Things to Do in La Ventana Besides Kiting

Besides kiting, La Ventana has snorkelling and diving off Isla Cerralvo, whale-watching safaris and the La Paz whale sharks in winter, hot springs on the beach, hiking and mountain-bike trails through the cardón forest, paragliding, and massage and yoga in town. Most of it happens in the calm mornings, before the wind comes in.

That is the rhythm worth planning around. The bay is glass at breakfast and blowing by mid-afternoon, so the mornings belong to everything else — and so do the flat days that come along every season. Here is what there is, with the people on this site who run it.

On and under the water

• Sea safaris and snorkelling. Tiawi Experiences runs safaris out to the reefs and the deep blue, and rents mask, fins and snorkel by the day. Close to shore, the reef at Punta Arena is a shore-entry snorkel on calm mornings, best at slack tide.
• A sunrise paddle. The flattest water of the day is at dawn: Tiawi’s sunrise paddle board trip, or a paddleboard to take out on your own.
• Diving off Isla Cerralvo. Several dive shops in town run trips to the island and to La Reina, the site known for its giant manta rays. They are listed in the town guide.
• Whale watching and whale sharks. Whale-watching boat safaris run from December to March, and the whale sharks in La Paz are an hour away. Later in the year come the mobula rays, and boats go out to watch the orcas from a respectful distance.

Every boat trip and tour is on tours in La Ventana.

Hot springs

Just north of La Ventana, at Playa Agua Caliente, hot water bubbles up through the sand and pebbles along the shore. Go at low tide and dig your own pool. Further inland, El Chorro and Santa Rita make a day trip.

Hiking and mountain biking

• The cardón forest. An easy walk through the giant cactus south of town, best in the late afternoon light. The trail network there is the beginner-friendly one for bikes, too.
• The hills above El Sargento. A cross-country network just above town, best ridden early, before the heat.
• With a guide. Tiawi runs a hiking experience and an e-bike ride, and La Ventana Rides takes people snorkelling and hiking.
• Further out. The Sierra de la Laguna, about two hours away, is a full day of waterfalls and pools.

In the air

La Ventana Paragliding teaches at La Tuna beach. Lessons start on the sand, learning to control the wing, before small tethered flights.

Massage, yoga and movement

After a week of afternoons on the water, this is the part people end up booking twice.

• Punto de Contacto — sports, relaxing and deep-tissue massage in El Sargento.
• Studio BCS — private GYROTONIC® and Pilates sessions, by appointment.
• Aguacate Pacificos — gentle yoga, Pilates and qigong, with workshops and retreats.

More on massage in La Ventana.

Markets and shops

The farmers market is on Thursday mornings. In town, Dancing Birds Denim makes one-of-a-kind reworked denim and linen, Bugambilia Blanca refills eco cleaning products and reef-safe sunscreen, and Airy Fairy is a boutique kite shop. The rest is on shops in La Ventana.

If you want the wind without a kite

Wing foiling is the other way to use the wind, and several schools here teach it — see wing foil lessons. On a light day, an eFoil lesson needs no wind at all.

Getting around

Much of this is a short drive along the bay or up a dirt road. A scooter or an ATV, delivered to the house, is enough for most of it — rides in La Ventana.

Everything bookable in one place: things to do in La Ventana.