🌅 The Ventana View (4 septiembre)
What's happening in La Ventana!
What's Happening in La Ventana? Let us know if you have something to share or questions for the community.
Enjoy the Offseason! - We will be kicking back into gear next month. Look for the next newsletter in four weeks: October 2.
Observing the Reef - Two things to report. One having to do with the return of the Moon Jellyfish, and the other, swimming with, Giant Manta Rays! This summer, we saw the return of the Moon Jellyfish to the La Ventana Bayshoreline. Last year, there were few, but last month, while snorkeling, had to navigate some tight clusters here and there, nothing like 2022! Here's a video of the invasion of 2022: Moon Jelly Invasion! Here's a short video close-up of cute little fish being housed safely within the bell of this Moon Jellyfish, filmed last month: Little Fish Inside the Jelly Bell!
Moon Jellyfish are colorful and relatively harmless. They have very short tentacles. Luckily, their stings aren't too serious, more like rubbing up against nettles. Watching them swim is a beautiful sight! Below, see the signature four-leaf clover design, that makes them easy to identify.
Swimming with Giant Manta Rays! On August 27, I traveled with a guide (Omar) and four friends to swim with the Giant Manta Rays. We departed from El Sargento at 7am traveling a good distance. Seeing these creatures for the first time was truly amazing. They appear to swim in slow motion, so peaceful looking. Here, a short clip of the Mantas swimming if you are interested: Swimming with Giant Mantas!
For more info. Contact: William desertplayer@hotmail.com
All Things Reptile - Isla EspÃritu Santo is an incredible island off the coast of La Paz. It is home to many interesting creatures, including two endemic species of reptiles: the EspÃritu Santo Whiptail (Aspidoscelis espiritensis) and the EspÃritu Santo Striped Whipsnake (Masticophis barbouri). I have never been to the island, but I have received multiple trips as gifts that all managed to fall through one way or another. I will get there eventually, and hopefully find the interesting, beautiful and endemic whipsnake.
Whipsnakes are some of my favorite snakes. The group includes coachwhips, like our Baja California Coachwhips, the big black snakes often seen zooming across roads in La Ventana and El Sargento.
Some other members of the whipsnake family are the Striped Whipsnakes. I have seen several, though I haven’t really got a good look at one because they are very rare in Baja. If you do manage to find one, all you will see is an explosion of hypersonic dust; it makes matters worse that they like to live in between boulders.
If you would like to hear more about my quest to catch one of these lightning bolts, check out my new Substack newsletter: Beneath the Scales. There, I dive deeper into my adventures in search of rare and elusive creatures.
Isla EspÃritu Santo is home to some cool land animals, but the unbelievable sea life is the real showstopper. Some years ago, the waters around the island were home to thousands and thousands of hammerhead sharks and an amazing diversity of fish. Life was beyond imagination and it was known as the world’s aquarium. Then, in just a few years, almost all of the hammerheads were fished for shark fin soup, and now the beautiful diversity is gone. I am no fish expert —that is William’s department— however, this seems important.
The good news is that the ecosystem can recover in just a few years if we stop fishing the reefs. This will not only bring scuba tourism back to the area, but the fish will overflow out of the preserve and bring more fish for people as well. Isla EspÃritu Santo is a national park but only 4% is protected. Right now, there is an active petition aiming to turn EspÃritu Santo’s waters into a reserve, which could quickly become as rich as Cabo Pulmo.
Help to bring life back! Learn More at Pelagios Kakunjá. Sign the petition here. Chance Stevens! chancestevens123@icloud.com
Turtle Protection Group needs your help! - The group of local volunteers headed by woodworker extraordinaire Gonzalo Pastrana are currently unable to find and mark turtle nests because their quad needs repair and funds are short.
These turtle heroes have been marking nests for over 15 years, using their personal quad, and except for brief federal funding in the past all self-funded. Gonzalo himself commonly works a full day in his wood shop then drives beyond Punta Arena and back long into the night.
I am asking for a few affluent turtle loving individuals to step up and contribute 100 - 500us or more to put their operation on firm financial footing. 1000us would fund quad repairs and nest marking materials for this year and next. They would also be able to create a protected turtle hatching enclosure, similar to Todo Santos, near town, to allow more people to directly experience the wonder of turtles being born. Donations of any size will be gladly accepted of course. Donations can be made directly to Gonzalo, 612-117-6919. Or myself Roberto Freeman 612-158-5762. Accountability is assured, in the past Gonzalo has provided receipts and photos of how money has been spent. (200us last year, thank you owner of Todo Bien)
No Más Basura - Recycling Days - September schedule. We will be there on Thursday 5th from 8-10am and then again on the 19th. If you have any of the bigger Yoghurt containers in your recycling please keep them separate for us. We will need them soon for our Moringa plants give away. Thanks for being part of the change! Your NMB team. gerencia@nomasbasuralv.com www.nomasbasuralv.com
Info on Car Rentals and Buses - Looking for car rental information for a friend coming to El Sargento for the month of November. Is it better to rent at San Jose del Cabo airport or in La Paz? Which company do you recommend and why? Will the rental company waive insurance if your credit card covers?
Has anyone recently taken the bus from SJD to La Paz? Was your experience positive? Thanks! Toni.bird@mcgill.ca
Artist Seeking Studio Space - I'm a stained glass artist and I am looking for a rental studio space for the season. I need an electrical outlet and a table and a little bit of space. I would be working in the space probably 3, 4, or maybe 5 days a week on my glass. I generally camp at the big campground and so it would be helpful if it weren't too far away. I plan to commute back and forth to whatever space I find by bicycle. Thank you! Trish Barnes, phone 207-462-4028. trishbarnes1951@gmail.com
Palapas Ventana - is open this summer for scuba diving, freediving, fishing, and more. We can also get you dive certified! Talk to us today or stop by our restaurant for more information! 310-594-DIVE or contact@palapasventana.com
Board Transport - Hey. Can anyone transport a board and 2-3 kites down to La Ventana for me? I live in Burnaby but will travel to drop off. Pm Debbie 6048128369. Will pay 150.00.
Todo Bien Restaurant - is open to public all year round! Come and enjoy our summer menu, with seatings outside to enjoy the sea breeze or inside freshen up with our air conditioner, ocean view from everywhere. Restaurant open daily from 8 am to 8 pm we are located at Hotel Todo Bien, Corredor Isla Cerralvo S/N. For more information reach out to us. Phone: +52 998 161 3677. Mail: manager@hoteltodobien.com
Pizza Gourmet San Antonio - Hello everyone! We are one month away from starting the season on October 1st! We are very happy because we are updating for your comfort and for you to enjoy our pizzas, pastas and salads even more, we will be debuting an Italian oven!! and we are adding new pizzas to our menu, on Tuesday we start with the whole crew and as usual on Tuesdays we will have classic rock and roll night with the house band, Los Gatos Pardos! You can already make your reservations for that day at 6121775806 See you soon!
Pitaya Farm 2 Table - Pool Party Sundays in September. New Happy Hour menu. 2x1 cocktails and beer. Music by Legenterry. 30% off dinner menu for locals. Free entry. BYOTowel. 4-8pm.
Ventana Blue - Escape the heat, come have some fun with us! Have a fun-filled day, enjoy our Day Pass! Day Pass for 350 pesos per adult, under 12 years old are free. 250 pesos is transferable to your food and beverages account in our restaurant. Pool • Foosball • Table Tennis • Pickle ball • Mini golf. 1pm - 8pm Tuesday to Thursday 10am - 8:30pm Friday to Sunday. Monday DAY PASS is not available. No reservation needed. Access will not be allowed to people who want to enter their own drinks and/or their own food, thank you very much. Refresh with us, we are waiting for you. Information. +52 612 201 9469
La Tuna BCS - This summer we will have mojitos and gin and tonic 2x1 from Monday to Friday! 3-6 pm!
Benson’s Restaurant & Bar - Summertime 3x2 on burgers all the way! Friday to Sunday 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM. Happy hour Margarita clásica 7-8 PM. We are waiting for you!
In Case of Emergency
Bookmark the In Case of Emergency page. Numbers to call and how to call them if you need help. We depend on the entire community to help keep this often changing information up to date. Email us with feedback, suggestions, corrections.