Cabarete
Cabarete is a small beach town about 30 minutes east of Puerto Plata, internationally known for reliable trade winds that make it one of the world's best kitesurfing and windsurfing destinations — 250+ kitable days a year. Group lessons run from about $75/hour, private lessons from about $95/hour. Peak wind season is June-August (15-25 knots daily); December-April is lighter but still steady and better for beginners. Beyond the water, it's a laid-back surf-town base with none of Punta Cana's resort-strip feel.
Cabarete built its entire identity around one thing: wind that shows up like clockwork most days of the year, which turned a sleepy fishing village into one of the world's genuine kitesurfing capitals. You don't need to kite to enjoy it — the town's laid-back, beach-shack energy is worth the trip on its own — but if you've ever wanted to try, this is one of the easiest, most beginner-friendly places on Earth to learn.
How many days for Cabarete?
Three to five days works well, whether or not you're kiting: a couple of days of lessons if you're learning (most schools run multi-day progression packages), or a couple of days split between the beach, a surf lesson at Encuentro, and the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua, which is only about 30-40 minutes away.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing — the reason people come
| Season | Typical wind | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| June-August (peak) | 15-25 knots daily, very consistent | Intermediate/advanced riders wanting maximum time on the water |
| December-April | 14-24 knots, lighter but steady | Beginners — gentler conditions, still highly kitable |
| September-November | 10-20 knots, more variable, more rain | The quietest, cheapest season, less reliable wind |
Group kitesurfing lessons run roughly $75/hour, private lessons from about $95/hour, with most schools selling multi-hour beginner packages (a common one: around 9 hours of instruction to get you independently riding) rather than single sessions. All-inclusive kite-and-stay packages exist too, bundling a week of beachfront accommodation with lessons for travelers who want to commit to learning properly. Book with an IKO- or PASA-certified school — Cabarete has dozens of operators, and certification is a meaningful quality signal here.
Kite Beach vs. Bozo Beach vs. Encuentro
- Kite Beach (Bozo Beach) — the main kitesurfing beach, lined with schools, beach bars, and rental shacks; this is where almost all lessons happen.
- Cabarete Beach (town beach) — the calmer, swimmable main beach in town, better for regular beach time than for kiting.
- Playa Encuentro — a 10-minute drive west, the region's best surf break, with its own cluster of surf schools and a more laid-back, less kite-crowded scene.
Beyond kitesurfing
- Surfing at Playa Encuentro — a reliable, beginner-to-intermediate-friendly break with several surf schools offering lessons and board rentals.
- Mountain biking and canyoning — Cabarete's location at the base of the Cordillera Septentrional puts real jungle trails and canyons within a short drive.
- The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua — about 30-40 minutes away, the same canyoning adventure covered on our Puerto Plata guide.
- Cabarete's beachfront nightlife — a noticeably younger, more backpacker-and-watersports crowd than a typical Dominican resort town, with beach bars that stay lively well past sunset.
What it costs
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Guesthouse or small hotel, per night | $45-120 |
| Group kitesurfing lesson | $75+/hour |
| Private kitesurfing lesson | $95+/hour |
| 7-day kite package (lessons + beachfront stay + meals) | From ~$1,375 |
| Surf lesson at Encuentro | $50-70 |
Getting there
Cabarete doesn't have its own commercial airport — most visitors fly into Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperón International Airport (about 30 minutes away) or Santo Domingo's Las Américas (roughly 3.5-4 hours by road). Puerto Plata's airport, with its growing number of direct US and Canadian routes, is the far more convenient option if Cabarete is your main destination.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Showing up to learn kitesurfing without checking the season — a beginner during June-August's strongest winds will have a rougher, more intimidating first lesson than the same person in the gentler December-April window.
- Booking with the cheapest uncertified operator on the beach — kitesurfing carries real risk without a properly trained instructor; check for IKO or PASA certification.
- Assuming Cabarete is walkable to everything — Kite Beach, the town center, and Encuentro are each a short drive or taxi apart, not a single stroll.
Where to stay in Cabarete — hotels
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