relaxed service. During the day and to a limited extent at night there are many fish taco stands on the waterfront. You can't beat a fish taco at a stand in Baja.
Bars If you are looking for a bar in San Felipe you don’t have to look far! Many and varied, most cater to the young college crowd from Arizona and S. Cal, but all are welcome and the people watching is outstanding.
Language English is spoken by most of the local residents. You can certainly get along with little or no Spanish, but it is a lot more fun to know at least a little of the national language.
A trip to San Felipe is close enough to southern California to be quite easy but it is into a foreign country. Understand that you are in a country with quite different laws and traditions. It is quite likely that you will encounter a military or police checkpoint on your trip through Baja. Recent encouragement of strict drug enforcement policies by the U.S. Government means all travelers in Mexico are subject to search by the local or national authorities. When you encounter the authorities you should find that polite answers to their questions and access to your vehicle will facilitate an amiable encounter. Travel to Baja California is a great luxury for Southern Californians. So close but so far away in a cultural sense. Remember, in the previous century most of the western United States belonged to Mexico. Spanish could easily be your first language! The people of Baja California welcome you and appreciation of their culture and traditions will certainly enhance your visit to this beautiful and unique land.