Welcome to Cabarete
Some destinations become famous because they're beautiful. Cabarete became famous because of the wind.
Today it's one of the Caribbean's best-known wind sports destinations — a lively beach town where mornings start with surf, afternoons belong to the wind, and evenings end with dinner by the sea.
Cabarete isn't quiet. It isn't hidden. It isn't untouched.
It's alive. And that's exactly what makes it special.
The town windsurfers built, and kitesurfers never left.
CABARETE AT A GLANCE
Where
North coast of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata province, GPS 19.7471, -70.4064
Nearest Airport
Puerto Plata (POP), about 18 km – around 30 minutes
Kite Spots
Kite Beach, La Boca and Encuentro – all a short ride apart
Wind
11+ knots about 38% of days, tracked by two Windguru stations since 2009. Windiest June–August. See the best time to kitesurf in the Dominican Republic.
Water
25–29°C year-round – no wetsuit needed
Best For
Intermediate and advanced riders, foilers and surfers, and remote workers. Beginners start in Buen Hombre.
Stay With Us
Cabarete Boutique Kite Hotel – private lofts from $85/night.
Gear Rental
Ventum gear from $55/hr. Core, Duotone and Crazyfly from $65/hr.
★★★★★ Sep 2026
“If you want to learn how to kite board with great instruction, gear and conditions, this IS The Place! Shallow water lagoon with consistent wind in the afternoon with a patient instructor, make for near ideal learning conditions!”
Steve A., Key West, Florida · Kite lessons · via TripAdvisor
★★★★★ Jun 2026
“I came to Kite Buen Hombre as a solo female traveler and left counting the days until I could return. Never rushed, always met exactly where you are.”
Molly H. · Instructors & safety · via TripAdvisor
★★★★★ Apr 2026
“Kite Buen Hombre is kind of like Never Never Land, or some might also call it adult summer camp. It’s an incredibly special time and place where you get to form new friendships, learn new ideas, explore new places.”
Hunter M. · Stay & community · via TripAdvisor
★★★★★ Mar 2026
“An amazing week of kiting lessons, excursions especially the downwinders! I totally upped my game kiting, enjoyed the family atmosphere, breakfast, lunch, dinner. We usually don’t repeat a destination but will definitely be back!”
Matt D. · Week package · via TripAdvisor
Why Cabarete Became Legendary
Long before kitesurfing existed, windsurfers discovered this stretch of coastline on the Dominican Republic's north coast — reliable trade winds, warm Caribbean water, and an open bay that created near-perfect conditions for the sport.
Word spread. Riders arrived from around the world, and many of them stayed.
As the years passed, cafés opened for early risers. Beach bars appeared along the sand. Small hotels welcomed travelers who kept coming back, season after season. A community grew around the ocean, one windy afternoon at a time.
When kitesurfing arrived, Cabarete was ready — already an established wind town, not an emerging one.
That history is still what makes it work today. The wind hasn't changed. Neither has the town's reason for being here.
A town built around the ocean.
Unlike traditional resort destinations, Cabarete doesn't revolve around hotels. It revolves around the beach.
Coffee shops open early for surfers and remote workers. Beachfront restaurants fill throughout the day. Fitness studios, yoga classes,
and bike rides begin before the wind arrives.
By afternoon, colorful kites cover the sky while spectators line the beach, cold drink in hand.
When the sun sets, nobody rushes home. Friends gather for dinner
on the sand, music drifts from beachfront bars, and another day ends exactly where it began — by the ocean.
Cabarete isn't simply somewhere you come to kitesurf.
It's somewhere people come to live.
Who Calls Cabarete Home?
Professional athletes. Digital nomads. Young families. Entrepreneurs. Surfers. Kitesurfers. Artists. People from all over the world.
Some came for one windy season. Many never left.
That perfectly explains Cabarete.
A Day in Cabarete
No two days are exactly alike.
Some begin with sunrise surfing at Encuentro. Others start with coffee overlooking Kite Beach, followed by a workout, a yoga class, or a few hours of remote work before the wind arrives.
By lunchtime, the beach starts to buzz. Kites go up. Friends reconnect. Visitors become locals, even if only for a week.
The afternoon belongs to the wind. When the session ends, the town keeps moving — fresh seafood, cocktails on the beach, live music, conversations that continue long after the sun disappears.
Cabarete isn't simply somewhere you come to kitesurf. It's somewhere people come to live.
Morning
Coffee, breakfast, surfers heading to the water and the town waking up.
Late Morning
Wind building and kite sessions beginning
Midday
Lunch & rest
Afternoon
Another session when conditions and your energy are right.
Evening
Sunset over the ocean, dinner, music and the energy of Cabarete.
Why Riders Love Cabarete
Kite Beach — real ocean riding
Deep water, chop, and rolling swell
create sessions that keep even experienced
riders challenged.
Cabarete's main kite beach, about 2 km west of the bay, with an offshore reef that makes the waves.
La Boca — flat water at the river mouth
At the mouth of the Río Yásica,
La Boca offers a completely different kind of session.
Shallow, mirror-flat water makes it a favorite for freestyle, tricks, and focused progression.
The spot is small, and the launch requires good kite control, so it's better suited to experienced intermediate and advanced riders.
Encuentro — the surf break
About 5 km west of town (around 10 minutes by car), Encuentro is one of the Dominican Republic's best surf breaks — a favorite for surfing,
strapless riding, and downwind adventures.
CARIBBEAN LIFESTYLE
Ride all afternoon, walk barefoot to dinner,
meet people from around the world,
and wake up ready to do it all again.
The Water — Built for Progression
Cabarete isn't famous because it's easy. It's famous because it prepares you for the real world.
Deep water teaches efficient body position. Chop improves board control. Rolling swell develops timing and confidence.
A busy line-up encourages awareness and respect for other riders.
These are the conditions you'll find at many of the world's great kite destinations — which is exactly what makes Cabarete the place to take your next step. Our Advanced Coaching page is built specifically around these conditions.
If you're looking for perfectly flat water, Buen Hombre is the better choice. If you're ready for the ocean, welcome to Cabarete.
Kite Lessons in Cabarete
We teach in Cabarete for riders who can already ride on their own and want to learn the ocean.
Private lessons cost $85 per hour, one instructor and one rider, with equipment included.
Advanced coaching covers wave riding, strapless, big air in ocean conditions and coached downwinders, with national champions as your coaches.
Cabarete’s sand shifts a lot, and Kite Beach can lose its sand from August to October, so we don’t teach from one fixed spot. We keep the gear at our Cabarete Boutique Kite Hotel and teach wherever the beach is best that day. See the coaches and options on our Advanced Coaching page.
Complete beginners, foilers and wing foil learners start on the flat water of Playa Buen Hombre and come to Cabarete when they are ready for the ocean.
Where the Caribbean comes to
surf.
Early mornings at Encuentro bring clean waves
and surfers of every level.
By afternoon, it becomes a playground for strapless kitesurfing, foil sessions, and downwind adventures.
Even if you never paddle out, it's worth the trip just to watch the sunrise over the waves, coffee in hand.
More Than Kitesurfing
Ocean
Surfing · Wing Foiling · Downwinders · SUP · Freediving
ADVENTURE
El Choco · Horse Riding · Waterfalls · Mountain Biking · Caves
WELLNESS
Yoga · Massage · Fitness · Healthy Cafés · Beach Runs
LIFESTYLE
Restaurants · Coffee · Shopping · Nightlife · Coworking · International Community
When to Visit
DECEMBER – MAY PEAK TOURISM SEASON
Warm, dry weather and Cabarete at its liveliest. The wind is lighter from January to March, so bring a bigger kite or a foil.
JUNE – AUGUST STRONG WIND SEASON
The strongest, most consistent trade winds of the year — July is the windiest month. The best time for a dedicated kite trip.
SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER SHOULDER SEASON
Lighter wind, fewer people and the warmest water of the year (up to 29 °C). Good for longer stays, foiling and remote work.
Wind data: two independent kite-school stations in Cabarete (Windguru, since 2009) show 11+ knots on about 38% of days. Want more wind?
Buen Hombre gets 17+ knots on about 55% of days. More in our wind guide.
Getting to Buen Hombre & Cabarete
Private airport transfers, self-drive routes, and everything in between — organized by a team that's been driving this coast since 2013.
Buen Hombre is remote by design. Cabarete is easy to reach. Whichever one you're headed to — or both — we'll get you there without losing a day of your trip to logistics.
GETTING TO CABARETE
Transfers
We arrange airport transfers and the drive between Buen Hombre and Cabarete. See transfer options →
Puerto Plata
18 km from Cabarete – around 30 minutes
Santiago
About 1.5 hours by car from Cabarete
Santo Domingo
About 4 hours by car from Cabarete
Punta Cana
About 5.5 hours by car from Cabarete
Buen Hombre
175 km – about 3 to 4 hours by car
Is Cabarete Right for You?
You'll probably love Cabarete if you:
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Already ride independently
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Enjoy waves and ocean conditions
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Like cafés, restaurants, and nightlife
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Love meeting people from around the world
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Work remotely while traveling
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Want every day to feel active and different
If you're looking for the easiest place to learn, in warm and shallow water, we'd recommend starting in Buen Hombre and returning to Cabarete once you've built confidence. Ready to push your riding? See our Advanced Coaching page.
That's exactly why we operate in both destinations.
Two Destinations.
One Team.
Endless Wind.
Most kite schools ask you to adapt to one location. We don't.
Some guests arrive ready to ride Cabarete's ocean conditions from day one. Others begin in Buen Hombre, building confidence on flat water before progressing here. Many choose both — and find the two complement each other perfectly.
Wherever you begin, you're supported by the same experienced team, the same standard of care, and the same passion for sharing the best of the Dominican Republic.
Two Destinations. One Team. Endless Wind.
GUEST STORIES
3,000+ students. Countless stories.
More than 3,000 guests have trusted us with their first ride, their next progression, or simply an unforgettable week in the Caribbean. Here's what a few of them had to say.
★★★★★ 4.9 · 500+ VERIFIED REVIEWS
Google & TripAdvisor
Trusted By Thousands of Guests
Cabarete FAQ
Still Have Questions?
PLANNING YOUR FIRST KITE TRIP CAN FEEL LIKE A LOT TO FIGURE OUT.
Here are the questions we hear most — and the answers that help you plan with confidence.
FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE WIND
Some visitors stay for a week. Some return every winter. Some never leave.
Because Cabarete isn't simply somewhere to kitesurf. It's a place where mornings begin with the ocean, afternoons belong to the wind, and evenings end with friends around a table overlooking the beach.
Whether you're chasing bigger jumps, your first wave, a healthier lifestyle, or simply a new adventure, you'll quickly understand why this small Caribbean town has inspired riders for generations.
The wind brought people here. The lifestyle keeps them coming back.