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KITESURFING DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

KITESURFING DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

KITESURFING DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

kiteboarding dominican republic

It’s not just the surfing that is top class in Cabarete, in this updated 2022 Kitesurfing Dominican Republic guide you will find info on where and when to go, as well as all other relevant kiteboarding info to plan your kitesurfing holiday to the Dominican Republic with ease.

In case you are fed up with kiteboarding in a wet suit, come to the warm waters of the Caribbean, where you will be able to kiteboard in board shorts or a bikini!

What you will find in this kiteboarding guide:

Quick facts

Name:  República Dominicana (English: Dominican Republic, not the same as  Dominica which is a different island in the Caribbean)
Capital:  Santo Domingo
Location:  Caribbean region
Lat / Lon:  19°00′N 70°40′W
Currency:  Dominican peso
Language: Spanish
Coastline: 800 Miles / 1288 KM

WHY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS A KITESURF DESTINATION?

If you are looking for a kitesurfing (or kiteboarding) destination for your next holiday, you should definitely consider putting the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic on your short list of places to go
If you don’t want to read the entire article below, let us quickly give you 10 reasons why to choose Cabarete for your kitesurfing vacation:

  1. Super-steady, safe, side-onshore trade winds.
  2. Wide sandy beaches.
  3. Warm air and water temperatures.
  4. Lots of facilities (kite schools, kite rentals and kiteboard shops).
  5. Easy to get to.
  6. Lots of other activities to do other than kiting
  7. Variety of kite spots (flat water, waves, down winders)
  8. Leave the wet-suit behind and kite in board-shorts or bikinis
  9. Amazing choice of restaurants and bars on and off the beach
  10. Always a party to be had (if you want one)

THE BEST KITESURFING SPOTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

There are many different kitesurfing beaches in the Dominican Republic, but the one area that really stands out is the Cabarete area on the North coast of the Dominican Republic. Cabarete is easily reached from Puerto Plata airport (POP) and is a short 25-minute car drive.

Dominican republic kitesurf spot map

The Kitesurfing spots in the Cabarete area:
(from East to West)

LA BOCA

La Boca is a lagoon at the end of the river Yassica. It’s not a huge area, but because of this, the water at the river mouth is butter smooth, ideal for freestyle kitesurfers to practice their moves. There are some basic facilities at La Boca, restaurants and small shops for some drinks and food.
Video: Luis Alberto Cruz, (nephew of Sipriana, Swell’s longest-serving staff member) kitesurfing at La Boca

Conditions: Super-flat water
Good for: Kitesurfers who love flat water for Freestyle moves
Level: Intermediate and Experts
Watch out for: After rain, there could be some floating wood logs & getting tangled with other kiters in a small area is always a risk.
Getting there: Take a car or moto-taxi from Cabarete; 15 minutes East
Tips: Don’t forget to bring a kite pump.  Kiteboard downwind back to Cabarete

CABARETE BAY / BOZO BEACH / LA GOLETTA

Cabarete’s main beach has several different sections: The up-wind part (East) is Cabarete’s windsurf area, but some kitesurfers venture there too, (although you might get the stink-eye from the rather territorial windsurfers). If you get too close to the windsurf schools, your kite might fall out of the sky because there’s a wind shadow (no steady wind) close to the beach.

The next part of the beach is called Bozo beach and this starts around the Ocean One & Ocean Dream developments. The wind shadow stops here, so you will find steady trade winds from here, all the way West.
200-300 meters west of Bozo is where Goleta beach starts, with reasonable flat water inside the reef and fun waves on the reef for wave kiters.

Conditions: Flat water with semi chop inside the reef, good waves on the reef
Good for: There’s something for everyone
Level: Beginners, Intermediate and Experts
Watch out for: Some shallow parts on the reef and at times (mostly Feb, March and April) there’s a heavy shore break at Bozo beach
Getting there: Right in the center of Cabarete (a couple of minutes walk from Swell)
Tip: Ride downwind to kitebeach from Cabarete Bay, a few tacks up wind and you’re back where you started.

CABARETE KITEBEACH

World-famous Cabarete kite beach is just a few minutes ride (or 15 minutes walk along the beach from Cabarete main beach) from Swell. What makes Cabarete Kitebeach such a popular spot?  It’s because Cabarete Kitebeach has something to offer for every kiter of every level. Flatwater, good waves & steady trade winds are why many of the world’s best kitesurfers call kitebeach their home kite spot.

Conditions: Flat water – semi chop inside the reef, good waves on the reef
Good for: There’s something for everyone
Level: Beginners, Intermediate and Experts
Watch out for: In Summer time seasonal erosion makes the beach smaller
Getting there: Short motor  ride from Cabarete or walk West for 20 minutes from Bozo Beach
Tip: Good food and vibes at KiteClub Cabarete

PLAYA ENCUENTRO

Playa Encuentro is the top surfing spot in the Dominican Republic, ultra-consistent with waves year-round make it a favourite for the surfers. But it’s not just the surfers who love Playa Encuentro, as at around 2 in the afternoon, the wind picks up enough for the kitesurfers who also flock to this spot. This spot is ideal for kitesurfers who like to ride good waves with surfboards. Many kitesurfers will do a “downwinder” from Cabarete bay or Kitebeach, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes to enjoy good waves all along the coast.

Conditions: Waves
Good for: Wave riders
Level: Intermediate and Experts
Watch out for: Landing your kite is not easy, you might have to stand in the water (beware of sea urchins).  Don’t drop your kite when doing a downwinder from Cabarete, there are rocky spots without a beach for getting out of the water.
Tip: Go with a friend & landing is likely to be easier on a patch of sand just West of the main peak at Playa Encuentro

Wind and weather for Kitesurfing Dominican Republic

The winds that make Cabarete such a world-class kite surf destination are the steady Caribbean trade winds. Created by thermals around the equator, they generally start picking up in the afternoon and reach maximum strength by around 3pm in the afternoon. Normally winds are between 18 and 22 knots side-on-shore which is widely regarded as the most ideal wind for kitesurfing. The wind accelerates along the coast and reaches maximum strength at Cabarete.

Tip: Check sites like windy.tv and windguru Cabarete for accurate wind conditions in Cabarete (keep in mind that the forecasts usually shows 4-6 knots less than actual wind strength, since they don’t take the thermal effect along the coast into consideration)

There is no distinct on or off-season for kitesurfing in Cabarete, any month of the year can provide over 20 to 25 days of windy days in a month. However, there are certain months where the likelihood of wind is greater than other months.

WHEN TO GO ON A KITESURFING HOLIDAY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC?

Below is an indication of what to expect as far as windy days at certain times of the year for a kite or windsurf holiday to Cabarete

Best Months:
June, July & August
(Average of 20 to 25 days with 14+ knots of wind)

Good alternatives: 
January, February, March, April, May and December
(Average of 12 to 15 days of 14+ knots of wind).

So So months:
September, October & November
(Average of 5 to 12 days of 14+ knots of wind).

CABARETE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC KITESURFING VIDEO


Let local kitesurf pro show you why Cabarete is still one of the best kite surf destinations in the world

One of the best things about the Dominican Republic is that it’s hard not to have a good time when you are looking for an active holiday, so when there’s a day without wind:  go surfing as the waves will be good, or take an adventure trip Canyoning.

Where to stay for a Dominican Kiteboard holiday?

Ok, surfing swell kite campwe are going to be biased here ( look at the URL in your browser), even though we are called Swell Surf Camp, we get loads of kitesurfers (or people learning to kitesurf ) staying with us at Swell.

Why? Because they appreciate the communal & social vibe we provide. We eat breakfasts and dinners together, so you will not be staying in your room by yourself whilst on your holiday.

If you stay at Swell, you are guaranteed to meet new people.  You can kitesurf together, go on a day trip Canyoning or take a few learn-to-surf lessons with us.
We can book your kitesurf lessons for you, from complete beginners learn to kite courses, to someone who is looking for advanced kite surf lessons such as wave riding, jumping, learning to ride strapless or foiling.

CABARETE KITESURFING SCHOOLS AND LESSONS

So if you have decided to give the exciting sport of kitesurfing a try, have done your research, and have come to the conclusion that Cabarete is one of the best kitesurf destinations in the world; you’ve made a smart choice! Now you need to find the right kitesurf school in Cabarete. There are 2 choices: Contact us and we can prepare you with a stay and learn to kite package holiday with one of the 2 best schools in Cabarete, or you can contact the schools directly (by the way, we don’t charge extra for arranging your kite lessons).

Choice of kiteboard schools in Cabarete:
kitesurf school cabareteThere are at least a dozen or more kite surf schools in Cabarete, some are well established and very good, and some are, well not so. There are price differences too; but do keep in mind that kitesurfing is not a cheap sport, the lessons are not cheap and neither is the equipment.

Swell deals with Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding school (LEK), located at Cabarete beach, and with KiteClub at Cabarete Kitebeach. Both are very well-known and 2 of the most established, professionally run schools in Cabarete, neither of them are the cheapest kite schools, but what you will get with them is:

  • Qualified kitesurf instructors.
  • Top quality kite equipment during your lessons.
  • Helmets and impact vests during lessons.
  • A structured and organized lesson structure.

As said above, they are not the cheapest schools in Cabarete (per hour) however it might still work out cheaper having lessons with them versus another school or individual, here’s why:
Progress during your kite lessons will most likely be quicker (and safer) when taught by a very experienced kite instructor, using the right equipment (a choice of kite sizes) than when you get taught by an individual who uses old kites that repeatedly break or don’t fly properly (a badly flying kite is seriously dangerous)
Tip: Don’t just ask your mate to teach you kitesurfing, it will be most likely be unsafe and the quickest way to wreck his kite (or your skull). Also, private teaching by individuals not affiliated with a licensed kite school is banned for safety reasons on Cabarete beaches.

KITESURFING GEAR

There are several kiteboard shops in Cabarete that sell new kites, kiteboard and kiteboarding accessories.  Also, most of the better schools will have a good collection of new and used kites for sale as they update their equipment regularly.
Prices: Expect to pay between $500 and $700 for a good used kite and kite bar, $800 to $1100 for a new kite and bar.
A used kiteboard is around $200 to $400 and a new kiteboard is between $500 and $800 USD.  Tips for buying second-hand kiteboarding gear: When buying a second-hand kite, check that the valves are all functioning (blow up the kite and leave it for a while to eliminate any leaks).  Check also the condition of the fabric (repairs are fine when done well, but the material should be crisp and not generally soft and worn).  Check the bar and lines completely for frayed nylon.  Check the safety release system still works.

GETTING TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

flights dr
There are 4 major airports on the island and a couple of smaller ones too.  The Dominican Republic is actually located on Hispaniola, which is a BIG island; made up of 1/3 Haiti and 2/3 Dominican Republic.  It’s approximately 470km from Punta Cana in the far West to the Haitian Border in the East (that’s a 7 hour + drive).  

If you are planning on surfing the North coast, try to fly into Puerto Plata (airport code POP).  The 2nd best option is Santiago Los Caballeros (STI) and the 3rd best is Santo Domingo (SDQ).  Flying to Punta Cana might be cheap (lots of cheap charter flights go there to ferry people to the many all-inclusive hotels lining the coast) but it’s not a viable entry point if you want to surf.  Punta Cana is all about white sand beaches and all-inclusive; there’s no ‘real’ Dominican culture close by. 


American Airlines, Jet Blue, United, Air Canada, West Jet are just some of the flights arriving into POP, STI and SDQ.  There are also charter flights arriving daily from Europe.  You can see more flight suggestions on this page.

GETTING AROUND

There are also Moto-taxis, which are small motorbikes costing (generally speaking) 50 to 100 pesos (just over one or two US dollars) for around 5km.  You will frequently hear the ‘ssssssssttt’ from a passing driver offering you a ride.  Be careful of the safety of these bikes and watch for very serious burns to your calf (commonly known as ‘the Dominican Tattoo’) from the exhaust pipe.  It’s a terrible way to start your surf vacation and will take weeks to heal.  It’s not unknown for these guys to double up as drug dealers or pimps, so beware.

Car rental is cheap but driving in the Dominican Republic is not for the faint-hearted.  Dominicans have a rather laissez-faire attitude towards driving, so always expect the unexpected (people coming out of junctions without looking, or driving on the wrong side of the road), don’t drive fast, never drive under the influence and you should stay safe. 

Keep your eyes open and your mirrors tuned, especially for the motos, as they will approach at speed from all directions.  A Sat Nav is a good idea for longer journeys as good sign posts are a rarity.  If you are involved in an accident, stay in your vehicle if it is safe to do so and call your insurance company.  Dominicans can tend to flock to an accident, especially if a local person is injured, and it can be intimidating.
If you rent a motorbike, wear a helmet; it’s not only the law, but in a country with a very poor R.T.A. record, it may just save your life.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND VISA

Generally speaking, the Dominican Republic is a visa-free country to visit.  Very few nationalities require a visa to enter this Caribbean island.  The majority of nationalities though will need to purchase a Tourist Card upon entry at Puerto Plata (airport code POP), or any of the other airports of the Dominican Republic

The Tourist Card costs $10 USD and is valid for 30 days entry.  You need to pay for the card in USD only.  Some countries are exempt from this and I’ve provided a link below to check whether your country of origin requires a visa, a Tourist Card or neither.  Generally speaking, Americans, Canadians and Europeans don’t need a visa, but do require the Tourist Card.
http://www.dominicanrepublic.com/dominican-republic-visa-2/

MEDICAL INFORMATION BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

So most of the medical-related websites, such as the CDC for example, will give you blanket advice about vaccinations required and list all medical risks.  The truth is that region to region, the risks vary considerably and some risks mentioned on these websites are not much of a risk at all.
Malaria is practically non-existent in the Dominican Republic with the last reported case in 2011.  The Zika virus; again, although it is reported there have been cases in the Dominican Republic, these have been centred in Santo Domingo, the capital city, located on the south coast, which is about 4 hours by road from Cabarete on the North Coast.   

There are no recent reports of Zika on the North Coast at the time of writing.  The day time mosquito (Aedes) carries the worst diseases, including Dengue, so it’s obviously better to prevent being bitten at all.  Wear a good repellent containing DEET.  Windy coastal areas (like Cabarete) have far fewer mosquitos than inland on the island.
Hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended; Hep A can be caught from contaminated food or water and Hep B from sexual partners who are themselves contaminated, or even from getting a tattoo done.  If you feel you might be in either risk group, it could be a good idea to get these shots.

KITESURFING DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GALLERY

Top things to do in & around Cabarete, other than kiteboarding

  • Surfing
  • Canyoning
  • Party (lots of bars and clubs on the main beach of Cabarete)
  • Beachside dining
  • Stand up paddle surfing
  • Windsurfing
  • Sunbathe
  • Visit Puerto Plata
  • Shopping
  • Sailing
  • Fishing
  • Snorkeling and diving

We hope you enjoyed this Kitesurfing Dominican Republic guide, if you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to send us over your questions or comments.  If you are interested in a kiteboarding holiday to Cabarete, or a surf holiday, by yourself, or with friends or family we’d also love to welcome you to Swell.

Here’s a sample kitesurfing package we can provide for you at Swell:

  • 7 night’s accommodation for one person in a shared room or a private room
  • our wonderful, daily breakfast
  • 4 home-cooked dinners at Swell (restaurants are right on our doorstep for when we are not cooking).
  • 8 hours of one-on-one kitesurfing instruction with an IKO-qualified kite instructor
  • round-trip Puerto Plata airport transfers included
  • free wifi in the communal areas
  • safe, complimentary drinking water
  • amazing communal vibe

The cost for this package, in a shared room, is $1199 USD and in a private room, is $1599 USD.

We hope to see you soon in Cabarete, the Kiteboard capital of the Caribbean!

SEE WHAT SWELL IS ALL ABOUT

WANT TO STAY IN A COOL PLACE WITH FELLOW KITESURFERS AND SURFERS?

Have a look at our kite surf and surf accommodation in Cabarete by Swell Surf Camp

Dominican republic kitesurf spot map

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LEARNING TO FOIL WINGSURF

wing foil learn package

LEARNING TO FOIL WINGSURF

learn foil surfing

Unless you haven’t been paying attention to new water sports crazes, you’ve probably seen a huge increase in the number of people getting into foil boarding; whether it’s using a foil for surfing, kitesurfing, or the relatively new wing-foiling (covered in more detail below).

LEARNING TO FOIL / WINGSURF

WHAT IS A FOIL?

It was in Hawaii that the hydrofoil was first developed. The idea is to use a blade below the water to ‘lift’ the board you are using (whether it’s a SUP, kiteboard, or surfboard) clean out of the water. The board is attached to a mast which is attached to that blade. Once the blade lifts at a certain speed, the mast comes out of the water and then no part of the board is actually touching the water. We will talk about how foiling feels a little later in this article; the very reason for its existence is how that ride feels.

Early foil models were heavy, extremely difficult to use, and really quite dangerous. These hand-made foils were also very expensive. After several manufacturers came up with various foil models over the years, in around 2014, foil models had improved and started appearing in more numbers on local beaches. However, they were still too fast, generally unstable and very difficult to ride, as well as being expensive. Accidents were common and often resulted in nasty injuries.

The speed of design improvements has been impressive and the good news is that today, all manufacturers are building easy to use, less expensive, stable, fun foils which suit all kinds of surf/water conditions. They range from inexpensive plastic foils, through aluminium and fibreglass construction, all the way to the top-of-the-range carbon fibre foils.

Even better, many are of a modular design, meaning that you can interchange the various parts as your level of foiling improves.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO FOIL COMPARED TO RIDING A NORMAL KITEBOARD OR SURFBOARD?

This question is rather like trying to describe how it feels the first time you ride a wave; it’s really hard to put it into words.

learn to foil

It’s like no other form of board riding you have ever undertaken before. The reason for this is that you are simply floating: Imagine gliding over a sea of soap suds where the suds keep you on top without sinking yet you can’t feel them beneath you. Your foil makes no sound at all as it carries you, there’s no slapping of water that you always get with a board in contact with water. It’s spookily quiet as you glide effortlessly through the water. People have described it as a magic carpet ride and I would have to agree.

Also, the momentum of foils and the way they travel through water means that you only need light winds for either kiting or wing-surfing. You can also travel at much faster speeds and turn further upwind or downwind than you can with a regular twin-tip kiteboard.

It’s really easy to see why kite foiling and wing-surfing are the fastest growing water sports.

WHAT MAKES LEARNING TO FOIL MORE DIFFICULT?

If you are used to riding a twin-tip kiteboard or a directional surfboard, you will know that you steer the board using your heels and toes. Only two things to remember; heels will dig in to ride upwind and toes will turn the board downwind. Let’s refer to this as the ‘roll.’

With a foil, there are three things to master. You’ve got the toe and heel operation (the roll) but you have also got a front and back axis (the pitch) to deal with. Getting the ‘pitch’ of the foil right is essential to keep the board out of the water. Too much leaning back and the foil will literally fly out of the water. Too much pressure forward and the foil will sink the board. Foils are sensitive and require only a tiny movement of your body forward or backward to completely change momentum.

The roll is also harder to come to terms with on a foil. If you can imagine the roll on a regular board occurs immediately beneath your feet and the adjustment you make results in an instant turn. With a foil, the blade is well beneath you, anything from 40cm to 110cm (depending on the length of the foil’s mast). This means that the adjustment required is larger and the turn takes longer to effect.

Then we have to look at how weird it feels to be hovering above the water. Everything you have ever learned with kiteboarding or wind-surfing is about the board being in direct contact with the ocean. The height you can achieve with a foil is at once exhilarating but it’s also scary. No matter how good you are as a kiteboarder, surfer, or windsurfer, learning to foil will make you feel like a noob all over again. It sounds like a bit of a nightmare, doesn’t it? But the reward, the reward………..your soap-suddy, dreamy cruise through the air will make all the faceplants and aching thighs well worth it. It’s just a learning curve you must go through to get to the pot of gold.

HOW DO I LEARN FOILING?

There are several different ways to learn to foil. If you already kitesurf well, then you can pick up foiling using your kite skills to generate the power required. If you are an accomplished windsurfer, then moving to wing-foiling will not be too big a step up.

If you don’t kitesurf, surf, or wind-surf already, then your options are as follows: 1. Learn to kitesurf first using a regular twin tip (this might sound difficult but actually, the learning curve with kiting is much faster than with regular surfing and progress can be rapid. 2. Learn to wing-foil (see below for our course options at Swell). The great thing about using the wing to start foiling is that control of the wing is easier and even faster to master than control of the kite. 3. Use a boat-tow to start. However, whilst using a boat to tow you might seem like a good option, in reality, it’s cheating somewhat and with this method, you won’t utilize some of the balance skills which are vital for foil control once a boat is not towing you. Another problem with a boat tow is that the boat tends to do the steering for you, so you are not learning that skill either. Lastly, unless your boat pilot is well-versed with foiling themselves, they won’t know the correct speed to keep you above the water and safe.

Whichever method you choose, you should begin your water experience with a short mast on the foil (shorter = easier). The better you get, the longer you want your mast to be. You will also use a bigger board at the beginning to give you as much stability as possible.

WINGSURF FOILING; A PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO FOILING WITH NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

As we’ve mentioned above, wingsurf-foiling is an ideal choice if you don’t already kitesurf and you want to get straight into riding a foil. Wingsurfing is growing quickly in popularity and it’s easy to see why.

Unlike a kite, the hand-held wing is much simpler and safer to use. There are no long lines to put out, no potentially dangerous launch to master, no risk of crashing the kite and not being able to relaunch it. The equipment is easy to put together and the wing is quickly inflated. A leash attaches the wing to the rider in case of falls and handles are positioned along the center of the wing to guide it; it’s very light in the hand. In fact, there are no discernible disadvantages to using a wing to foil.

learn to wingsurf

Wings are sold in various sizes to suit wind conditions and rider size. A good wing-foiling school will have the correct size of the wing for your lessons. You will be able to wing-foil in just 12 knots of wind. All you have to do is inflate the lightweight wing and enter the water.

WHERE CAN I LEARN TO WINGSURF FOIL

SWELL LEARN TO WING FOIL COURSE


learn to wing foil

Cabarete, Dominican Republic, is already a world-renowned kite surfing destination, with steady side-on trade winds and warm Caribbean water: Now foiling is taking over as the fastest growing sport. You can come and stay with us at Swell and take a 10-hour foiling course for $795 USD (one person) or $636 USD each if two guests are learning at the same time.

More info on our learn to wingsurf course can be found here and the package pricing for learning to foil & wingsurf are here

WING FOILING IN CABARETE

Cabarete on the North coast of the Dominican Republic is one of the best wing foiling spots in the world!

Great conditions for Wing foilers of all levels

ABOUT SWELL


We are a purpose-built retreat for people that are looking for an active water sports holiday. We offer learn to surf, kitesurf and wingsurf packages for clients staying with Swell

More info about learning wingfoiling, or the wingfoil packages we offer

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Kitesurf Holiday

surfing IMG 4990

KITESURF HOLIDAY

Kitesurf season is coming up in Cabarete, Dominican Republic.Besides awesome surfing conditions for surfers of all levels, Cabarete is also widely regarded as the kitesurf capital of the world.

Perfect conditions for kiteboarders of all levels.

What to expect if you are coming to Cabarete for a kitesurf holiday?

  • Steady tradewinds that kick in in the afternoon, so no need to get up early in the morning.
  • Warm water and air temperatures so no need for a wetsuit.
  • Different kite surf spots close to cabarete, from waves to flat water.
  • Plenty of space, no need to get lines tangled.
  • Good kite surf schools so you can learn in a safe manner.
  • Awesome local talent that put on a great show.

We have converted many surfers into kitesurfers over the years, and if you are also interested in learning this exciting sport, join us this summer and sign up for our kitesurf package.

How many hours of kitesurf lessons do I need?
Some advertise 4-6 hours of kitesurf lesson packages, to lure clients in with low prices. We don’t believe in this approach, learning in a safe manner, requires at least 8-10 hours of lessons and another few hours of supervised kitesurfing.

Do I need to be strong for kitesurfing?
No,  kids as young as 6 have learned kiteboarding and people as old as 70 are still kitesurfing.

Is Kitesurfing dangerous?
Not when you take lessons with a qualified kite surf school in Cabarete.

How much does the kitesurf equipment costs?

  • Used board starts at 200-300 USD
  • Used kite and bar starts at 400-500 USD
  • Harness costs around 65 USD

Is used kite equipment available for purchase in Cabarete?

yes plenty of people have good used kite equipment for sale, ask around at the different kite school.

For more information on kitesurfing Dominican Republic visit this page which has a full kitesurfing dominican republic travel guide
The 2015 Cabarete PKRA kiteboard worldcup sponsored by Virgin ( Branson’s company) will be stopping by in June , see the event schedule.

Have anymore questions about kitesurfing , Cabarete or a surf holiday to the DR’s #1 surf camp, send us an email.

For those interested in learning to kitesurf on their caribbean, here’s a good starter guide

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Cabarete wind and wave forecasts

surfing joel1

CABARETE WIND & WAVE FORECAST

We get a lot of  people asking us,”what is the wave or wind going to be like in 3 weeks from now”. Needless to say we cannot guarantee perfect wind or wave conditions for your learn to surf or learn to kite holiday 3 weeks in advance.

There are a few tools you can use for an accurate 7 days forecast or tools that give you an insight into historical wind and wave patterns in the Caribbean.
For an accurate wind and wave forecast for 7 days we use sites like Windguru Cabarete and MagicSeaweed Encuentro[/dropcap]

 
From our own experience

Waves between October and April:
Bigger waves: suitable for beginners, intermediate and expert surfers

Waves between May and September:
Smaller waves on average: more suitable for beginners and intermediates.

Wind between April and August:
Consistent wind of 15 knots or more on 70% of the days

Wind Between September and March:
Consistent wind of 15 knots or more 40% of the days.

BEST SURF HOLIDAY

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind surf camp holiday in Cabarete?

Here’s 10 reasons why Swell Surf Camp in Cabarete is your best bet:

  1. The only purpose built surf camp in the Caribbean.
  2. The only surf camp and school in Cabarete with internationally qualified surf instructors.
  3. Located right in the center of Cabarete
  4. Top quality surf equipment for rent: soft tops and hard tops in sizes ranging from 5’6” to 9’2”
  5. Yummy home cooked breakfasts and dinners.
  6. Daily maid service.
  7. Get a ride to the surf beach, restaurants, & nightlife can all be reached easily by walking into town.
  8. Quality beds, mattresses and sheets will make you sleep as well as at home.
  9. Awesome staff; friendly dominicans, 1 chilean manager, our local surf instructor Neno and 2 international surf instructors will make sure that everything is in order during your surfing vacation.
  10. The best vibe in town! Meeting fellow travellers has never been easier; our large communal area is great for playing a game of pool, table football, socialising or watching a surf video. No other place in the Caribbean has the vibe Swell has……Guaranteed.

But don’t just believe our word for it, here are some external companies’ views on what Swell has to offer:

 
SURF HOLIDAY IN CABARETE

And our love-hate relationship with Tripadvisor continues (even though we have by far the best record on reviews, we are placed lower in the rankings than places which are no longer open just because we won’t allow Trip Advisor to sell our rooms).

So if you are interested in joining us on a great surf holiday vacation in the Caribbean, send Clare an email today. Swell is a small place with room for only 22 guests, so spaces fill up quickly and most times month in advance.

We hope to see you soon!!

Swell Surf camp

If you have any questions about what season is best suited for your level of surfing or kitesurfing, feel free to send us a message.

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Summer in Dominican Republic

surfing IMG 5316

Summer in Cabarete

Summer time is here, and contrary to popular belief, it’s actually a great time to be on the North Coast of the Domican republic for a surf holiday. Maybe not for expert surfers seeking to find double overhead barrels, but for beginners and intermediate surfers, the DR offers great conditions.

See the magicseaweed and Windguru forecasts on surfing and kitesurfing conditions in Cabarete in summer

Surfing conditions in the summer in the Dominican republic

Generally wave size between June and September is about 3-4′ or 1,5 meters or waist to chest high. Which we belief to be the best wave size to make quick progress.
Another reason that many of Swell Surf Camp‘s clients keep coming back to Cabarete in the summer time is that the surf is very uncrowded. Swell’s surf transport leaves early in the mornings, and we are usually the first ones at Playa Encuentro for our surf lessons.

Best surfing in the Caribbean

The Dominican Republic is one of the few places in the Caribbean that consistently has waves year round. In general we have about 350 surfable days per year. It might not always be perfect head high and barreling, but if you don’t mind grabbing a longboard in mellow chest high waves, Cabarete is a very consistent surf base in the Caribbean.

Stuff to do in Cabarete

Another reason why many people choose the summer months over winter months is the variety of other water sport activities that are superb in summer time: Kitesurfing and Windsurfing; the tradewinds pick up like clock work everyday at around 1 in the afternoon. There’s a reason why all the pro kitesurfers keep coming back to Cabarete every year.

Rememeber that swell offer year round surf & yoga holiday, or Yoga and Kitesurf camp. Molly gives Yoga sessions 3 times per week in Swell’s backyard.

Looking for a good surf camp deal?

We have dynamic pricing so if you are flexible on when to come to the DR for a one of a kind surf holiday, check the prices for September and August, they will be discounted, since it’s a bit more quit in Cabarete
during those months.

More info on the surfing in the Dominican republic can be found on this website with surf spots and travel tips for a surf holiday to the Dominican Republic

Want to stay up to date what is going on at the #1 surf camp in the Caribbean?
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Want to join us on a yoga & surf camp holiday ?

For those interested in learning to kitesurf on their caribbean, here’s a good starter guide

For more information on kitesurfing Dominican Republic visit this page which has a full kitesurfing dominican republic travel guide

If you are looking for more info on the seasons in the Dominican Republic:

Best time to visit the Dominican Republic

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Swell Surf Camp Summer

swell

We’d like to take this opportunity to update you with what has been going on at Swell. Winter is over, and we had a fantastic time, lots of happy clients, good waves for all; from mellow beginner waves to double overhead barrels for the advanced surfers.

Now summer is almost here, and that means the kite surfers will be happy. As many of you know, Cabarete is one of the top spots in the world for kitesurfing. Ideal learning conditions for beginners, means progress is made quickly and in a safe manner. For advanced kiteboarders Cabarete has everything from flat water to waves.

Staff changes at Swell Surf Camp.
Romy, who was with Swell for the last year, has unfortunately left Swell 2 weeks ago, her smile and enthusiasm is missed.

It was long Romy’s plan to go an infect Canada with her smile,  she got her work / travel visa so she’ll be wearing a wetsuit soon on Canada’s west coast, where she is going to continue to be an awesome surf instructor.

Charlie is still with Swell for a few more weeks, before he too will go and explore more of the (surfing) world. We wish him all the best in his travels.
New instructors.

Swell is a surf camp, so we need good surf instructors; Ed is the latest addition to team Swell. A qualified ISA level 2 surf coach from England. He has lots of teaching experience, and is an allround nice guy.

Paloma ( from Chile, like Haudy) is going to be joining Swell Surfcamp in 2 weeks as a surf instructor / surf photographer. Paloma takes awesome surf shots, so if you want to have you pic taken by her, join us this summer.

We hope to see you soon

If you are looking for more info on the seasons in the Dominican Republic:

Best time to visit the Dominican Republic

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Best summer camps

best surf vacation

Spring has begun and we at Swell Surf Camp already get a lot of inquiries and bookings in for the summer.

Maybe it’s because we got mentions on a lot of external / independent websites for offering awesome summer surf camp holidays.

Mentions:

Needless to say we are very happy when we get a mention in the media, another thing to say is that we never pay for media coverage or let anyone have a free stay in return for a write up. These reviews of Swell Surf Camp are genuine.

What’s going on in Cabarete?

Winter has provided us with lots of top quality surf days at Playa Encuentro, and the kite surfers have also been happy days with plenty of windy afternoons. With summer coming up: if you have been wanting to learn kitesurfing, the next few months is the time to come over to Cabarete for a kite surfing lessons / course. Steady trade winds in the afternoon will be a steady fixture all the way until the end of August for kiteboarding

Want to learn to surf ? Summer months provide excellent learning conditions for beginners with waves in the waist to chest high range.

Did we mention the Yoga Surf Camp ?

Need more activities? have a look at the active adventure holiday page.

 

We hope to see you in Cabarete, the action sport’s capital of the Caribbean this summer.

For those interested in learning to kitesurf on their caribbean, here’s a good starter guide

If you are looking for more info on the seasons in the Dominican Republic:

Best time to visit the Dominican Republic

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Kite & Surf Holiday

surfing 6S7A3965 Large

KITE & SURF HOLIDAY

Summer season is upon us here in the Dominican Republic, which means the afternoon trade winds start blowing like clock work at around midday.

More and more people are interested in our learn to kitesurf packages.  We have created a package that incorporates the pleasant stay at Swell Surf camp in comfortable rooms, healthy fresh breakfasts, 4 dinners and kite surf lessons on Cabarete’s Bozo beach at the best kitesurf school in Cabarete. They have IKO qualified kite surf instructors working for them and teach with the latest 2015 kitesurf gear.

What else is new in Cabarete? The 2015 Cabarete kitesurfing world cup is taken off the agenda unfortunately due to logistical / organisational difficulties. It’s a real shame since for most of the kite surf pro’s Cabarete is their favorite PKRA stop on the world tour. Hopefully the world cup will be back next year for some spectacular action.

 

SUMMER PRICES

If you are interested in a Kite & Surf holiday in Cabarete this summer we have good news, we have drastically reduced our rates for the summer. Have a look on the pricing page, or send Clare a message to get a price and availability quote today.

 

SURF CAMP REVIEWS

190 Tripadvisor reviews, Frommers recommends Swell as one of the top 10 surf camps in the world, and Lonely Planet wrote the following about us:

We hope to welcome you in Cabarete soon

Interested in an active adventure holiday to the Caribbean? Have a look at this page

How about a Family Surf Holiday?

In the popular kids vacation weeks, christmass, summer holiday we are also open for familiy surf holidays to join Swell.
Ready to buy your first surfboard? read our guide on choosing your first surfboard

For those interested in learning to kitesurf on their caribbean, here’s a good starter guide

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Cabarete Kitesurf World Cup 2014

Update 2016

The article  below is from 2014 so here’s an update on the 2016 Maitai Cabarete Freestyle Invitational.

The new kiteboarding event is part of the world kiteboarding league

When:
Jule 12 to Juli 17 2016

Where:
Cabarete Bay, in front of the Millenium hotel, at Laurel eastman Kiteboarding ( where Swell clients go for kite lessons)

Who:
The worlds best 24 male and 12 female kitsurf riders will compete.

How to watch:
Go to the beach any day after 11 when there’s more than 15 knots and be prepared to see spectacular jumps.

Who to watch:
Local riders Ariel and his young brother Adeuri could have a chance of winning it ( Ariel won years ago) Or Luis Alberto Cruz, who we will be cheering on, since he is a family member of Sypriana, the longest working staff member at Swell.

Inspired? Want to learn to kitesurf? See the details of the learn to kiteboard packages that Swell offers.
See you on the beach the coming week.

 
Cabarete Kitesurf World Cup 2014
After a few years of absentee this year will be once again the year where one of the most exciting events of  the Kitesurf World tour will take place in Cabarete

From June 18 to June 22 2014 the world cup will take place at Bozo beach, (Cabarete’s main beach). Bozo beach is a short 5 minute walk from Swell Surf Camp, so if you are interested in seeing the world’s best freestyle kiteboarders battle it out in epic conditions, send Clare an email to see if we have space for you at Swell.

For people more interested in becoming a kiteboarder that week, don’t worry, kitesurf lessons are still given at the downwind kitebeach.

Surfing in summer time in the DR
Summer is not just a great time for kite and windsurfing in Cabarete, the summer sees perfect surfing conditions for completete beginners or intermediates that have only surfed a few times in their lives. Wave size is a consistent waist to shoulder high in the summer months.

Other activities in Cabarete
There’s no need to be bored in Cabarete, regardless of what season of the year we are in, here’s some of our clients favorite things to do in Cabarete:

  • Canyoning and the waterfall tours.
  • Windsurfing.
  • Snorkeling and diving.
  • Yoga with Molly at Swell.
  • A night out partying in town.
  • Mountainbiking with max.
  • Ziplining at the monkey jungle tours.
  • Stand up paddle tours ( SUP) in the river Yasica or the lagoon.

So if you are looking for an action packed adventure holiday in the Caribbean,; have a look at our packages to see if there’s something that fits your needs. Keep in mind Swell is a small and popular place so space is limited.

Single / solo traveler looking for an active holiday? You’ll be happy to hear that half our guests are generally solo travellers, so it’s real easy to meet other folks at Swell to socialise and have fun with.

See you at the world cup in Cabarete

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Kitesurfing in Cabarete

Tarifa as a kitesurf destination

Kitesurfing in Cabarete

Yes Swell is a surf camp in the Dominican Republic, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t offer any other sports at Swell. In fact the reason we built Swell in Cabarete is because Cabarete is considered the watersport capital of the Caribbean.
Cabarete first became famous because of the world class windsurfing conditions in Cabarete in the mid 80’s. The popularity of windsurfing started to drop in the late 90’s and 2000, just in time for a new sport to arrive: kitesurfing (or kiteboarding same thing).

There are a few reasons that make Cabarete an ideal place for a kitesurfing holiday.

 

Reasons to go kitesurfing in Cabarete, Dominican republic

  1. The tradewinds that pick up in the afternoon are steady and reach perfect strenght for kitesurfing: between 16 and 22 knots on average ( 4 to 5 beaufort).
  2. The tradewinds are side onshore, which means if something happens to you or your kite, you will not be blown out to see but come floating into safety in a short time.
  3. Large open spaces, cabarete bay, Goletta and kitebeach are big area’s were there is enough space for 100’s of kiters to enjoy the sport without getting in each others ways.
  4. Large variety of conditions to enjoy: from Flat water at La Boca river mouth to the waves at Kitebeach and Encuentro; it doesn’t matter if you are in to freestyle kitesurfing or wave riding, Cabarete offers something for everyone.
  5. Availability of good kitesurf schools in Cabarete: There are at least a dozen kiteboard schools in Cabarete. But just like with Surf schools some are better than others, at Swell we offer our clients the lessons from the most renowned kiteschool located at Cabarete bay. They employ qualified kite instructors, use top quality equipment and have the best safety record.

If you want a change of scenery from just kitesurfing in Cabarete, there’s a few more spots to enjoy in the Dominican republic: Las terrenas is a stunning beach with turquoise flat waters that many Cabarete kitesurfers go to for a few days to enjoy the tranquility of a different kitesurf spot.

Another popular spot going west from cabarete is Punta Russia: no development there, just gorgeous beaches with flat water and great views.

Swell Surf camp offer learn to kitesurf packages for complete beginners. See our kitesurfing page or pricing page for details.

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