Anyone surf here? My wife was starting to book a guided. all inclusive surf trip for my 14 year old and me. She didn't confirm. I thought I 'd run it passed you guys. We stay at a house w/ pool. 3 squares a day, boards. guides shuffles us to best breaks . $119 a night. The couple that runs it are an American and she's Dominican. I think Quicksilver was the sponsor. All words are appreciated. 14 yr. old is a beginner and I'm a longboarder. We only have 3 days and want to maximize our time surfing. What do you think? Other places?
Sounds fair priced and warm. 3 days is short but youll prob be beat by the end of it. Definitely hit the gym and cardio hard leading up to the trip so you dont get sore/tired. GO!! I envy you.
i know a guy who told me about a place he stayed at for 31 dollars a night and it wanst a dump . I am planing a DR trip after tax time if I can get the time off from work here is the place he stayed http://www.hookedcabarete.com/
Cool place Thanks Won and Matt.. think I'll add Cabarate as a favorite. I like the 3 week rates on rooms and surf boards. Can you imagine, 3 weeks? Definitely looks cool. I'm not a great traveler and tend to get stressed. I think I'll try my route first. Thank you very much!
Ive been there, its awesome. Go to the north west coast in cabarete and sosua. Encuentro is the best surf break and it can get as good as any in the world. There is a left and a right and a break further down the beach called coco pipe that can get pretty gnarly. The bar scene is awesome too. The hospitality is second to none also. Even the local surfers cheer you on when youre riding a wave. GO! Youll love it!
well now i know where imgoing when im down there after easter. how big would the surf get around april?
Yeah I know tell me about it . You cant beat the prices , its a nice place pretty much hassle free and air fair is cheap also there is another place I am looking at that you see in this site in right side of your screen www.swellsurfcamp.com there rates are pretty nice too
i dont know if its cheap or not, but my sister is down there teaching at a private school for basically the rich people like she has the dr's tep kids in her class. but were flying down on easter and spending a week with her gonna do scubadiving, snorkeling and of course for me some surfing since currently im te ony one that surfs.
the place My wife is booking it through quiklsilver travel. The site is drsurfing. The rates seem reasonable considering what they offer: 3 square/room/pool/ and a guide taking you via 4x4 to the best spots according to your ability level. I'm digging these other places though. I think it's right outside of Encuentra. Like I said, I.m a bad traveler. I get bad vibes easily and tend to be a little paranoid in 3rd world settings. Remember: Just because your paranoid, it doesn't mean that they're not after you(ha-ha). I like the idea of a bilingual guide watching my back.(And my son's) Keep the scoop coming! Looks like I'm land locked for a bit with this snow.
I stayed at DR Surfing last year. Alan, the host, is an excellent surfer and runs a great camp, IMO. Just be honest with your ability and he will take you to appropriate breaks and make you feel comfortable. From what I could tell, he seems to be well respected in the lineup and he has great knowledge of the breaks in DR. The food the couple served was fresh, delicious and plentiful. I think they moved to a new home in Encuentro, so I can't comment on the current accommodations, but everything was very clean when I went. Also, as for the feel of the surf camp, I felt like I was an out-of-town family member instead of a guest at a hotel, which may or may not be what you're looking for. If you want to maximize your time surfing, I would recommend you get a guide--whether you use DR Surfing or someone else. Generally, from what I know, it's surfable in Encuentro only during the mornings, before the easterly tradewinds pick up. Also, the main breaks at Encuentro can get pretty heavy. When I was there, some of the sets were pitching, barreling and well-OH to DOH--certainly not beginner or longboard friendly. A guide will help you find protected breaks if it's big and wind-protected breaks when the tradewinds pick up.
I would think that might be a little late for consistent surf. Are you set on going in late April? Spring Break? The next 3 months are very consistent on the N facing beaches of that area.
Not sure about the consistancy at that time, but the north side of the island is def the place to surf. Ive been there, in fact my profile pic is from Encuentro. It does get heavy but there is an inside break where you will always see little european kids w/ reef booties on, learning how to surf. Get on it early, as the winds do too. The trades pick up consistently everyday around 8:30-9 and everyone trades their surfboards for kiteboards. If you want to surf ALL day.... head to Nicaragua, offshore most of the time. Cabarete is the coolest little party town I have been to in a while. A guide is not a bad idea if you get sketched-out easily. Everyone will hassle you for extra tips and money if you stand out like a tourist. But, all in all good vibes, great food, beautiful scenery, and tons of fun stuff to do and see. Good luck!
The boy My son is still quite the beginner. He gets the willys if it's over 3 feet, and then sits inside. Is this the right place for him? Or is this the place to help both him and me to take our surfing up a notch while still having fun? I don't want the kid standing on the beach waiting for me to get tired(Which takes at least 3 1/2-4 hours.) Honestly, I get unnerved over 6 ft myself. Opinions?
Been to north coast of the DR 30+ times. Encuentro is the most consistent break on the north coast. And the most crowded. Turistas & locals flock here when it's firing. Although it's listed as a reef, it's shifty & many times it has more of a beach break feel. The Point at Encuentro, in front of the little shack restaurant on the beach, is where the locals like to sit. Encuentro can get territorial, as very good local surfers will not hesitate to hoot you off waves. Snaking isn't uncommon. The guys are pleasant & friendly, just stay out of their way; they will aggressively lay claim to waves. By the same token they will help you out if you get into trouble in the water. Sometimes Encuentro gets big, most days it's smaller & thus has something for everyone. There are several surf schools that teach novices on the inside at Encuentro. You should go out early in the day at Encuentro. Reason being, the sideshore wind comes up at 1030-1100 every day, like clockwork, and it cranks. That's the end of the waves. That's when the kitesurfers come out & take over up the road in Cabarete Bay. You may want to bring a pair of surf shoes. The urchins are no joke here. The locals all surf barefoot. You're only there a few days with not much time to toughen those feet up. The urchins are huge. Bring some tweezers & Neosporin, just in case. The paddle out is the channel just to the side of the shacks on the beach. Sometimes you can get a good current going out. Water depth is 10-20' for the most part. Coco Pipe is next to Encuentro. It is not realistic for your son. There is razor sharp coral & large urchins & rocks 3 feet under the surface. Because of that shallow depth, it can get big but only on the right swell. It is only for expert surfers. Sosua Bay takes a certain direction to break & is usually not worth the 20 minute drive. Playa Grande is a beach break, sand bottom, approx one hour drive from Cabarete. There is another break named Preciosa, which can get big, around the corner from Playa Grande that you scrabble down a steep jungle hill to access. Both these breaks need a certain swell to work. Your guide will know about this. Board rentals: if you rent, be aware that if you ding the board or break it, you will be expected to pay from usd 100-600, cash only, on the spot. Beware of repaired/patched-together boards & worn out velcro on rental leashes. Size at Encuentro totally depends on the swell. It can get huge, but that time of year usually not huge. Lots of petty theft in the DR. Keep your stuff tight. Make 2 copies of your passport & keep separate from your passport. If you don't need a laptop while there, don't take it on the trip. People are very friendly. Great place, fun times. Getting up early to surf has its advantages. Namely, you can spend the afternoon chilling in the beach restaurants in Cabarete. LAX restaurant in Cabarete is a cool place to chill with icy cold Presidente cervezas. BTW, very cool place to stay, wonderful people, reasonable rates, clean & quiet, very secure & gorgeous condos literally on the oceanfront in Cabarete is the Hotel Magnifico. www.hotelmagnifico.com Your son will love the chicas in the DR.
alternative A great place to surf for you & your son is Barbados. Being an island, it has breaks of every level of ability. Highly recommended local guide: Melanie Pitcher of Surf Barbados. And yes, she can surf, ex-pro on the tour. However, she's real cool & low-key & knows every single break on the island. She can find something that's perfect for your son & for you, every day. Barbados is more expensive than the DR, but, in life you get what you pay for. I'm headed back to BGI in January. Great place.
