Kiteboarding in Cabarete

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

Hi I am looking for information in regards to Cabarete Beach in the Dominican Republic. My girlfriend and I are planning to go for 15 days the last week in Feburary and the first week in March. There are many places online, I just need some help making a final decision at where to stay. A good kiteschool recommendation would be helpful as I do not want to make any attempt at teaching her to kiteboard....took years to fix the damage after I "taught her to ski".
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

tonyb · Tue Dec 26, 06 5:48 am

Carol and I went down at the end of Feb. '06 and stayed at the Augalina which is right on kite beach. We had a great time, the hotel was very nice and though we didn't need the school they have there (Dare 2 Fly), it seemed very well organized and the people who were taking lessons were very happy. Last year the school was run by a girl named Aubrey who is really nice and helpful.

The only drawback to lessons in Cabarete that I saw is that so many people are learning is that it can be a little crowded and crazy on the beach; especially after a few days without wind and all of the lessons that were booked get backed up and then everyone tries to get them in before they go home.

The Augalina has a beach bar/restuarant that you can get lunch at everyday but it usually shut down around 4 or 5 each evening so we had to go elsewhere to get dinner. You'll need to take a taxi or a motor-bike ride into town to go shopping and get groceries but it's only a couple of dollars each way. There are a couple of places within walking distance to get dinner and hang out for drinks in the evening that were pretty nice too. The pasta dishes at KiteExcite right on the beach each night were a real hit after a long day of kiting. And we didn't have to put on any shoes to go to dinner!

We may go again this year and will stay at the Augalina if we do.

Link to their site: http://www.agualina.com/home/home.htm

Have fun!

Tony

marina · Since 16 Jan 2006 150 Posts California coast Stoked

you might want to consider Kitexcite as they do private boat lessons on Kite Beach (take you away from any crowds, radio helmets, less time spent walking upwind and more water time). RE: lodging, if you want to be in the heart of the action, stay in Cabarete Bay. My favorites are El Magnifico, Velero (sister to Agualina on Kite Beach), one of the private villas or new oceanfront condos available at olasdeorosvillas.com (tell barbara marina sent ya). Also, check at karen@ozonetravel.com.. she has nice lodging/lesson deals too with Ocean Dream and Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding.

If you want to be in the heard of the KITEBOARDING action, stay on Kite Beach. The distance between the two is about a 10-15 minute walk, but DON"T walk the beach at night... take a taxi/moto concho (watch out for those exhaust pipes) into town.

I lived in CAbarete for 3 yrs and was partners in Kitexcite b4 I came back to the US in 2004. Feel free to email me at marina@thekiteboarder.com if you have more questions:-)

gotkite · Since 16 Mar 2006 14 Posts Seattle, WA

I stayed @ whyndham tangerine last march, love it no crowded beach, launch right from hotel beach. its on bozo beach about ten minute walk to very crowded kite beach or you can easily launch from your hotel an do a downwinder to kite beach if you like crowds.....

whyndham tangerine is more expensive but its all exclusive all food drinks, alchohol is included in price. I would rate the hotel rooms about a 3 1/2 star rating hotel grounds and staff 4 stars, food 3 to 4 stars depending on buffet style or the two sit down resturaunts they have.. Very safe and basicly only 10 to 15 min walk to cabarete or walk the other way, 10 min to kite beach.

We liked it so much we are going back in april for 16 days. I have alot of pictures if you want an idea of location email me and i will send you a link.

Hope this helps ...Allen

tonski · Since 11 Jun 2005 332 Posts NW Portland Obsessed

Hey Allen, can you post a few pics of your trip? Wyndham Tangerine looks sweet! Very Happy

KingE · Since 27 Apr 2006 58 Posts Lake Wenatchee

My wife and I went last year and she was very happy with her lessons from vela and Aqualina. Aqualina is super nice too. As instructors and guides in other sports it was important to us to have the lessons from a quality outfit and a good instructor. We were very happy with our decision to use vela.

ps. Bozo beach has a fairly lee shore with shorebreak. I wouldn't want to learn there.

Jeb

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

What a great help everyone has been, the kiteboarding community is just awesome. We will be putting everything together this evening and should have an amazing trip booked by tomorrow night. I will post the pics of the trip and a little blurb on how well it went...I can not wait to get into the sunshine for 19 days.

Thanks again
Allen

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

What a great help everyone has been, the kiteboarding community is just awesome. We will be putting everything together this evening and should have an amazing trip booked by tomorrow night. I will post the pics of the trip and a little blurb on how well it went...I can not wait to get into the sunshine for 19 days.

Thanks again
Allen

gotkite · Since 16 Mar 2006 14 Posts Seattle, WA

heres some pictures of whyndham tangerine and beach.

Allen

gotkite · Since 16 Mar 2006 14 Posts Seattle, WA

Alleycat,
send me your email address to my message box and I'll send you a link to snapfish with 70 plus pictures of cabarete sorry it will ony upload three pictures...

Allen