Location
Mokie’s is located on the pristine Bay of La Ventana, Baja South, Mexico. La Ventana Bay is approximately 900 miles south of San Diego. The Bay is located 40 minutes from the La Paz airport on edge of the beautiful Sea of Cortez.

The Sea of Cortez is home to one-third of the world’s whale and dolphin species and more than 500 species of fish. It’s islands provide habitat for more than 200 bird species and host breeding colonies of sea lions and turtles. The area is especially rich with rare cactus, plants and wildlife including the black tailed jack rabbit, which only lives here.

Cerralvo Island lies 9 miles off our shore this, combined with the steep mountains behind Mokie’s, creates a natural wind tunnel making La Ventana Bay one of the premier winter wind water sport locations in Baja!

The Local Village
Mokie’s is located in the village of El Sargento, which is next to the village of La Ventana, both of which are located on the Bay of La Ventana, in the Sea of Cortez. Together the two towns span about 5 miles, so rental gear, restaurants, markets, etc are always nearby. The population of El Sargento is approximately 200. The primary industry is fishing. The fisherman set out in their boats each morning against a sunrise backdrop. The primary language of the village is Spanish, but the locals are used to dealing with travelers.

During the windy winter months approximately 300 to 400 travelers arrive (American, Canadian, etc.) to play in the beautiful warm waters and take advantage of the wind.

There are about 8 markets, 5 restaurants, 1 bar, 2 building supply stores, 2 Laundromats, a tortillaria and a water purification facility. A family recently opened a small roadside gas station, selling gas out of 55-gallon drums.

The people are friendly and so is the roaming herd of cows. The nightlife is quiet and the days are lazy.

La Paz
La Paz is about 40 minutes away by car. The road from La Paz to La Ventana Bay has spectacular views of the bay, its beautiful beaches and the immense Cardon Cactus forest that lies in the valley of Los Planes.

La Paz is the capital of the state of Baja California Sur (South). It is a charming Mexican seaside town with many restaurants, cantinas, shops, supermarkets, hospitals, banks and an international airport. La Paz has a population of approximately 195,000.

For more information about La Paz, visit the official La Paz tourism site.

What to Bring
For U. S. Citizens a CURRENT PASSPORT or Birth Certificate and photo I.D. (driver's license) is a must. Other nationalities should check with the airline taking them to Mexico.

Tourist card (If you did not receive one with your tickets, you can pick one up at the airport or immigration. Keep a copy with you after entering Mexico. It must be presented to Mexican officials upon departure.

All your household items will be provided (sheets, towels, cooking utensils). Toiletries are not provided (shampoo, razors, soap, etc). These items can be purchased in La Paz or locally, keep in mind that local selections are limited.

Even if you are renting windsurfing or kite boarding gear, it is recommended that you bring the following since selection can be limited:
• Either a thick “shorty” or thin full-length wetsuit
• a harness and hook
• booties
• PDF or helmet if desired

As far as other gear, you may wish to bring
• Clothing - for the most part baja is a tropical and subtropical climate and cool and casual is appropriate. Sweaters and lightweight jackets are recommended in winter months for eveningwear.
• Personal mountain biking gear (shorts, helmet, gloves, shoes)
• Hiking shoes
• Beach sandals (i.e. tevas)
• Sunscreen (lotion, oil is slippery on the board)
• Wide brim hat
• Sunglasses
• Shorts, Warm sweater or jacket for evenings plus light windbreaker
• Bathing suits
• Beach towel.
• Book, reading material
• Spending money
• Daypack or fanny pack for bike rides/excursions
• Ballpoint pen (for airport forms, customs declarations, etc.)
• Spanish/English phrase book or dictionary

What not to Bring
Firearms and drugs are prohibited and will be confiscated, possibly along with you!

General Info
Visas and Documents
A valid passport and a Mexican government tourist card are required in Mexico. The Mexican government tourist card is provided by the airline if you are arriving by plane and at the border crossing if you are driving. The tourist card is required to leave Mexico, if it is lost you will be fined, so be careful with this card. The fine is minimal (approximately $25 in 2002) but it is inconvenient and you could miss your plane. If you are driving, upon entering the country you must stop at the Mexican tourist office located on the Mexican side of the border to request the tourist card and pay a tourist tax of approximately $40 American dollars. If flying, this tax is automatically applied to your ticket price.

Money

Dollars
Both Mexican pesos and US dollars are used in Baja. Only pesos and U.S. dollars are accepted in the La Ventana/El Sargento area. There are money exchangers located at most larger cities across the peninsula. Try to carry bills of $20 or less, as it is sometimes difficult for the local merchants to make change on larger bills. The average exchange rate has been 9 to 11 pesos = 1 US dollar. Canadian cash is not accepted for exchange. Click here to see current exchange rates.

ATMs/Banks/Credit Cards/Traveler Checks
There are no banks or ATMs located in the La Ventana/El Sargento area and credit cards and traveler checks are not accepted. Nearby La Paz, as well as San Jose Del Cabo have a large selection of ATMs, Banks and money exchangers. Restaurants and stores in these larger cities do accept credit cards. Canadian travelers checks are only accepted at a few banks.

Credit Cards and Traveler checks are accepted in larger tourist cities such as Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. There are no ATMs located in the La Ventana/El Sargento area. ATM's are located in nearby La Paz and in larger cities along the peninsula. Money can be changed at banks in nearby La Paz.

The Language
A Spanish English dictionary would be a helpful tool, but knowledge of Spanish is not necessary.

Telephone and email
Telephone calls can be made at several public telephones locally with phone cards purchased at a local merchant. There is a small Internet cafe locally, and others located in the nearby city of La Paz.

Laundry
There is a local Laundromat and others located in nearby La Paz. Both allow laundry drop off for a nominal charge, or self-service in La Paz.

Vaccinations
Travelers to Baja are not required to get any vaccinations, although it is always a good idea to keep up to date on your Tetanus and Diphtheria.

The Water
The water in Mexico is in most cases potable, but differences in the bacterial makeup of the Mexican water from the water you are used to drinking, could make you sick. Generally it is a good idea to avoid tap water for drinking, brushing your teeth, washing fruits or vegetables or making ice cubes. Purified water (agua purificada) should be used in these circumstances and is widely available at all markets/stores, along with ice cubes (hielo) made from purified water.

Food/Restaurants
The La Ventana/El Sargento area has eight small grocery stores and five small restaurants, all within a 4-mile range of our location. The grocery store selections locally are somewhat limited but do carry the essentials and support the local villagers, some of who have never traveled to the nearby city of La Paz. What you cannot find locally you can find in the larger grocery stores in nearby La Paz, which has large grocery stores similar to those found in the U.S.

The five Mexican, ethnic restaurants located in La Ventana are all family run and are all familiar with serving travelers and are safe to dine at. There are also many restaurants in the nearby cities of La Paz, Todo Santos and Cabo San Lucas.

In general, cooked meat, chicken and seafood are safe. Avoid most raw fruits and vegetables unless washed with purified water. It is a good idea to avoid unpasturized dairy products and homemade cheeses.