Cabarete

Cabarete is the Caribbean's original kite mecca, a compact north-coast town built around three adjoining wind-sports beaches - Kite Beach, Bozo Beach and Encuentro - with roughly 33 kite schools between them. Reliable thermal-boosted trade winds give the town an average of 300 windy days a year, and it has hosted the Kiteboarding World Cup, PKRA, WKL and the multi-discipline Master of the Ocean.

beginnerfreestylebig airwavesfreeride

Titled Cabarete beach, close to spot — Maris Teteris / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Cabarete beach/coast scenery — MIGUEL montojo M. MO… / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Beach with hotel on the Cabarete coast — Андрей Бобровский / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Wind

best months	Jun Jul Aug Dec Jan Feb Mar
season notes	Averages around 300 days of wind a year thanks to trade winds reinforced by a strong afternoon thermal; summer (Jun-Aug) and winter trade-wind windows are both considered prime.
avg knots	15-25
wind name	trade wind + thermal (Coromoto)
direction to shore	cross/cross-onshore
quality	thermal
typical kite sizes	9-12m

Water

type	mixed
temp summer c	29
temp winter c	26
wetsuit	boardshorts year-round for most riders

Levels

beginner	yes
intermediate	yes
advanced	yes
notes	Kite Beach is flatter but has a reef close to shore that limits the play area compared to Bozo Beach; the wider bay at Bozo/Cabarete town is the freestyle/big-air arena, while the reef break offers wave riding for advanced kiters

Launch & crowd

description	Multiple dedicated beach launches across Kite Beach, Bozo Beach and Encuentro, each run by clusters of schools
rescue	Widely available given the density of schools operating at each beach
busy months	Jun Jul Aug
vibe	Long-established international kite/windsurf town with a large expat and school scene

Hazards

reef close to shore at Kite Beach
crowded launch/landing zones at peak times

Tips

Get around via motoconcho (motorbike taxi), roughly RD$50 by day and RD$100 after sunset
Kite Beach favors flatter water; Bozo Beach/Encuentro offer more room and reef wave riding

Travel basics

airport	POP - Gregorio Luperón International Airport (Puerto Plata)
getting there	Short drive from Puerto Plata airport
accommodation	Wide range from hostels to beachfront hotels, mid-range overall
cost level	mid
no wind	Surfing at Encuentro, waterfalls (27 Charcos) and general DR tourism

Nearby: Las Terrenas (Kite Beach)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikivoyage.org