Cabarete DR foiling intel

Travel Info
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Looking for feedback on wingfoiling in Cabarete. Specifically launches and where to stay. Planning to be there in March and haven’t been there before.

I recognize Kite Beach and Playa Cabarete are the place to be for winging, but due to a variety of factors (primarily keeping the non-kiting famila happy, and not interested in staying at a big hotel or resort) looking at houses at Encuentro or Playa Secreta. I can easily drive to Kite Beach, but are either Encuentro or Playa Secreta doable for foiling? Seems like one of the reefiest breaks there (Destroyers) is at Encuentro - right near the house I would be renting, which gives me some pause - winging in waves is no issue, but shallow reef obviously doesn’t work. Are there channels deep enough to foil here, or is this a no-go area for winging? I read somewhere the surf schools won’t let you kite or wing in some areas too, but unclear where these are. Seems like Playa Secreta is a bit more protected, any thoughts on launching around that area (reefy)?

If neither of these launches works, what’s the parking situation at Playa Cabarete and Kite Beach? Any issue dropping a car and launching at these spots?

Thanks for any intel.

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I didn’t see anyone winging in the Encuentro area, I think it would be pretty difficult to get through the breaking waves.

Parking and launching from kite club would probably be the easiest.

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I winged and prone foiled both playa encuentro and playa secreta. No real issues at all. The only downside is that the wind is (more) side-onshore there versus kite beach. I was only there a few days, so no idea the range of swell conditions.

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Iv spent a few winters down there a while back. Before winging was a thing. I used to kite Encuentro all the time. That being said I don’t think it’s would be very wing friendly. It’s shallow for a while out so you’d have to get out into deeper water and there is no channel so you’re gonna be getting pounded by waves. Further up from encuentro about halfway to kite beach can be fun I used to prone there. Way easier of an entry into the water and then waves on the outside to ride

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I have been many times and go twice a year in summer and winter, I’ve stayed all over and kited/surfed/winged/foiled all over. I have not brought the family and just go with some friends each time, we have narrowed it to this formula:
stay at kitebeach, wake up at sunrise and surf/foil encuentro, get protein shakes and espressos at the food trucks under the tree canopy at encuentro then head back to the house. Relax for an hour then wind starts to blow and head out for a wing session (usually start w/5m and prog170). Come in for lunch at a restaurant nearby and chill then head out in another hour with prog125 and just keep going on/off until 6pm. Massage at the pool and dinner. Repeat.

Here are my observations/opinions.

Overall setup: Cabarete is composed of two bays, one large (cabarete beach) and one small (kite beach) then a bit of no-mans land downwind until you get to the surfing beach (Encuentro). Glassy mornings with 15+knots regularly starting around 10-11am and going to dark. Swell is good and can be epic. Water is warm, air is warm, reef is mellow, very safe and minimal crime at all, nice people.

Cabarete Beach is the main town where you can walk the beach to different restaurants and some shops. The water is not as clear and there is a bit of a wind shadow but it’s a large beach and has a great deep reef for foiling about 1/4 miles offshore (too far to paddle). With any decent swell this reef is the spot to be, the waves break and then you get a big fast roller that goes forever. This is probably the best place to stay with the family. Lodging recs include: Villa Taina, Millenium, Ultravioleta, or Palm Beach Condos.

Kite Beach is the next shallow bay downwind, the reef is much closer and shallower (about waist deep at low tide). You can paddle and prone it in the morning. This is where I like to stay. The negative is that it’s a drive from town (cabarete beach) and there’s essentially nothing to do at night once Xtreme Hotel shuts down after dinner. Great conditions for winging, you will get really long rides that turn into rollers inside the reef but it gets too big for foil easily. Agualina or condo is the only good lodging here.

Encuentro is the surfing beach. There’s 3-4 peaks and it’s shallow reef, maybe waist deep. If there’s any significant swell you will have a really hard time getting out with a wing. I don’t think I’ve ever winged here but it’s awesome for surfing and kitesurfing. It’s a decent place to stay with the family but about 10 minute drive from the main town. Beaches are the most beautiful here and the surf is great. I’ve stayed here a few times and it’s cool but you basically will need to haul your gear to kitebeach to wing. For kite it’s fine because you can stay here and get a ride up to Cabarete and ride all day then downwind here at the end but it’s borderline too shallow to foil here and may be boring for the family. I’ve proned here a lot, you have to ask the surf instructors where to go, it’s upwind a ways to a foil area that is great for prone, don’t paddle out at the main breaks. Lodging: rent one of those houses right at the beach or check out Natura Cabana, that place is awesome.

Playa secreta is just a small area between kitebeach and encuentro, there is a good prone spot there, relatively deep and empty.

Let me know if you have any questions, I have a buddy who has lived there for 20 years and is a surf guide who can take you all over to great spots and show you the land if you are interested. Also I have the contact of a massage lady (old lady, not prostitute/sketchy) who can come set up a table at your place for cheap and give you massages everyday which is awesome after surf/prone/winging for 10hours straight.

Additional:

  • Food is good, not super cheap, never gotten sick/diarrhea.
  • Bring mostly cash.
  • Fly into Puerto Plata, great airport. Driving is pretty hectic, I’ve rented scooters there before and it’s not the best idea.
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Hello, just piggy bagging on this thread - does anyone have a view on foiling / kite surfing in cabarete in January? I’ve read mixed reviews on whether January is windy enough. Any intel would be much appreciated! Thanks

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I go there every january, it’s good. Can get good swell that time of year. Definitely worth it, I’ll be there near the end of the month.

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I was there a bunch of years ago in late jan/ early feb for 5 days. Only got a few hours of fun conditions .. was marginal the rest of the time. I was on a 13m race kite with race foil

I was told this is the norm for that time of year. Aguadilla Puerto Rico is much better that time of year

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I was there this past March and it was a great trip. That said, the general feedback was that I was there early in the wind season, so Jan might be pushing it. Weird wind when I was there (opposite from prevailing) and while the afternoons were consistent it was maxing out in the high teens. That said, we got really solid swell. Surfed most mornings and winged most afternoons. The wingfoiling setup for wave riding is top notch. Huge bay with an outer break maybe half a mile offshore. Shoulder high waves that had good punch and steepness, but still very friendly. Reef was plenty deep and if you get washed through it you just wind up in a bay with plenty of room to collect yourself. A bunch of people wingfoiling and riding directional boards on the wave, but it never really got crowded

@Rad_Duke gave me some great intel on the spot (thanks again). Could definitely see myself going back, but would probably push further into the spring to maximize conditions.

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Iv spent a few winter there circa 2018-2020 January-March. It’s actually where I started foiling. always had a good time with wind and waves. Might not be windy every day but I was on a 9m half the time in the afternoons.

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Yes the true wind season is like Jun/July/August like Turks but only wind swell that time of year, which is still fun but foiling the ground swell is what you want. That reef is just so prime for wingfoiling

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@Rad_Duke @Maxipadd

Do either of you have intel on boat hires with a captain?

What about jetskis for tow in?

We have a group going and it may be nice to have a boat at the outer reef with water, foil drive batteries etc.

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Judging from my time I spent there I wouldn’t really say that’s an option. Too choppy and just all around would be a hassle/unsafe for a boat to stay put. Honestly it’s way easier to just zip in to the beach for a breather and resupply. I don’t know about foil driving time but it was only like a 2 min kite out to the reef. If that

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Anyone have any sense of if Cabarete would be family friendly for a 4 and 7 year old? Specifically the beaches and stuff. Are they safe? Shore pound or easy to wade in? Trying to make sure I am stoked but the rest of the fam is bored :slight_smile:

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I have kids the same age. Went last year and going again this year. We all loved it. A lot of the beaches are very reefy with strong shorebreak, but kitebeach and Cabarete Bay are sandy and more protected. My kids weren’t very comfortable with the ocean swimming there, but they had fun on the beach and enjoyed the pool.

There is a monkey refuge (Monkey Jungle) outside of Cabarete that the kids loved. Highly recommended. They also did horseback riding at SeaHorse Ranch which was like $12 a lesson (we didn’t stay there) and we did a family ride that everyone liked. Encuentro Surf Lodge is a cool little spot and they had gymnastics lessons for the local kids that my kids joined. They also have a big trampoline and skate bowls (we didn’t stay there either, but as long as we were eating or having beers at the restaurant they were cool with it). Lots to do with kids. Tons of good restaurants. Very reasonable prices.

We stayed at a house in Encuentro which is one of the primary surf spots and maybe 15 mins drive to Cabarete Bay. Cabarete town is kind of a scrum, and we enjoyed being removed from it, but others might like being closer to the kite/wing spots. Encuentro is a pretty ballsy wing/kite launch (although it is possible to get outside in certain areas) and the reef at the primary peak is too shallow, localized and crowded to foil unless you go far down the beach. Didn’t see anyone prone foiling.

PM me if you have any specific questions.

Im looking forward to getting the parawing out at the Cabarete Bay reefs. I’ll be there in Feb this year.

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We went a few months ago and enjoyed it! Two kids under 4 and we had a great time. We stayed at Ocean Dream, next time I’m definitely bringing my Foil Drive. Ocean Dream is right on Cabarete Bay and that area is good for the family, and also walkable to all the shops / dining. Charles at Liquid Blue recommended me good taxi service and filled me in on things, get in contact with him he runs a good shop.

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Charles is the man. I stored all my gear at Liquid Blue for some nominal fee, which made things really easy included convenient parking too. Im renting a parawing board from him while I’m down there too.

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I hope I’m not hijacking the thread as it’s somewhat relevant How are conditions in Punta Cana DR vs Caberete early February?

Any downwinding or Prone in or near Punta Cana?

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Punta Cana is nothing like cabarete. There is no wind/ watersports infrastructure or scene that I am aware of. The geography is flat. It’s only all inclusive resorts. You could probably find someplace to kite. It will be mostly chop/ small waves. I wouldn’t recommend it for winging or foil activities. I would recommend it for people who like cruise ships and tourists, bad food and overpriced rooms.

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Awesome thanks guys for the intel