Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful introduction to La Ventana

Guest: Jen (Spokane, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/27/12 Review Submitted: 04/06/12

We rented the whole house with family friends - four adults and four kids total. It was wonderful with more than enough space. The house is beautiful and comfortable and has everything you could need. The owners are incredibly helpful. We used the kayaks which were stable enough to take our four year old on - saw flying fish, a (small) shark, dolphins, and a whale! Willie helped arrange for us to rent a Panga for the morning and we went fishing and caught a 45 lb. Yellowfin Tuna that was as tall as our 7 year old. We loved being right on the beach. Kite boarding was excellent. If we come back to La Ventana, we'll be coming back here.

Owner response:Glad you all had a good time. Looking forward to you coming back again soon.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Real Treat

Guest: sunny okanagan (Kelowna, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/25/12 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

My husband and I stayed at Casa Vista Cerralvo from Jan 25 to Feb 17, 2012. Two thirds of that time we were upstairs in the house and the last third in the casita on the lower floor. Though the living space on the upper floor is about twice the size of the lower, the casita was more than enough for the two of us. From the pots and pans to the beds and bedding, everything was first rate. Even the beach towels were nicer than the ones we have at home!! So nice to open a drawer and find every utensil you could ever want. (Having stayed at several Rental by Owner properties in the past, sometimes their "bare bones outfitting" doesn't even cover the necessities) Who says there are no bathtubs in the Baja..Carol has a huge one set right into the kitchen counter upstairs! (No, Carol, I didn't climb in :)) The location felt "remote" enough to be private..you could dash on on the deck in the nude to grab your dryng swimsuit without feeling risque. Yet groceries and restaurants are really only minutes away by car. Being able to kite from right in front of the house was a huge plus. And when we looked down the Bay to the South we were always happy that we weren't kiting in the crowds down there. The outdoor shower was a heavenly place to stand and strip off the wetsuit. Seeing, in person, the location of some of the other houses we'd considered we were especially happy with our choice, being away from the dust and noise of cars bumping along on the "main road" thru town. Incredibly starry nights, the only sound as we lay in bed being that of a barking sea lion, a huge yellow moon rising up off the water just beyond our toes as we reclined in the deck chairs, margaritas in hand. Still mornings watching the dolphin pod and their water ballet, seeing the wind line on the ocean creep towards us and knowing that another perfect day of kiting was coming our way. This was one sweet vacation and staying anywhere else, we can't imagine it would have been this good. Local recommendations: Happy Hour margaritas at Las Palmas, ceviche at Adelina's, live music at Los Banditos or Baja Joe's (root beer float..yum!), buy your pound of ground coffee at Freak Dog Cafe, plan lunch and your bread shopping on a 30 min, excursion to "the bakery/pizzeria" at El Triunfo. We heard the Chinese food restaurant (!!) at Los Planes is worth the little drive but never made it..something for "next time".

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Beautiful spot, Great house, What more could you want?

Guest: Daniel from CA (United States)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12 Review Submitted: 02/06/12

This is a really nice house. It's a short drive from the main strip of La Ventana, so you have the combination of proximity to needed amenities and at the same time seclusion. If you are a kite surfer the place is exactly as advertised -- you can totally launch from right in front of the house, and it's way less crowded there than in the main section of La Ventana. The beach is lovely and nice to walk on. We took the kayaks out which was fun too. The house is clean and modernly appointed. It would be perfect for a family of four for one level -- parents in one room, two kids in the other (which has two beds). It even has internet which was useful for us in terms of finding places to rent kites and stuff. The only thing I can think to mention that isn't perfect is that we stayed in the bottom level, and the top level is definitely a bit nicer/bigger. So the bottom level living room is a bit small. No big deal, really. Especially cause the patio is great with plenty of seating areas. But it was the one tiny tiny tiny thing that could have been better. If you like kite surfing, or just hanging on the beach, get this place -- you won't be disappointed.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Family of 4.

Guest: Dominick (Malibu)
Date of Stay: 12/17/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

Probably the best house you can get in La Ventana. We have been renting a house in La Ventana for 7 years in a row. And we have rented this house for the last two years. The fact that it is on the beach and very comfortable make's it unbeatable. The owner are outstanding to deal with.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Best beach getaway experience!

Guest: Jordana (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 10/25/11

My boyfriend and I recently spent 4 nights in the downstairs casita and absolutely loved it! The rooms are super clean, welcoming and comfortable. The house had everything you could need from wifi to lots of beach chairs, fresh towels, etc. Carol and Willie were amazing hosts and helped us plan activities and organized wonderful meals. They were also very well informed about the area. We fell in love with El Sargento and La Ventana. The beach and island and hills behind the house are amazing. We aren't even kite boarders, but we had a wonderful time laying on the beach, swimming and going for long runs on the hilly road behind the house. What we really enjoyed most was the calm and relaxing atmosphere and just sitting out on the front porch in the anti-gravity chairs drinking beers and watching the sea. All in all this was an awesome trip and we plan to come back for a much longer visit. I highly recommend staying here!

Owner response:Can't wait to have you back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Relax in Baja California

Guest: Pau (Turin, Italy)
Date of Stay: 08/09/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

Fifteen amazing days spent at 'casa Ornela' in August, during the off-season with few tourists around and beautiful wild landscapes. The house is nice and comfortable in a gorgeous location at 50 meters from the sea, isolated but not far form El Sargento and La Ventana where you can buy groceries and find some good restaurants. The house can accommodate easily eight people in two separate apartments that can be lived independently without disturbing each others or they can be shared between friends. The sea is warm and beautiful, with corals and many tropical fish species. Make sure you go fishing as soon as you arrive so that you can eat your catch during your stay! (we had great barbecue!) Baja California is an incredible place to explore. Close to El Sargento don't miss Baja Dos Suenos, where the beach is really unforgettable. La Paz is a nice town and we highly recommend a trip to Isla Santu Espirito. The road that goes down along the coast to Cabo Pulmo and to San Jose del Cabo is really worth a trip. We highly recommend this place and we thank a lot Carol, Willie for their hospitality and kindness and Lito for helping us in every circumstance. P.S.: Make sure you shake your sandals before wearing them....there might be some little angry friend inside!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

La Ventana Paradise

Guest: Abbie (Petaluma CA)
Date of Stay: 06/23/11 Review Submitted: 09/12/11

Carola and Willie were fantastic, and easy to work with. They were the best, and the house...oh my word what can I say!!!!???I think my review of excellent says it all. We had our own private beach practically, in our own private world...in one word it was unfathomable how relaxed and happy my family was to be at Casa Ornelas. Warm water, sandy beach, beautiful sunrise and sunsets, and the island, make it our best vacation EVER. I have traveled the world, and have never been anywhere as beautiful and nice as this. Thanks Carola and Willie!!!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

LOVED IT.

Guest: Mikey (South Lake Tahoe)
Date of Stay: 01/18/11 Review Submitted: 01/27/11

Thanks Willie, Carol and Will! The boys and I had a blast at your beachfront crib! Great accommodations along with great hosts make this property a must visit if you are entertaining a stop in La Ventana. The beach is large, sandy, and windy...a perfect place to kite. The house is on the beach so its easy to land your kite, eat lunch, and go back out for a second session. If its a kiting destination you seek, you would be hard pressed to find a better one than this. Thanks again guys! See you in a year!

Owner response:It was great having you guys. Can't wait to have you back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

Wonderful Home on the Beach!

Guest: Charles (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 12/09/10 Review Submitted: 12/17/10

Last weekend me, my wife and another couple stayed downstairs at this wonderful home on the beach. It is comfortable and super quiet. All of the conveniences of home. This is a perfect getaway for people looking for a secluded and stylish vacation on the beach in Mexico. Kiteboarders will love launching from directly out in front of the house on the wide, sandy beach. We had excellent wind conditions. There are a couple of restaurants with very good, fresh seafood. Carol is super nice, friendly and helpful. We all think she is wonderful. She has excellent insight on La Ventana and La Paz to make sure you enjoy this wonderful part of Baja. We can't wait to return and stay longer!

Owner response:Thanks. Can't wait to have you back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Pure Magic

Guest: Bevmo (SF Bay Area)
Date of Stay: 10/14/10 Review Submitted: 10/19/10

Charming, exquisite and delightful...and that's just the beginning! Carol and Willie offer a respite from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, transporting you into a world of amazing beauty, wonder and forgotten joys, from the lapping of the waves on your private beach, to the mystical sunrises over the Sea of Cortez, to the stunning sunsets over Cerralvo Island, to the leaping fish, dolphins and manta rays directly offshore. Their local knowledge and incredible hospitality, combined with the sweet, wonderful feel of the charming villages of El Sargento and La Ventana, make every day there a delight, and every night a lasting memory. I just returned from a short stay there, after having read the amazing reviews, and could not have been more pleased and satisfied in my experience at this special place. The sights, the sounds, the tastes, the intoxicating air, just the feel of the sun and wind on your skin...it's all magic.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

"I feel quite elated and lucky to have found Carol and Willie's house browsing online for a few reas

Guest: Vladimir (Italy)
Date of Stay: 08/08/10 Review Submitted: 09/02/10

"I feel quite elated and lucky to have found Carol and Willie's house browsing online for a few reasons. First, there is absolutely no catch to the enticing listing of this amazing house and its location. In fact, I think some of the pictures don't capture the essence of the place enough. And it's understandable. The peace and quiet, the relaxing atmosphere, the way the ocean during this time of the year is so gentle, the soothing breezes...hard to capture even on video, let alone a series of photographs. Everything on this listing lives up to the promise. Second, I took not only my family but convinced a couple friends of ours to come along. Seeing the expression on their face the first morning we woke up in the house was quite nice, but seeing their relaxed, thankful demeanor after spending three weeks at the beach house was joyful. I loved the fact that we came across such welcoming and gentle people (like Carol and Willie) with a great house in a way that only a few years ago would have been impossible. In more ways than one we all felt we found a bit of a treasure. I can't recommend this place enough. The location is gorgeous, isolated yet close enough to all services that one would need to enjoy a great vacation; only a few minutes away there are grocery stores, a fish market, meat market, laundry service, great restaurants that serve good simple meals, a police station and even an ambulance service. The house is comfortable, very well thought out, easy to live it, practical for a couple, a few single friends or a couple of families. The area is still pristine, we saw dolphins and mantas jumping right in front of the house. There aren't many places one can go to where such a thing is easy to experience. We felt pampered, safe, relaxed and fortunate to be able to enjoy this place for a few weeks. I sincerely hope everyone reading this review gets a chance to enjoy everything we did. "

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

I can't wait to be back with family and friends

Guest: bajadiver (Torino, Italy)
Date of Stay: 08/08/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

I feel quite elated and lucky to have found Carol and Willie's house browsing online for a few reasons. First, there is absolutely no catch to the enticing listing of this amazing house and its location. In fact, I think some of the pictures don't capture the essence of the place enough. And it's understandable. The peace and quiet, the relaxing atmosphere, the way the ocean during this time of the year is so gentle, the soothing breezes...hard to capture even on video, let alone a series of photographs. Everything on this listing lives up the promise. Second, I took not only my family but convinced a couple friends of ours to come along. Seeing the expression on their face the first morning we woke up in the house was quite nice, but seeing their relaxed, thankful demeanor after spending three weeks at the beach house was joyful. I loved the fact that we came across such welcoming and gentle people (like Carol and Willie) with a great house in a way that only a few years ago would have been impossible. In more ways than one we all felt we found a bit of a treasure. I can't recommend this place enough. The location is gorgeous, isolated yet close enough to all services that one would need to enjoy a great vacation; only a few minutes away there are grocery stores, a fish market, meat market, laundry service, great restaurants that serve good simple meals, a police station and even an ambulance service. The house is comfortable, very well thought out, easy to live it, practical for a couple, a few single friends or a couple of families. The area is still pristine, we saw dolphins and mantas jumping right in front of the house. There aren't many places one can go to where such a thing is easy to experience. We felt pampered, safe, relaxed and fortunate to be able to enjoy this place for a few weeks. I sincerely hope everyone reading this review gets a chance to enjoy everything we did.

Owner response:We are so happy when others enjoy our place as much as we do. Can't wait to have you back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

I can't wait to be back again with family and friends

Guest: bajadiver (Torino, Italy)
Date of Stay: 08/08/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

I feel quite lucky and elated to have found Carol and Willie's house browsing online for a few reasons. First, there is absolutely no catch to the enticing listing of this amazing house and its location. In fact, I think some of the pictures don't capture the essence of the place enough. And it's understandable. The peace and quiet, the relaxing atmosphere, the way the ocean during this time of the year is so gentle, the soothing breezes...hard to capture even on video, let alone a series of photographs. Everything on this listing lives up the promise. Second, I took not only my family but convinced a couple friends of ours to come along. Seeing the expression on their face the first morning we woke up in the house was quite nice, but seeing their relaxed, thankful demeanor after spending three weeks at the beach house was joyful. I loved the fact that we came across such welcoming and gentle people (like Carol and Willie) with a great house in a way that only a few years ago would have been impossible. In more ways than one we all felt we found a bit of a treasure. I can't recommend this place enough. The location is gorgeous, isolated yet close enough to all services that one would need to enjoy a great vacation; only a few minutes away there are grocery stores, a fish market, meat market, laundry service, great restaurants that serve good simple meals, a police station and even an ambulance service. The house is comfortable, very well thought out, easy to live it, practical for a couple, a few single friends or a couple of families. The area is still pristine, we saw dolphins and mantas jumping right in front of the house. There aren't many places one can go to where such a thing is easy to experience. We felt pampered, safe, relaxed and fortunate to be able to enjoy this place for a few weeks. I sincerely hope everyone reading this review gets a chance to enjoy everything we did.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Amazing, Relaxing vacation

Guest: Doug (Metter, GA)
Date of Stay: 06/12/10 Review Submitted: 07/11/10

We visited La Ventana in the summer during low season. What an amazing place, beautiful water, perfect shade porches for afternoon siestas when the weather was HOT. The owners were so accomodating and helpful in their advice and routinely checked in on us, as well as the local caretaker. Can't wait to go back and visit again.

Owner response:Glad you enjoyed your stay at our bit of paradise.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Quiet, Quality, Immersion

Guest: Cal (Portland, Oregon USA)
Date of Stay: 03/14/10 Review Submitted: 11/25/10

We visited La Ventana last Spring Break 2010 and stayed at Case Vista Cerralvo with a family of five, four of whom were adult sized. The villa has an upstairs and downstairs studio that is accessible by an outdoor staircase. We rented both levels but could easily have made due with just the upstairs. The villa is roomy and has a beautiful view. It is quiet and has a private feeling beach. The beach here is more pebbly than sandy. The owners of the villa were easy to work with and they represented the property fairly. The kayaks that came with the home were nice to have. We went out nearly every day paddling. My son fished off the shore and caught some strange looking fish using plugs. We did have a bad experience with the fishing guide who was supposed to show up at the beach. Through miscommunication or whatever, he never showed up as we had thought we had arranged so wasted a good day waiting for him to show. Instead we went downtown and rented a guide and had an exceptions combo fishing/dive trip out to the island. Great things to see, very good local food, small town feel. When we were there it was quite windy - and we were unaware that La Ventana is a kite boarding meca - and for that reason obviously the wind was a favorable thing. Overall, it was a great trip and our kids really enjoyed it. My 18 year old son especially liked being able to order beer at the local restaurants! Thanks for making your home available to us!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: steve larigakis (vancouver b c)
Date of Stay: 01/15/10 Review Submitted: 01/15/10

great place right on the beach. Kitesurf or windsurf from your front yard, or kayak or snorkel or visit the hot springs. Wonderful hosts showed us all the contacts in town who are friendly and helpful. Best place in town.

Recommended for:

Guest: David S. (Toronto, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 01/05/10 Review Submitted: 01/05/10

We have used the VRBO website for a number of rentals over the years but have never stayed in a more ideal place than this. The setting is outstanding and the available activities suited our family of six perfectly during our one week stay. Carol and Willie were very gracious hosts and helped to make our experience wonderful. You will not regret renting this home.

Recommended for:

This is the real deal... absolutely the perfect getaway for the mellow or target for a windjunky..

Guest: MJ (Bellingham, WA USA)
Date of Stay: 12/19/09 Review Submitted: 12/30/11

Just call and reserve the house... just do it. You can look, call, email, and waste your time, or just call and reserve the house. Secluded, but close to all, very well kept, and the owners know EVERYBODY and can set you up with what you need to enjoy your stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Nora Ross (Edmonton Alberta)
Date of Stay: 12/10/09 Review Submitted: 12/10/09

I am actually quite hesitate to give a review to Carol’s beautiful home in La Ventana. The worry I have is as people will discover this piece of paradise, I will have a harder time to book this home. Not to write a review would be a great disservice to the Ornelia’s family and their wonderful hospitality. We visited Casa Vista Cerralvo in La Ventana the last two weeks in Nov 09 and the weather was perfect. I would talk about the snorkelling right in front of the home, the crystal clear waters, the empty secluded beaches, the hot springs that our family spent a day digging out our own bathtubs on the beach, but as you can read in the other reviews, everyone has written about those wonderful aspects of this property . What I would like expound on is the feeling we all had when we drove up the driveway at 10 pm and saw the moonlight on the sea, and the feeling that we were driving right down into the water, it was magical. Lito & his family were there to greet us with a wonderful dinner; just what was needed after a day of traveling. Lito , the caretaker and his family, are the most helpful people we met in La Ventana and there was nothing they wouldn’t do for us. We arranged to go fishing, and the boat came right to our beach and we caught 3 tuna & a Dori. Raymond, the fisherman cleaned & filleted the fish for us and we dined on that fish for the rest of the week. There is a great restaurant at the La Ventana Bay resort that we would highly recommend. My son learned to Kite board with Arnaud at Kite masters and he had such a great experience, he is already asking when we will be going back. With 4 teenagers it’s hard to find a place that satisfies everyone but this home was big enough that no one felt crowded and we all had our own favitorite place to go. If you are looking for a holiday that is relaxing, secluded and peaceful with your family, you won’t find a more beautiful place than Casa Vista Cerralvo and more accommodating hosts than the Ornelas family.

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Guest: miriam4 (-)
Date of Stay: 08/26/09 Review Submitted: 08/26/09

I took my parents to this house. The most wonderful place to relax. We loved the house. It has a perfect view to see the sunrise, and to enjoy the ocean. We did not want to leave. It was like a dream. there is no noise but the sound from the ocean. I will come back again. Thank you carol !!!!

Recommended for:

Guest: tim davis2 (-)
Date of Stay: 07/21/09 Review Submitted: 07/21/09

excellent casa por la pescadors (fishermen). snorkeling out front, a little to the left as you enter the water, very fine for fish and coral. i've already said too much, this is a baja gem. carol is a wonderful hostess, you'll see.

Recommended for:

Guest: Ana Ozawa (La Paz, Baja California Sur)
Date of Stay: 07/08/09 Review Submitted: 07/07/09

I just recently stay at this amazing place! I live in La Paz, so I'am local, and know what Iam talking about so, if you're planing for a getaway in Baja, don't look anywhere else in La Ventana, THIS IS THE PLACE YOU WHANT TO BE AT, beatiful sunrises that will take your breath away, imagine yourselfs taking long walks in white sand with no one to bother you, and at night a spectacular moon, that you won't be able to see anywhere else. I came to this place only for a getaway , and went to La Paz, grab my kids and came back so they can enjoy too what this wonderful house this is, that I already feel like mine. So Carol & Guillermo, you are going to hear from us again and that's only because we are leaving to Atlanta for a whole month.

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Guest: Crissy Teichmann (Huntington Beach, Ca)
Date of Stay: 07/02/09 Review Submitted: 07/02/09

The house was perfect. In my opinion this house has the best location in La Ventana. You pretty much have your own private beach, unbelievavable views and are located so that your are far enough away from your neighbors that you can completely relax but close enough that you can run into town for dinner or a night out (if you feel the need). Not only is the house perfect but the owners are great too. Great trip, can't wait for the next one.

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Guest: Lesley Vaisanen (Summerland, Bc)
Date of Stay: 12/22/08 Review Submitted: 12/21/08

What a beautiful home to rent! The house is very clean and comfortable. It was so nice to stay at such a private and quiet location yet be so close to everything. I would definitely recommend this house to anyone needing so time in Paradise. My favorite part was relaxing on the deck, what a view! You will be so glad you picked this rental.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/01/08

I rented the entire house twice this year for family and friends. All of whom were enchanted by the wonderful beach and its wildlife and the house itself is spectacular and very renter-friendly! Local seafood and restaurants are great - definitely a house I will rent again, and again.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/01/08

My family and absolutely love this house! We have rented it on numerous occasions and have had incredible vacations there. We are steps away from possibly the most gorgeous beach on the planet, world class snorkeling, wind sport activities, diving and fishing, and we usually have the beach to ourselves. The house is wonderful with views to die for and has everything you need for fun! I absolutely recommend this house for your next Mexican vacation!!!!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/01/08

If you are looking for a relaxing Mexican vacation getaway then this is the place to go! This is a fantastic house with the most unbelievable views I have ever seen. The sunsets are to die for! I had the pleasure of spending a week there in the spring and it was one of the greatest vacations I've had in a long time. The home is lovely and it's beach front location is amazing. I would highly recommend this home to all my family and friends.

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