Los Barriles Windsurfing Lessons with Vela Baja

Los Barriles Windsurfing Lessons

Looking for an exciting, action-packed, and hassle-free Baja Sur vacation where you can practice and improve your favorite adventure sport in the glorious Baja sunshine and scenery? That’s where Vela Baja comes in. Vela Baja offers kiteboarding lessons in the charming village of Los Barriles on the East Cape of the Sea of Cortez.  With long, wide, uncrowded sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and glorious sunshine, they have the perfect conditions for kiting and windsurfing.

From 15th November to 15th March each year their team of dedicated, experienced, and friendly personnel are here with one goal in mind – to ensure your vacation not just lives up to but exceeds your expectations. Your safety is their primary concern and they provide a constant safety watch and rescue service for their kiting customers.

Los Barriles is situated right on the Tropic of Cancer where the foothills of the ‘Sierra De La Laguna’ mountains reach the Sea of Cortez. This spectacularly scenic, sparsely populated region of  “sub-tropical thorn forest” boasts unpolluted air and a plethora of natural plant, bird, and animal life that thrives in the warm, sunny, arid climate.

Los Barriles Windsurfing Conditions

Conditions at Vela Baja are perfect for windsurfing. You’ll find an uncrowded sandy beach that stretches for several miles in each direction.

Typically the wind is side-shore, port tack (from left to right). Early morning breezes are often light favoring beginners and improvers. Then later on due to a local thermal effect the “El Norte” wind increases resulting in stronger winds with a typical day ranging 18 to 23 knots.

Seas build to a decent size rolling swell giving the spot its famous “bump and jump” conditions. Even on days when shore-break increases, there are safe entry and exit points just a few meters upwind and downwind of Vela Baja.

Los Barriles Windsurfing Lesson Options

Interested in learning or improving? Then consider taking one of our lesson programs. There are courses for complete beginners as well as intermediate and advanced windsurfers wishing to progress.

To ensure your maximum progress (and safety) we generally adopt an effective “one-on-one” approach to windsurfing lessons. Furthermore, although each course has an outline structure, you’ll find our instructors tailor each and every lesson to fit your exact needs. Please also note that windsurfing lessons will typically include some theory, as well as on-water time.

Lessons packages start at 1hr and are discounted for longer courses.

All the equipment you will need is provided.

Intro to Windsurfing Lesson $220 (DUO $170PP)

If you have never windsurfed before and are keen to give it a try then this 2hr one-on-one lesson is for you. Also available as a duo with lesson time shared between two students with one instructor.

First you’ll learn the basic principles from our patient, experienced instructors on a dry land simulator and then put theory into practice on the sea.

Our purpose designed equipment is especially suited to newcomers and our instructors will be there to guide and encourage you throughout the lesson.

• All equipment required is included in the price.
• Includes additional 1hr equipment rental.

Its likely that after this introductory lesson you will want to continue to make further progress – no problem, you can simply upgrade to the

Intro to Windsurfing - Full Course $600

This 6 hour course typically spread over several days is perfect for either total novices or those with some limited prior experience who really wish to master the basics and make rapid progress to intermediate level and beyond.

Course includes additional 3 hours of practice time with gear rental included.

Private One-on-One Instruction $120

Whether you are a novice ready to progress to the intermediate level or an advanced rider wanting to refine your existing skills then consider taking an hour of dedicated and focused instruction with one of our highly experienced instructors.

Without doubt, it’s the best way to shortcut the learning process and make rapid progress.

Typical lesson topics include (but are by no means limited to)

• Beach start
• Waterstart
• Harness
• Footstraps
• Planing efficiency and speed
• Carve jibe
• Shortboard tack
• Jumps
• Freestyle moves

The lesson price is per hour and includes equipment rental for the duration of the lesson.

Reasons to learn Windsurfing in Los Barriles

Your safety is Vela Baja's primary concern and they provide a constant safety watch and rescue service for their windsurfing customers.

Furthermore, the location is fundamentally safe for the following reasons:

• There are no strong tides or currents.
• There are no submerged hazards.
• The shape of the bay and wind direction enable easy self-rescue.
• The majority of the beach is wide, sandy, and free of obstacles.
• The beach is far from roads and traffic.

At certain times small stretches of the beach may be subject to heavier shore breaks and small rocks near the shore. These can easily be avoided with a little local knowledge. The Vela team will coach you on the spot before you head out for the first time.