Small agricultural town in the fertile La Paz valley with a lovely lagoon (Bahía de la Ventana) for kite and windsurfing
Los Planes is a small agricultural town in the La Paz municipality of Baja California Sur, set in a broad fertile valley about 45km southeast of the state capital on the road toward the coast at Bahía de la Ventana. It is a working town rather than a tourist one — the surrounding fields grow chillies, tomatoes, corn and forage, and the centre amounts to a plaza, a church, a few shops and a handful of taco stands and family restaurants where lunch costs a fraction of Los Cabos prices.
The reason travellers turn off the highway is what lies a few kilometres beyond it. The valley opens onto Bahía de la Ventana, where the villages of La Ventana and El Sargento face Isla Cerralvo across a channel that funnels a powerful and remarkably consistent winter northerly. From November through March that wind makes this one of the premier kiteboarding and windsurfing destinations in North America, drawing a substantial seasonal community from the United States, Canada and Europe. Schools along the bay run beginner kite courses, and rental and repair operations, camps and beachfront rooms fill through the season.
The bay also offers strong fishing and diving. Pangas run from El Sargento to the reefs and drop-offs around Isla Cerralvo for roosterfish, dorado and tuna, and the island's dive sites include a sea lion colony and a reliable seasonal mobula ray aggregation, which forms in vast numbers off this stretch of coast in spring.
A half day covers the valley, the town and the bayfront; kiteboarders stay weeks. The road from La Paz is paved and easy, and outside the windy season the bay reverts to a quiet fishing coast with flat, warm water suited to swimming and paddling. Facilities in Los Planes itself are basic — a fuel station, a small grocery, no bank of note — so visitors heading further out along the coast stock up in La Paz.
Highlights
- Kiteboard and windsurf the consistent November-to-March northerly at La Ventana and El Sargento
- Cross a fertile agricultural valley of chilli, tomato and corn fields unusual on the desert peninsula
- Fish or dive around Isla Cerralvo for roosterfish, dorado, tuna and a resident sea lion colony
- Witness the spring mobula ray aggregation that forms in vast numbers off this coast
- Eat inexpensively at family taco stands and restaurants around the town plaza
Tips for visiting
- Book accommodation in La Ventana or El Sargento well ahead for the November to March wind season
- Beginner kite courses run from the schools along the bay; lessons are cheaper than in Los Cabos
- Visit outside the wind season for flat, warm water suited to swimming and paddleboarding
- Stock up on supplies in La Paz, as Los Planes has only a small grocery and fuel station
- The road from La Paz is paved throughout, so a standard car is sufficient to reach the bay
When to visit
November through March is the wind season, when the bay is at its liveliest and kiteboarding conditions are most reliable. April through October is far quieter with flat, warm water for swimming and fishing, and spring brings the mobula ray aggregation offshore.
Accessibility
Los Planes has a flat, largely paved centre with a level plaza, though pavements are narrow and kerbs are high in places. The beaches at La Ventana and El Sargento are reached over soft sand with no boardwalks, matting or adapted toilets, so shoreline access is not possible for wheelchair users. The approach road from La Paz is paved throughout.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
Half a day covers the town, the valley and the bayfront at La Ventana and El Sargento. Kiteboarders typically base themselves here for a week or more during the wind season.
When does the wind blow?
The reliable northerly funnels through the channel between the bay and Isla Cerralvo from roughly November through March, which is the kiteboarding and windsurfing season. Outside those months the bay is generally calm and flat.
Is it worth it for kids?
Outside the wind season the calm shallow bay suits families well for swimming and paddling. During the windy months the water is busy with kites and better suited to older children taking lessons.
Is there an admission charge?
No. The town and beaches are freely accessible. Costs are limited to lessons, equipment rental, boat charters and food.