Cabarete Beach: A kite-surfing paradise

The beaches in The Dominican Republic are plentiful and varied, but this particular part of Cabarete, which is also unofficially called "Kite Beach" is one of the top kite-surfing destinations in the world.

With a perfect temperature and daily, ideal windy conditions (there are seasonal variations but basically any time of year is suitable for wind-sports,) this beach also features virtually no waves other than wind-generated ones, which makes it a perfect place to both learn kite-surfing, and will also keep the "experts" interested for days.

Kite surfing is a big business here and it might seem a bit expensive to the uninitiated but people need to understand that this equipment is extremely expensive (thousands of dollars for a new, full setup) and therefore it is reflected in the rental and training costs. The classes at the more well-established schools are around $70 US per hour. Some of the startups or lower-tier schools will charge around $50 but like a lot of things in life, you kind of get what you pay for. The cheaper schools are using older-equipment and don't have the best instructors... you know... obvious stuff.

It may surprise you how quickly you can actually pick up the skill because the equipment is so advanced that it kind of boggles the mind how it all works. I'm no expert but was constantly amazed at how if you drop the controls (either intentionally or accidentally) the kite simply hovers directly above you until you are ready. Safety is a massive concern of course, and this is the reason why the equipment (and therefore the lessons) are relatively expensive. The technology is really advanced.

After you train on the beach for about 30 minutes (well, that is what it took for me) i was already in the water an I gotta say, it was one of the most exhilarating things that I have ever experienced.

While i certainly wouldn't consider this a "budget-friendly" option as far as sports go, I don't think people should really investigate getting into a sport whose equipment costs thousands of dollars if they aren't prepared to spend a few hundred bucks to learn how to do it.

Most of the schools have observation areas and bars / clubs and this is one side of "the D-R" in general that always appeals to the frugally-minded. Beers cost around a dollar and accommodation can be found in various bungalow operations just a bit off the beach for $20 / night. There are of course seasonal variations but for the most part it isn't terribly difficult to find a place to stay on the cheap.

Overall, Cabarete beach has a little something for everyone. While "Kite Beach" has more of a youthful vibe to it, the areas further east cater to older crowds and everyone intermingles anyway. While there are no official rules about who can surf in certain places, there does seem to be unspoken designated areas for surfing, kite-surfing, and simply swimming. This isn't difficult to work out because it is fairly evident just from standing on the beach and looking.

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