How to choose a kitesurf school in the Dominican Republic
The short answer
Choose a school that holds a tourism licence from the Dominican Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), has certified instructors, teaches you one to one, includes the equipment, and teaches on water that suits your level. Kite Buen Hombre is licensed by MITUR (licence TA-1AEK-1501-01090-2021-RL-01090) and has taught here since 2013. We were the first IKO kite school in Monte Cristi province, with 3,000+ students taught and a 4.9-star rating across 500+ Google and TripAdvisor reviews.
Eight things to check before you book
1. A licence from the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR)
In the Dominican Republic, tourism businesses, including kitesurf schools, are licensed by MITUR, the Ministry of Tourism. A licence shows that the school is a registered, legal operator. Ask for the licence number and check it in the ministry's official tourism registry. Kite Buen Hombre SRL holds MITUR licence TA-1AEK-1501-01090-2021-RL-01090.
2. Certified instructors
The certificate that matters most is your instructor's. Ask who will teach you and which certification they hold, for example IKO, the International Kiteboarding Organization. Every instructor on our team is certified, and our head instructor and co-founder Miky holds the highest level, Master Instructor. We opened in 2013 as the first IKO kite school in Monte Cristi province.
3. Private lessons or a group
Beginners learn faster one to one, because the instructor watches every move you make. Our lessons are private. A 1-hour private lesson is $85, the 3-hour Kite Start is $222, and the 11-hour Beginner Course is $850 (pay for 10 hours, get the 11th free).
4. Equipment included
Check that the kite, board, harness, helmet and impact vest are included, and how recent the gear is. At Kite Buen Hombre the helmet and vest are included in every lesson. We teach on our own school gear from Core, Duotone, Crazyfly, Ventum and ION.
5. The water you learn on
Flat, shallow water is the safest and fastest place to learn. Buen Hombre has a shallow, protected, flat-water lagoon in a remote fishing village. Cabarete is an ocean spot with waves, and is better once you can already ride.
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Playa Buen Hombre (Monte Cristi): flat-water lagoon, best for learning and building confidence, average wind about 15 knots.
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Cabarete (Puerto Plata): ocean with waves, best for progressing and advanced riders, average wind about 11 knots.
See the full guide: where to kitesurf in the Dominican Republic.
6. Wind
A school is only as good as its wind. Buen Hombre averages about 15 knots against about 11 in Cabarete (Windfinder), with roughly twice as many days above 12 knots. The windiest periods are November to April and mid-May to September. You can check the conditions before you travel on our live wind and camera page.
7. Safety
Ask the school how it keeps students safe: how close the instructor stays, how you communicate on the water, what happens if the wind changes or you drift, and how many students one instructor teaches at a time. At Kite Buen Hombre, every lesson is strictly one-to-one, students wear radio helmets so the instructor can talk to them on the water, a rescue boat is on hand, and first aid and self-rescue training are part of our safety setup.
8. Reviews you can verify
Read recent reviews on Google and TripAdvisor, not only on the school's own website. We are rated 4.9 stars across 500+ reviews, and our guests come from 65+ countries.
Questions people ask
Do I need experience before my first lesson?
No. The Beginner Course starts from zero. No previous experience is needed, and we start from the basics and keep it clear, safe and hands-on. We teach from age 6 and up, and Buen Hombre is one of the few places where swimming ability is not that important, because the lagoon is shallow and every lesson is private.
How long does it take to learn to kitesurf?
There is no single number that applies to everyone. Our Beginner Course is 11 hours of private lessons, taking you from safety and kite control through body dragging, water starts and riding. Most guests have between three and six hours of lessons a day, depending on conditions, and the 11-hour course gets most people riding. Your progress depends on conditions, previous experience and how you learn.
Is the equipment included?
Yes. Lessons are taught on our own school gear from Core, Duotone, Crazyfly, Ventum and ION. Helmet and impact vest are included.
Can I stay at the school while I learn?
Yes. In Buen Hombre we offer all-inclusive kite stay packages with accommodation, 3 meals a day, equipment and lessons: Weekend Special $555, 7-Day $1,333, 10-Day $2,222 and 14-Day $2,795. In Cabarete you can stay in our boutique kite lofts.
Ready to book?
Start with beginner kitesurfing lessons, see the kite stay packages, or book your trip. Questions first? Read the FAQ or the Learn to Kitesurf guide.