Punta Cana on the East end of the DR

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

I did the "search" on the forum about Punta Cana, but the 1 post is very old. Is Punta Cana like Cancun? Meaning light to no winds? Only beta I found out was club med area best for kiting over there. Yes, I know there is great waves and kite on the North end of the island, but that is like 11 hrs away by car.

Any info is greatly appreciated. Thx!

lubomm · Since 15 Aug 2007 248 Posts Hood Stoked

I heard there is some kiting. They had a competition there with some stars, I guess to promote the spot.
Kite Club Cabarete has a branch there. They have a website. Maybe you can ask them.

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

I am going there in 2 weeks for xmas. I will post more info after, but it looks okay. I expect to be using 10-14m2 kites.

Dave

marina · Since 16 Jan 2006 150 Posts California coast Stoked

my old friends Cameron Dietrich and Jon Dodds opened Kite Club on the East side a while back and have done very well for themselves. We recently featured the DR (north coast and Punta Cana area) in our Fall/Winter Travel Guide. Here's an excerpt from it:

Punta Cana’s windy season is October to February.
The wind is usually lighter but with great flat water
conditions inside the reef with some fun waves and
slalom sessions out beyond the reef. Generally the
weather is very warm and sunny even in the winter on
this side of the island. The only kite school over here
is www.kiteclub.com. If you’re an independent kiter
staying in Punta Cana then you’ll need storage at Playa
Blanca. Kite Club has secure personal lockers large
enough to store all your kiteboarding equipment. For $20
per week you get beach access to the private beach, use
of the Kite Club facilities, and boat rescue services. For
$50 per week you also get a storage locker.

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

Just got back from 10 days in Punta Cana over Christmas. Nice spot but not that windy, I would have preferred to be on the Caberete side of the island. I rode a 14m2 everyday. However the Punta Cana Kite Club does have their act together with good instructors and lessons. My wife took lessons and definitely progressed.

It's a flat water location with many shallow areas to watch out for (less than 2" deep in places). Yet in the deep spots it was crystal clear water with a sand bottom you can walk on and jumping was good in those spots. Farther out there is a reef but again it's dangerously shallow and in fact coral heads pop 12" out of the water in front of you.

It's a good spot if you have non-kiters who want to suntan, play in the shallows, or go SUPing while you kite. The bar/restaurant on site is top notch and there is a Club Med next door for nearby accommodation.

Again I can't say enough for the Kite Clubs service, it was excellent. They even arranged a van to pick us up at our hotel everyday, sweet.

We stayed a distance away at the Bavaro area and there was kiting there as well. In fact maybe better except for the same light winds. That shoreline has much better waves to play in, however the wind was almost on-shore and there was a ton of people in beach chairs making the launch sketchy.

If you need more info give me ring.
Dave

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