cabarete vs SPI

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or Â

I´m thinking of checking out either Cabarete or South Padre Island sometime this winter/spring, ideally early April but I am flexible. I am beginner-intermediate level looking for some lessons but mostly a lot of time on the water. Any comments or additions would be greatly appreciated:
Cabarete:
Looks way less expensive for everything except the flight. I can´t tell if the launch is beginner friendly. Any knowledge of Kite Lounge or Kite Club who seem to have great package prices? Is Spring Break as crowded in Cabarete like it is at SPI?
South Padre Island:
It appears that SPI might have the most mellow water conditions for practicing. Lessons and rental rates look very expensive. Hotels are not cheap either. Convenient flight from PDX compared to Cabarete.

Thanks.

buttersmoothcarver · Since 08 Oct 2008 246 Posts Stoked

Cabarete. Spring time is less consistent but you can get the late swell season, I went in 06 and had a killer time, and rode almost everyday. If you go check out other places La boca, El Centreno, and the North east side, which are some of the most beautiful beaches on earth. There also killer non wind day stuff like the 27 falls, and tandem paraguide rides. I stayed at Casa Blanca just north of Bozo beach, for $25.00 night, but places like hotel extreme are right on kite beach and have all the action. The locals rip and just stay out of there way, and when you take a break, don't leave your stuff on the beach, it will walk away. The nightlife is super fun, but be smart, it can be a little sketchy, but routine for third world travel.

Remember Cabarete use to be one of the best places in the world for kiting, but place like Brazil have stole there attention.

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

spi is one of the easiest places to learn

the wind blows almost everyday in april/may
tons of riding area and fairly smooth to flat, waist deep water
still in the U S
find someone to go with and rent a house, cook at home to make it cheaper
lots of NW peeps there in april/may
go after easter or the island will be crowded with spring breakers and mexicans

MEwing5000 · Since 14 Nov 2005 34 Posts Seattle Â

Never been to SPI.

Cabarete is great for kiting. mostly deep. I did get a board stolen. Locals don't wear leashes, twice there were wild kites hitting or flying past the beach. really busy on the main beach. Money talks in caberete, nothing is free.

That being said warm water (no wetsuit) great 10m or 12m wind. Good swell out at the reef. Fun place to kite. Night life is good too.

carolb · Sun Jan 11, 09 7:16 pm **spi today**

I'm in SPI today and we did a 22 mile downwinder in the surf on head to head and a half high waves. 2 out 3 of us made it on the 3 hour trek. It looked like a dozen kites on the flats. Now I'm eating .33 cent each avocadoes from wal mart and there is a free bus to get there. Cell phones and internet work great. Gas is $1.59 on the island today. Its cheaper than being in Or/Wa and most other places in the US. Hotel rooms can be found in the $29-$39 rate if you don't come during spring break or Holidays. The flat water riding is really easy and you'll progress your skills quickly.

Cabarette - we're going back in Feb for the kiteboard4kids and was there 4 years ago. Thus far everything is expensive. Yea, you could stay in town for cheaper but nobody drives so getting my stuff to the beach would be a pain in the butt. You can expect your main transportation to be 3 people on 1985 Kawasaki 125 holding your surfboard, dodging potholes, and maybe pushing it into the gas station for your $2 dollar each ride. Food prices were the same as Or/Wa. $5-7 hamburgers at lunch $12 dinners and no grocery stores big enough to get the price down. Water riding is chop and waves cause its the open ocean although smoother than SPI's ocean. No real flat water to speak of other than a small river and when we were there the wind angle was wrong so it was difficult to even get out of. The kids adopt you and pump up your kite for their $2 tip. There were so many lessons and kids flying kites on the beach that it was scary to walk on it. The kids throw anything about 10-30 ft from the water's edge and rarely go out too far probably because they can't swim too good. Unfortunately, kites were crashing everywhere. I saw one guy get tomahawked. I'm hoping they've gotten better on their lessons as it wasn't beginner friendly or even safe to stand on the beach and theft was an issue when I was there too. The hotels that are on the beach cost more but at least you have a place to lock up your stuff when you're on the water.

If you're looking for excellent kiting and boat/jet ski support/safe lessons, I suggest SPI. Jeff at Air Padre does an excellent job of staying with you the entire time and there are 2 other shops as well that do good lessons with certified instructors, safe gear, and lots of room to teach. Plus add waist to chest deep water to stand up in once you are riding and do crash your kite. If you're looking for a tropical island, Cabarette is prettier. March and April are the best months for wind in SPI. I think Cabarette's season is mostly summer. I'd suggest SPI until you get your skills good enough that you can get out on the water quickly and stay away from the crowded lessons/beach at Cabarette.

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

tonyb · Sun Jan 11, 09 8:45 pm

Yeah - 22 miles and I missed it! I'm in Stevenson this weekend catching up with work and house stuff. Evil or Very Mad

The rain sucks!

Carol, Brett and Duke drove all the way up the beach to the Port Mansfield cut then kited back down to beach access 5. 22 miles on the sand, maybe 30 on the water by the time you tack in and out a few dozen times? Duke's wife followed with the chase car and took pictures. The weekly northerlies have been a lot of fun so far this winter.

I'll second the vote for SPI over Cabarete if you're in the beginner to early intermediate stage. SPI is much more forgiving and has a lot more space to get off on your own. And if you come after spring break it's really not expensive as you can find the $30 rooms pretty easily.

The reef break at Cabarete is a kick though. Very predictable break vs. the SPI shifting sand bar stuff.

Tony

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or Â

Thanks to tonyb, Carolb, MeWing5000, wakeup and buttersmoothcarver.

At my level I sense that SPI will be the better choice.
Any specific suggestions as to where to stay, where to fly to (Brownsville, Harlingen, ?) etc. would be great.

Are you all getting away with putting kite gear in a golf bag carrier to avoid airline surcharges or is that not necessary any more with baggage fees?

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

When I was down in FL a couple months back, Youri Zoon said that Cabarete is shitty now, at least if you're looking for flat water. Guess they've built some big hotels just upwind of his favorite spot there, so you no longer have clean wind. No personal experience.

SPI is good if you've got wind!

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jan 12, 09 10:07 am

Whats up with stolen gear in cab?

alien · Since 01 Aug 2006 114 Posts Portland Stoked

frefel-- I was in SPI this past November, stayed at the Ramada for $30/night. It was decent for teh price, included free breakfast and wi-fi. Kind of centrally located in town.

surfboy1968 · Since 17 Jun 2008 224 Posts south padre island Stoked

April is not too bad for Spring Break crowds. If you can come later in April or early May would be better.
You can fly into BrownTown or Harlingen, bout the same distance away. I have used my deceiver golf bag on Southwest a few times without any problems.
There will be rideable surf also in April/May. Spring time is my favorite time here. You can pretty much ride everyday. Bring all your kites.
For mexican food you have to eat at Manuels in Port Isabel. Huge breakfast tacos, eat one and you will be full all day. Food is reasonable down here.
There are great schools and great instructors here also.
Pm me with any specific questions you might have. Cheers.
Jim

carolb · Tue Jan 13, 09 6:20 pm **SPI waves playtime**

Here's a few pics from our 22 mile downwinder of Duke and I. We caught a 5 mile downwinder today with clear blue skis but no photo support team.

shred_da_gorge · Wed Jan 14, 09 11:45 am

Awesome shots - can't wait 'til my trip in April! Carol hit the nail right on the head, go to SPI, take lessons from Air Padre (Bret's awesome), and time it so you're not in peak tourist season. Share a rental if you can and cook at home, shopping at WalMart and HEB in Port Isabel.

I flew into Brownsville last November which is closer, got picked up by friends. Flew Continental but our friend had some issues with them and I spent an hour and a half with customer service, so in April I'll be looking for an alternate plan. Wasn't keen on paying $15 a bag - seems like a cheapskate move. My friend used a deceiver bag and didn't have any problems but these days many airlines are on to them. Brownsville is a laid back airport and not crowded, fairly quick to get through.

Harlingen is further away but serviced by more airlines. If you try SWA you may not find direct flights but plan to hop through Houston or McAllen. My friend lives in Houston so I've often flown in there and driven the 6 hours down or had him pick me up in Harlingen on the way by (whereas Brownsville's west). Corpus may be another option, but still a ways away for a drive.

Good luck - see you in April!

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

also don't go easter week. Manuel's breakfast burittos rock but may delay your kiteing untill late afternoon also I have never seen so many people over 300lbs.

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or Â

Thanks for all the great advice.

I looked up which are the weeks of Spring Vacation 09 and was amazed to find that various colleges have spring break from the middle of Feb to the 10th of April with the largest number occurring from Mar 9 - 20. Therefore I think Iĺl schedule my trip in mid April.

What is the average and typical wind speed range at that time?
And is a rental car a good idea in SPI assuming I´m not going to do downwinders?