Tucked away on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, the ‘Action sports Capital of the Caribbean’ region packs in all those Caribbean dreams. Beach nightlife in lively towns, spectacular hiking and mountain biking, surf, sun and waves, and of course miles and miles of that famous Caribbean sand.

Best of all, Puerto Plata is one of the few places where you can escape the tourist hordes while still enjoying world-class tourism infrastructure – all for a price that’s significantly lower than you think.

Here are seven reasons to love Cabarete

1. The beaches

It almost goes without saying, but this coastal region is blessed with some of the longest stretches of unspoiled beaches in the Caribbean. The best known of these is probably Playa Grande, just 15km east of the town of Río San Juan. This is undoubtedly one of the country’s most beautiful beaches – long, broad and tawny, with the aquamarine sea on one side and a thick fringe of palm trees on the other. Stark white cliffs jut out in the distance. It’s the perfect setting for swimming, surfing or lazing.

If you don’t get out to Playa Grande, you can still catch some world-class sunshine at Playa Dorada, just outside the city of Puerto Plata. Or be adventurous and discover your own sand-covered coastal paradise – the area begs for exploration.

2. The watersports

Just plain old ’surfing’ doesn’t begin to tell the story. Puerto Plata’s breezes and gentle swells have made it world renowned for kitesurfing, wakeboarding and windsurfing – as well as the plain-vanilla variety. OCabarete, began life as a humble farming hamlet until it was discovered by a windsurfing pioneer less than 30 years ago. The rest is history: the entire area is now a prime drawcard for surfers of all stripes and types.

3. The outdoors

Once you’re adequately bronzed, it’s time to turn your attention inland. Cabarete’s interior offers spectacular scenery and activities for all skill levels. Mountain-biking tours range from beginner level to insanely difficult. Guided hikes introduce you to the region’s native flora and fauna. And, for an extra adrenaline kick, try out exploring such attractions as the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua. Often described as ‘the coolest thing in the DR’, the waterfalls are a splashy playground where you can leap from rock walls into crystalline pools. Guides and safety equipment are provided.

4. The nightlife

Cabarete’s bar and entertainment scene is enough to keep you buzzing for weeks. THe main drag boasts bars and discos, which are open to guests or those who have purchased day passes. The beachside nightlife kicks on well into the wee hours. If you’re willing to explore, you’ll discover such gems as Sosúa’s Ruby Lounge (featuring live music and karaoke – it’s a party that spills out into the streets most nights) and Lax, Cabarete’s nightlife hub.

5. The culture

Puerto Plata’s towns provide a rich, diverse blend of cultures to explore. The regional capital (also called ‘Puerto Plata’) heats up in June’s third week with the weeklong cultural festival, which features merengue, blues, jazz and folk concerts at the historic Fuerte de San Felipe (San Felipe Fort). Troupes from Santo Domingo also perform traditional dances to African spirituals and sexy salsa tunes. While in town, don’t miss the impressive Museo de Ambar (Amber Museum), a temple to the DR’s prized resin that inspired the movie Jurassic Park.

Sophisticated Cabarete, a centre for adventure tourism, also boasts a slew of cultural events. If you’re around in November, you’ll get to experience the Dominican Jazz Festival, which attracts top international talent. February sees a great festival for kids: the International Sand Castle Competition.

6. The luxury

Without a doubt, one reason that visitors return to Puerto Plata is the opportunity to indulge at a discount. Staying in all five-star resorts which might cost thousands of dollars in other destinations can run as low as around $200. Gourmet food is plentiful, delicious and eminently affordable. And all those little extras that make a vacation just that bit more enjoyable – such as relaxing spa treatments – are available for a fraction of what they might cost at home.

7. The high life

One of Puerto Plata’s little-known secrets is that, if you close your eyes, you can actually go back in time. If you ever wished that you could go bouncing around the Caribbean with the likes of Sinatra and Sammy, you can relive those days in Puerto Plata. You can spend indulgent days on the greens of golf courses such as the Dorada Golf Club on Playa Dorado or the Grande Golf Course on Playa Grande (which offers marvelous ocean views from almost every hole).

Once the sun goes down, you can retire to a hotel bar to sip sherry and plan out the evening’s activities. Of course, you’ll need an impressive cigar to chomp on to complete the picture – and that’s where you’re in luck. The Dominican Republic produces some of the world’s finest cigars, and almost every hotel can arrange a cigar-factory tour for you. You’ll be able to sample some classy smokes and purchase cigars for supremely reasonable prices.

Several airlines fly directly to Puerto Plata’s international airport from various US East Coast cities. Roundtrip flights start around $450

Just out of Cabarete there are miles of dirt roads and endless mule trails making it mountain bike paradise. The scenery is breathtaking, perfect for videotaping and your digital camera. Stop and talk to the friendly locals, who always have a smile on their faces.

World Famous “Iguana Mama,” the Pioneers of adventure in the Dominican Republic.

Outside Magazine voted the trails made by the World Famous Iguana Mama as “Best All New Sporting Adventure”, “Your of the Month” by Bicycling Magazine, and nominated as “Top 25 Adventure Tours in the World” by National Geographic Adventure.
Safety

Local drivers are safe and are used to sharing the road with dogs, chickens, mules, goats, trucks, motorbikes, cars and guaguas. Please wear your safety equipment, taken into consideration, one should not miss the opportunity to cycle in the Dominican Republic. There is no better way to see the countryside, and nothing feels better than the nice Caribbean breezes when you are coasting down those hills!

Equipment

If you don’t have your own equipment, rentals are available. Be aware that this equipment is low-end and often not well maintained. Please be sure to check your mountain bike and safety equipment before you start your adventure

Best time to Ride

The best time of year to mountain bike in the Dominican Republic is June through October. It tends to be dry and more single track is open, thought you can mountain bike all year round.

Places to See

Islabon Jungle River Tour (Cabarete)

You can explore the Islabon and Yasica rivers by boat to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean. You can also walk through jungle trails to a mini zoo that includes iguanas, snakes, turtles, ravens and a monkey (which are a little unorganized or can be wrongly labeled). Guides explain the origin and uses of different flora and talk about some of the popular types of fishing that is done in this area.

Scenic Drive: Cordillera Septentrional Route (Cabarete)

About 15 minutes east of Cabarete you can turn south onto the Moca Mountain Route that runs into the Cordillera Septentrional Mountain area. The drive passes through small Dominican villages and farm areas and you’ll have panoramic views of the countryside along the way. If you keep driving you’ll eventually end up in the city of Moca, the cigar-making capital of the Dominican Republic. This mountain road allows you views of the beautiful Cibao Valley and is an absolute favorite of motor bikers looking for a winding scenic bike tour.

El Choco National Park (Cabarete)

This lush and diverse 77 square kilometers of protected area was named a national monument. The park has unique geological formations to the DR, called the ‘Caribbean Karst’, as well as 862 species of flora, 12 species of bats, and 36 species of birds . The park is comprised of pasture land, a lagoon, and a jungle area that contains the many lush tropical plants, exotic birds, caves and fresh water springs.

he Dominican Republic is a paradise in the Caribbean, an excellent place to enjoy the nature, sun, beautiful landscapes and of course mountain Bike. Santo Domingo is its capital, located in the middle of the South part of the island, also offers attractive natural places waiting to be discovered.

In that great spot of the island we, Planet Bike, are the option for the cyclist who likes good bicycles rides, fine parts and accesories, first hand attentions, exceptional mountain bike adventures in the caribbean and great recreation in Dominican Republic.

Planet Bike means sports in Dominican Republic and the whole caribbean area. We represent the bike brands: Trek, Gary Fisher, Klein and Lemond, as well as their accessories and parts. We promote the practice of road and mountain Bike cycling in Dominican Republic. We also organize recreational and competitive events. Planet Bike is the point of contact and reunion in Santo Domingo of those who like mountain biking.

Among the most popular activities organize and supported by Planet Bike Dominican Republic we can find:

*
El Tour del sufrimiento (tour of sufferment): A 3 day mountain bike ride event crossing the central part mountain range of Dominican Republic. 165 miles aprox.
*
Prueba de Mountain Bike en Pareja (two persons team race): A family oriented event that takes place in may and november. The finish line is located in a picknic area where families and friends wait for the competitors and all share a good time.
*
Campeonato Distrital de Mountain Bike (state mountain bike tournament)
*
Weekend Tours: We just take off for the whole day, half day or the weekend.

These are just some of the activities that we offer to our friends and costumers.

Visit us in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic and you will be convinced that we are the best option.
Planet Bike in Dominican Republic, good mountain bike rides, good friends

Puerto Plata Mountain Biking Travel Tips
By Lynne Sullivan

* Thank the island’s first adventure-tour operator, Iguana Mama, for developing all biking routes in Puerto Plata province. Pick up a free map at their shop in Cabarete.
* Hate the uphills? Cruise downhill from high in the mountains through the Ciabo Valley on one of the DR’s most popular routes. At the end, cool off with a dip in the Jamao River.
* Intermediate and advanced riders can switch between road and trail along the 27-mile route through El Choco National Park, climbing gently sloping hills and taking in striking views of the park and surrounding area.
* Take the kids on the six-mile ride along the Islabon Coast. Guided tours start with a boat trip on the Yasica River followed by an easy ride. A hillier ride into a bird-filled forest can be found on the river path.

The Dominican Republic shares its land space with Haiti, and is one of the most prominent vacation spots to go mountain biking. Dominican Republic is famous for its beautiful and wonderful white sandy beaches, which boasts lots of tall palm trees and pretty blue waters. This Caribbean island paradise has so much more to offer vacationers who visit here. If you love adventure, nature, biking, hiking or intense sporting activity this is a great place for you to visit. Although many vacationers visit the Dominican Republic for a relaxing tropical beach vacation, you will find mountain biking is one of the best activities that can be enjoyed there.

Dominican Republic is a heaven for bikers of all levels, as its wide-ranging territory offer cyclist magnificent downhill thrills, with demanding single track and easy coast cruises. Mountain biking is definitely the best way to see Dominican Republic landscape. For the ultimate biking experience, along the northern coast of Dominican Republic is where you can find some of the best biking trails to explore. As this beautiful island features the highest mountain in the Caribbean, which is about 10, 400 feet high, in the area known as Caribbean Pico Duarte.

If you are interested in participating in this adventure, you may contact Dominican Republic local tourism offices or your hotel to provide you with the recommended guide. So, if you ever get tired of all the water sports activities, you can take pleasure in mountain biking, by heading to Cabarete, where you can find many trails to explore.

The landscape in Dominican Republic is amazing and in some areas the route conditions are very idyllic for mountain biking. There is something for all riders in Dominican Republic, and on routes like Gasper Hermandez to Moca, the area is very dry and can take you up to two weeks to explore fully. There are waterfalls and small towns along this route, where you can take a swim and lodge in the nights.

The Constanza to San Jose de Ocoa, which takes two days to discover, has the most amazing views in the countryside, but it tends to be difficult to maneuver (please to park warm clothing as it tends to get very cold). The El Choco Loco route will take you through some gorgeous and gently sloping hills on a three hour ride; while the Rocky route offers you lots of single track adventure in the island’s protected areas.

Other areas of interest to go mountain biking are the invigorating Ciabo Valley, the thrilling Jarabacoa Waterfall Loop, or the exciting Rio San Juan to Playa Grande routes. Plan a vacation for Dominican Republic and take a mountain biking tour of the island’s countryside and be refreshed by the cool breezes.

Just minutes away and ideal for intense adventure tours are the wild jutting mountain peaks, the enormous limestone rock formations and the lush green valleys of the Cordillera Septentrional. This hilly country terrain with it’s spectacular views and endless singletrack trails is perfect for mountain bike enthusiasts who want to get off road and do some serious cross country cycling in one of the most picturesque areas in this part of the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Experience.

To stay in the all-inclusive hotels in Playa Dorada would be to miss the real Dominican Republic.

You will love the people and the country when you get to see the real lifestyle but most of the hotel tours don’t show you the real Dominican Republic.

The hotels tell the tourists that it is not safe to go outside the hotel complex at night and only with tours in the day time.

THIS IS NOT SO!!!

As for safety, it has been my experience, it is entirely safe. Although there are occasions where single men and women have had a member of the opposite sex try to pick them up, love that “Latin” culture. Or a taxi driver has taken a customer for a few extra pesos.

These incidents have been very few in number, and violent crime is much less than back in downtown Toronto.

Most people come unprepared to discover the real Dominican Republic because most have booked an all-inclusive resort vacation and their mindset is that everything is already paid for.

And while the resorts include the meals, beverages with beach and poolside games, it seems a shame to travel this far and then stay stuck in the resort just because meals and beach volleyball are free.

The unseen opportunity here is that for a few hundred extra dollars you can turn a bargain resort vacation into a world class travel experience.

Another way to look at it is that for the price of a short hop to the Caribbean, you can have the kind of adventures that some people spend big bucks and travel halfway around the world to experience.

First you will have to take a taxi from the Santo Domingo Airport to the Bus Station, which is located in downtown Santo Domingo, west of the zona colonial. The cost of the taxi is about US$20 to US$30 and if traffic is smooth, the ride is about 30 minutes

Metro Bus

How to use this Schedule for the bus:  Look under the name of the departure City.   For Santo Domingo, it’s Churchill or SDQ.  For Santiago it’s STGO.  For Puerto Plata, it’s POP.  For Sosoa it’s SOS.

You’re meant to be able to reserve online, but I’m not seeing that as a real possibility.

Caribe Tours:  

Has a cool internactive map that shows the places it goes on the island, also meant to be able to reserve a seat online (if only) and has a cool ap that shows you the schedules here http://caribetours.com.do/viajes but basically leaves every hour on the hour.

Some info ripped from the lonely Planet

Santo Domingo has no central bus terminal. Instead, the country’s two main bus companies – Caribe Tours (809-221-4422; www.caribetours.com.do; cnr Av 27 de Febrero & Av Leopoldo Navarro) and Metro (809-227-0101; www.metroserviciosturisticos.com; Calle Francisco Prats Ramírez) – have individual depots west of the Zona Colonial. Caribe Tours has the most departures, and covers more of the smaller towns than Metro does.

Both lines use large, comfortable and fairly modern passenger buses; some even have TVs and screen movies. Air-conditioning on both lines is sometimes turned up to uncomfortable levels. In any case, all but a few destinations are less than four hours from Santo Domingo.

It’s a good idea to call ahead to confirm the schedule and ticket price, and always arrive at least 30 minutes before the stated departure time. Both bus lines also publish brochures (available at all terminals) with up-to-date schedules and fares, plus the address and telephone number of their terminals throughout the country – handy if you’ll be taking the bus often.

Expreso Santo Domingo Bávaro (in Santo Domingo 809-682-9670, in Bávaro 809-552-0771; cnr Juan Sánchez Ruiz & Av Máximo Gómez) has a direct 1st-class service between the capital and Bávaro, with a stop in La Romana. Departure times in both directions are 7am, 10am, 2pm and 4pm (US$9, four hours).

There also are four 2nd-class bus depots near Parque Enriquillo in the Zona Colonial. All buses make numerous stops en route. Because the buses tend to be small, there can be a scrum for seats, especially for destinations with one to a few departures a day. Caliente, literally ‘hot’ buses, refer to those generally without air-con; expreso buses stop less often. Destinations include the following:

Baní (US$2.75, 1½ hours, every 15 minutes, 5am to 10pm)

Boca Chica (caliente/expreso US$1/1.25, 45 minutes, caliente every 15 minutes, expreso hourly, 6am to 8pm)

Higüey (caliente/expreso US$4.25/5, 2½ hours, caliente every 20 minutes, expreso hourly, 6am to 7pm)

Juan Dolio (US$2.10, one hour, every 30 minutes, 6am to 9:30pm)

La Romana (caliente/expreso US$2.75/4, two hours, caliente every 20 minutes, expreso hourly, 5am to 9pm)

Las Galeras (US$8, six hours, daily between 11:30am and 12:30pm depending on when bus arrives from Las Galeras)

Puerto Plata (US$5.25, 4½ hours, take any Sosúa bus)

San Cristóbal (US$1.40, 45 minutes, every 15 to 30 minutes, 6am to 10pm)

San Pedro de Macorís (US$2.30, one hour, every 30 minutes, 6am to 9:30pm)

Santiago (US$2.80, 2½ hours, take any Sosúa bus)

Sosúa (US$5.65, five hours, nine departures from 6:30am to 3:30pm)

Aero Mexico $60
www.aeromexico.com
800-237-6639
One-way per board, maximum length 9ft – packed. Sorry guys, you can’t include this as your free carry-on.

Air Canada $50
www.aircanada.com
888-247-2262
Space available basis. Pre-registered when booking. Each board counts as one piece of checked baggage. Max linear dimensions (length + width + height): 109 in. Max length: 80 in. No paddleboards.

Air France $55-$200
www.airfrance.com
800-237-2747
If it’s less than 200 cm, it’s treated as normal baggage, but costs $55. Beyond the allowance (up to a max of 70 lb per item and 115″), it’s $200. And €200 (273 USD) for longboards.

Alaska $20-$50
www.alaskaair.com
800-252-7522
The board can be included as a standard checked bag, but checked baggage fees apply (starting at $20). Max length is 9 feet, max weight is 50 lbs.

American Airlines $150
www.aa.com
800-433-7300
One-way. One board per person. Max weight and size: 70 lbs, 126 inches.

Bahamas Air $50
www2.bahamasair.com
800-222-4262
Must be less than 6 ft. One-way per board. Remove your fins.

British Airways Free-$60
www.britishairways.com
800-AIRWAYS
As part of your checked baggage. Otherwise it’s $60. Boards must be smaller than 75ins x 29.5ins x 25.5 ins.

Continental $100-$200
www.continental.com
800-523-3273
North America, national: $100 each way per surfboard, South America: $200 each way per surfboard. From North America to another continent: $200. Fee is per bag. Due to merging airlines, print proof with you before you fly. Price ranges depending on destination. Two board max per case. Max of 50 lbs. & 109 in.

COPA $75
www.copaair.com
800-FLY-COPA
One-way per board. Limit 2 boards per passenger. Only $50 to São Paulo and San Jose. Must be under 115 ins and 70 lbs. Remove fins. Can’t be more than 115 inches or 70 lbs.

Delta $15-
www.delta.com
800-221-1212
Boards need to be under 70 lbs. to avoid an excess weight fee. Up to 2 boards per bag; additional boards in a bag will be charged per board. If the board is not in a protective case, you must fill out a limited liability release. Surfboards over 115 linear inches will not be accepted. To/from Brazil is $100. Between Honolulu and Maui, it’s $20.

Iberia $350
www.iberia.com
800-504-8030
One way. One board per passenger. Max size: 8’2″. MUST make request 24 hours before flight via phone. Keep in mind: “Various charges, taxes or duties may be applied, in accordance with the legislation of each country.”

Interjet (Mexico) $55
interjet.com.mx
866-285-9525
Max weight is 55 lbs per passenger. Any excess baggage will have a fee of $50.00 pesos plus TAX for each additional pound.

Jet Blue $50
www.jetblue.com
800-538-2583
One-way. One board per bag. *No surfboards allowed on flights to Santo Domingo or Santiago. Can’t be over 100 lbs.

Lan Free
www.lan.com
866-435-9526
Cannot exceed 300 linear inches or 50 lbs.

Lufthansa $100-200
www.lufthansa-usa.com
800 645-3880
Must be less than 70 lbs and/or 6’7″. Within Europe: $100, Europe to intercontinental: $200. If it’s over 6’7″ (2 m), the fees are doubled. You need to register sports baggage 24 hours before the flight.

Southwest $50
www.southwest.com
800-435-9792
Domestic/International. One-way per bag (2 boards per bag). Fins must be removed.

United $100-$200
www.united.com
800-864-8331
North America, national: $100 each way per surfboard, South America: $200 each way per surfboard. From North America to another continent: $200. Fee is per board. Price ranges depending on destination. Two board max per case. Max of 50 lbs. & 109 in.

USA3000 $50
www.usa3000airlines.com
877-USA-3000
Subject to additional charges.

USAir $200
www.usairways.com
800-245-4882
One-way per board. Remove your fins.

Virgin Atlantic Free
www.virgin-atlantic.com
800-821-5438
Free, limit one per customer. Must not exceed 109 inches and must not exceed 50 lbs in weight.

It’s great for families, as the meals are at kid friendly times for families to eat.

Here is a quick list of the happy hours.

Monday Nights in Cabarete
LAX, Bar Typo Cool.  A chill bar on the beach in Cabarete features 100RD Burger .s
Voy Voy hosts Karaokee starting at 11:00

Tuesday Nights
Cabarete East  hosts Taco Tuesday with all you can eat American style tacos.  But beware the drink menu, and to be honest, including transportation, it’s probably easier and cheaper just to go to Gorditos

Wednesday:
Cabaha hosts live music starting at 9.30pm with Ben and the Teachers from ISS Band

Thursday:
“Aloha Bar’s” hosts an All-YOU-Can-Eat BBQ Buffet, food is great, but the services is understandably slower.
Kanuna Sports Bar hosts Karaokee Party
OJO’s hosts Latin Night… this is the BIG one Thursday nights for the ladies

Friday:
Cruuise the beach in Cabarete and look for the signs that offer happy hour between 6 and 7

Saturday:
Cabarete goes off.  The big night in Town

Sunday:
Sunday Brunch is slammed at Claro’s Cafe with the lovely Sandy
Aquarium Place in Callejon de la Loma offers 2 for 1 pizza

Daily Happy Hours:

Mojoto Bar, Fantastic Mojoitos are 2 for 1 between 4 and 7pm.  Also great sandwitches and Fresh Juice
Cocktails 2for 1 at Onno’s Bar 5pm – 6pm

LAX Daily Specials
Beer 50RD & Chicken Wings 1/2 price 6pm – 7pm
Mojito 2×1 & Tapas 2 for 1
Tapas mix and match @ Onno’s Bar 10pm – 11pm
Santo & Cuba 2×1 @  Midnight
Vodka – RedBull Pitchers for 300RD

And for those looking for nothing but trouble, head to the Blue Bar for a Cup of Rum for 75RD

The best way to kite watch

1. The sun is your only alarm clock.
2. Guests and staff are as friendly as your next door neighbour.
3. We start our day with Sun Salutations, representing our gratefulness for such wonderful opportunities we are presented daily in this paradise.
4. Richard from GoKite continually demonstrates his inherent ability to read the wind. With his chill Dominican demeanor, he demonstrates a wiseness far beyond his years, one can’t help but feel in good hands.
5. Talking to the many wonderful people staying at hotel, they are always happy and well fed by Chichigua’s amazing Dominican style cooking.
6. Guests who have a green thumb are teaching me about plants in our organic garden.
7. Afternoons are filled with laughter from kids in Circus classes and adults comparing war stories from Crossfit classes.
8. Staff meetings are primarily opportunities to find new and great ways to better the hotel:
   1. How to produce more fruit and veggies in our organic garden?
   2. How will we build our outdoor pizza oven?
   3. What reusable materials can we use to build an Earthship inspired green house?
   4. How can we develop more fantastic activity packages to help people get away from corporate world and come recharge with us?
   5. Siestas are a way of life and not a treat.
   6. Every day is an adventure!

Often the lesser bank’s machines are put into scams.  Cabarete simply does not have the capacity to monitor all the bank machines.

The solution is not to avoid using your bank machine,  rather to only use the reputable machines that are not able to be rigged for a scam.

For this reason, the only bank machine that we recommend to our guests is the one in the Banco Popular, at the western entrance to Cabarete.  The added benefit to this bank machine is that if it eats your card, you can go inside the next day when it opens with ID and retrieve it if you’re there when the bank opens.  Otherwise the card gets sent to the main office and you’ll never see it again.

Another great survival tip for living in Cabarete, thanks to Mavis of Brooklyn – thanks Mavis (and Shakti!)

One of those can use things is the amazingly versatile rubbermaid storage totes.

Rubbermaid Storage tote

Rubbermaid Storage tote

Not confirmed yet with airlines in the US, but in Canada they just make the 62 ” total dimensions limitation. The official name is Rubbermaid 36 Gallon Storage tote with latches. It’s available at Home Depot in Canada and at Wall-mart for $17.99. There are also plenty of smaller retailors that carry them.

Some of the uses for those totes include ocean front storage in our lockers (where the constant salt and humidity wreak havoc on all our equipment) , and another of our personal favourites, worm bins for our worm composting!

Stay tunes and we’ll put up some photos of our various worm bins.

They are a bit smaller than the other rooms in the hotel, but they have the big benefit of an incredible view of the ocean and kite beach.

Wake up in the morning to the sound of waves crashing against the beach, and enjoy the early morning sunrise.

Available as an upcharge .. go on, you are worth it!

The beach front room on Cabarete

Some Answers:

On Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 5:48 PM, D wrote:

Good evening,

I am interested in coming to kite beach for one week, arriving leaving . I have a few questions i was hoping you could
help with.

-Are these dates available for a package of lessons, equipment,
monitoring, and hotel, if not are there other dates?
yes

In the one week package, how many nights stay are included with the
beach accommodations?

A week is 7 nights.

If two of us go, can one of us stay for an extra week for the 2 week
special price?

one on the one week price, and the other on the 2 week price – no problem.

Would we get any kind of IKO certification from our kite lessons?
If you like we can get you the IKO certificate. But it’s just a
piece of paper actually.

What specifically would be included as far as kite lesson times and
supervision/equipment?
Gear rental, 6 hours of lessons in 3 steps, unlimited use of the
gear with supervision of an assistant instructor for the whole time.
Kite as much as you like – most of what you need is practice and
that’s what we give you. We have a ton of success with this formula
at creating kiters.

My friend is considering coming, do you have any suites available and
if so what would the price be?
We have a 3 bedroom penthouse overlooking kite beach that is
$1000/week.

For a single room, can you guarantee two beds?
I can

What kind of prices can you offer on the different rooms/lessons based
on one vs two persons?
If someone joins you but no kitesurfing, it’s $50 for the week. If
two of you take the lessons then it’s $599 per person.

How many lesson hours and is unlimited supervision and equipment included?
6 hours of lessons, one on one. Unlimited supervision and gear rental

Is there food included or a restaurant on site?
Yes, a very popular restaurant right on the beach – it’s a cool place.

Are there things to do or restaurants nearby within walking distance?
we are right on the best part of kite beach. Cabarete down town is
1.4 miles away

Do we need a car?
most people get around on moto taxis – $1.50 to town

How much is a cab from the airport?
fixed rate $35

Do you have kiteboarding gear for sale there?
we do – new and used. all of cabarete has pretty good deals on kite
gear from x pro gear to hard up travellers to big companies dumping
excess inventory.

Any AAA discounts or different timeframes we should consider for a better deal?
it’s tough to beat the price anywhere in the world for what we
offer. many try but be sure to read the fine print. i can
confidently say we have the best instructors, truly unlimited
supervision (we started it), top notch gear and an amazing location.

Anything we will need?
sunscreen

I saw you have a halfpipe, should i bring my skateboard?
uh – depends. how long has it been? it’s a pro level ramp.

Any other things we should know or questions i should ask?
I’m pretty sure you covered it all – i’m going to blog this

this is a fun place, and you’ll have a great time.

I’m here if you have questions,

robbie