You have mainly four options to fly to DR - Cabarete with Santiago (STI), Punta Cana (PUJ), Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Puerto Plata (POP) airports. We highly recommend POP which is the closest airport to cabarete with only a 20 minute drive. Other airports are Punta Cana which is 7 hours away, Santo Domingo which is 4 hours and Santiago 1.5 hours.
The only things you need to bring with you are tee shirt, sunscreen, water, inexpensive sunglasses and the willingness to learn an exciting new sport.
The average person can get up and ride within 3 to 5 days, this generally translates into between 6 to 12 hours for lessons. The learning curve for winging is usually much faster than kiting.
Kite or wingfoil is taught to children starting from the age of 12. Some begin even earlier with constant supervision. Physical condition rather than weight is taken into consideration but a general rule is around 35kg minimum. Awareness is also very important.
Lessons are essential to safely practise the sport, not only for yourself but also for the safety of the general public. A kiter losing control of his kite can cause serious injuries and even death to himself and others.
The price will vary greatly based primarily on the newness of the gear you choose and also on the size.
kiteboarding kite ($800 - $2,000)
kiteboarding board ($400 - $1,000)
kite control bar and lines ($300 - $600)
harness ($150 - $300)
Your first kite should be between 8 and 13 meters, depending upon your weight and the wind strength where you plan on kitesurfing.
The decision to buy new or second hand is determined by your budget. New gear comes with a warranty and you will always be safer than with older pre-loved gear. In addition new gear comes with the latest in safety technological developments and flying characteristics. For the budget conscious, the 2nd hand market is alive and well but much of the kites are performance driven and less suitable for beginners.
No. Being in good shape will help but people of all shapes and sizes can enjoy the thrill of kitesurfing. However being able to swim and being comfortable in the water is mandatory.
Yes – kitesurfing is a water sport and once you are up and riding, you may find yourself in the water, out of your depth. If you are not yet confident in the water, we suggest you start with just land-based kite flying until you are able to improve your water confidence.
Kitesurfing is a very easy sport to learn and like any other extreme sports, it can be perillous. If you try flying a power kite without prior understanding of the way they fly you will not handle the kite in the event of something going wrong. A proper lesson with experience and certification is all it takes to get the basics and you can progress on your own once we get you started.
Your first wing should be between 4 and 6 square meters, depending upon your weight and the wind strength where you plan on wingfoiling.
Learning to wingfoil is not that difficult, compared to kiting or windsurfing.
Learning how to use a wing is easier than with a kite or windsurf sail.
Cabarete Bay is ideal to start learning Wingfoiling.
Everything from surfing, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, kitefoiling, windsurfing, wingfoiling, stand-up paddleboarding and SUPfoiling can be practiced in Cabarete Bay.
That is why Cabarete has become very popular and considered by many the best place to visit in the Caribbean.
Cabarete and its close surroundings (Encuentro and La Bocca ) are a mix of flat water and wave spots located on the Northern Coast of the island.