The hurricane season starts in August, and goes to November, with the bulk of Hurricanes in September and October.

We are fortunate in our position to be a rare direct hit, due to the fact that the leeward islands, Puerto Rico and the East side of the Dominican Republic are all in the way before hurricanes hit us.  We are also protected by the mountains.

The upside to Hurricanes is the waves.  We are expecting 20 ft waves with this hurricane, which makes for some outrageous surfing conditions for those brave enough to bear the conditions.  And for the really insane, the kitesurfing can be epic.

hurricane earl misses Cabarete

A perfect day for kiteboarding

It’s that time of year again!  The summer months here at Kitebeach in Cabarete are fantastic, and one of the best times to come to eXtreme Hotel on a kiteboarding vacation.  It’s a great time of year whether you are an advanced rider, or just wanting to learn to kitesurf.  The mornings begin with bright sunshine and calm water, perfect for a jog on the beach, a yoga session in our yoga loft, or an early morning swim.

GoKiteCabarete Kiteschool

Ususally the trade winds kick in around 11am, though sometimes even earlier.  Early afternoon is a great time to learn kitesurfing as the winds is generally lighter than in the late afternoon.  We have GoKiteCabarete kiteschool located on site here at the hotel.  They can provided you with all the instruction, gear and knowlege you need to become a kiteboarder.

In the early afternoon, 10-12m kites are the usual sizes ridden.  Around 1-2pm, the wind slowly increases in speed until riders are using 8-10m kites.  Sometimes the smaller kiteboarders and women riders are even out on 6 or 7m kites.  The wind blows consistantly all day long until past sundown, though usually lessening in strength around sunset.  So far in June, we have had 22 days with enough wind to kite, with 15-20 knots being the average daily wind speed.

Sunset soul session

From 6-7:30, enjoy your own personal soul session after the majority of kitesurfers are off the water and many of the kiteboarding schools have closed for the day.  At this time of day, the ocean is your playground and you have the water to yourself.  It’s a great way to enjoy a Carribean sunset.

Afterwards, it’s time to shower and get ready for dinner in town.  Many different possibilities include, the famous Chicken Shack, Casa Mamies, Pomodoros, Pitu’s Pizza, or any of the beach bars and restaurants located in downtown Cabarete.  There are many different places to eat no matter what your budget is.

So book your kitesurfing vacation now with eXtreme Hotel and prepare to have an amazing time!

Most of the locals that work in Cabarete live in one of two small villiages in Cabarete.  They are Las Sienaga to the west and Callejon to the east.  If you befriend a local while here on vacation, you should take the opportunity to visit one of the villages to see where the locals live and enjoy a meal at one of the colmados.  You can usually find fish or chicken (BBQ or fried) with rice, beans, yuca, platino or guinao.  Sometimes there is pork or goat available too.  Water and Coca-Cola seem to be the beverages of choice.

In Cabarete there are a few places where you can eat authentic Dominican style meals.  The Chicken Shack is by far the most popular with it’s fresh BBQ chicken and choice of side for 100 pesos.  Sides include yuca, French fries, fried platino and salad.  Just down the road after the entrance to Callejon is Casa Mamis where there is a varied menu of several different items you can choose from.  Each day the menu is different, but often includes fish fillets from mero or marlin, lemon chicken, BBQ chicken, meatballs, beef skewers, octopus and several other items.  These also come with salad and a side for 140 pesos.  Water on the house is available to drink along with pop and beer.  In town there are a few street vendors worth checking out at night.  In front of Blue Bar is a cart where you can buy delicious hot pork sandwiches for 100 pesos and in front of the Scotiabank is a hotdog vendor that has the best toppings in town for 50 pesos.  Sometimes he also has pork or chicken sandwiches available too.

About 300m down the road from eXtreme Hotel is a little fruit stand.  This is a great place to pickup fresh fruit and veggies to have for snacks, breakfast and salads.  The produce is grown locally and they carry whatever is in season in the area.  You can pickup items such as bananas, mango, papaya, starfruit, chinola (passionfruit), lettuce, tomato, eggplant, avocado and many others.  During the day there is also a booth here to buy hot food, ususally chicken with rice, beans and salad.  It’s perfect for takeout, tastes great and is easy on the pocketbook.

A tranquil Kitebeach

Forgotten Ruins

Usually we like to talk about the extreme activities  available here at eXtreme Hotel Cabarete such as kiteboarding, surfing, circus school with flying trapeze  and Mixed Martial Arts and Ju Jitsu training.  However, as a beach front hotel with a great location on Kitebeach here in Cabarete, we are also blessed with the beauty of the ocean and a stretch of sandy beach extending miles in either direction from the hotel.

Many of guests of eXtreme and other hotels take advantage of the beach all day long enjoying many leisure activities including kitesurfing,  beach volleyball, building sandcastles or simply just sunbathing.  One favorite activity is to take a walk or a run on the beach in the mornings to start the

A beautiful flower

Coconut Palms

day.  You can amble along enjoying the sound of the ocean waves rolling up on the beach, you can push yourself running to your favorite tunes on your MP3 player, or simply take the time to walk your dog and play a game of fetch.

This morning I took a leisurley walk along Kitebeach and brought my camera along with me.  I have included several of the photos I took of many interesting things that I saw on my walk.  I hope you enjoy them as well, and have the opportunity to check things out for yourself while here on your vacation.  Some of the things I saw included: horses running on the beach, crabs scrambling from their hidey-holes to the water, shells,

Waves crashing against reef at low tide

Driftwood

interesting reef formations, sandunes, pretty flowers, coconut palms, really neat looking driftwood and palm-roofed huts to name a few.

Come check out more photos on facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cabarete-Dominican-Republic/The-eXtreme-Hotel/102973055055

Horses running on the beach

A perfect day of kiteboarding

Go Kite Cabarete instructor and student

Summer kiteboarding in Cabarete is fantastic!  Every day you wake up to sunshine and blue skies, knowing that in a few hours you’ll be out on the water.  The months of June and July each had 27 days of kiteable wind.  The wind has been strong, with kiteboarders riding primarily 8-10m kites, with a few days on 10-12m kites.  Most days have been between 15-25 knots, with the wind coming on around lunch time and continuing until after sunset.  There have been several days of excellant waves, with expierienced riders enjoying kitesurfing the break in front of Kitebeach.

Learning to kiteboard

Kitebeach, Cabarete

Go Kite Cabarete is the kitesurfing school located on site here at eXtreme Hotel, and they have been busy turning complete beginners into kiteboarders.  It’s great watching students get the hang of kitesurfing and start riding independantly.    It’s so satisfying seeing the delighted smiles and high fives that come from a successful run out on the water!  It only takes a few days of instruction and practice until you’ve fallen in love with your new sport and begin the addiction known as kiteboarding.

If you’re worried about crowds or you enjoy your peace and quiet, you should head down here for August and September when the wind is great and there are fewer kiteboarders out on the water, and visitors in the area.  This makes it a great time to learn to kite.  Extend your summer vacation and spend September kitesurfing at eXtreme!

Lots of Lettuce and Bok Choy

If you have been following some of  the blogs here, you’ve probably read a little about eXtreme Hotel’s organic farm.  The farm is called Taino Farms, after the native people of the island and it is located in the mountains of Los Brazos.

The farm manager is big on using permaculture techniques and organic farming methods.  There are no chemicals of any kind used at our farm.  We try to use recycled materials or natural products wherever we can.  We grow much of our produce vertically, rather than horizontally, maximizing the space we utalize.

The produce from the farm augments the food we use in the kitchen at the hotel to produce fresh and healthy meals at our restaurant.  As production increases, we will increasingly use fresh organic produce from the farm at the restaurant.  It is our goal to eventually use only the organic produce from our farm to create delicious, wholesome meals in the restuarant.

Seedlings for sale

Additionally, we sell some produce and

Different kinds of cucumbers.

seedlings at the local Cabarete market on Saturdays from 10-2.

Some of the produce we have includes different lettuce, spinach, bok choy, various tomatoes and cucmbers, different types of squash, garlic, herbs including lemongrass, basil and oregano.  We also have various fruits including grapefruit, chinola, cherry, banana, starfruit and other local Dominican fruits.  Some of these seedlings are also available for purchase at the market.

The compost from the kitchen at eXtreme Hotel, along with several other restaurants in Cabarete are taken to the farm to provide natural fertilizer.

A river runs through it.

Behind the farm is a beautiful river that flows down from the mountains.  It is a cool and refreshing place to swim, with a sandy bottom.

Tours are available from the hotel to the farm where you can learn about organic farming and permaculture, enjoy some lunch and take a refreshing swim in the river.  Ask the staff at the hotel about the tour and they will be more than willing to set one up for you.  This is a fun and educational eco-tour and a great way to spend a day, especially if there is not much wind for kiteboarding at the hotel.

The organic garden at eXtreme Hotel

At  eXtreme Hotel you will find a garden that implements many of the techniques and concepts that we use at the farm.  Come check it out.  If you see the farm manager working in the garden feel free to ask him any questions you may have.  He is always willing to share his knowledge with others and is very animated regarding his work.

Come see for yourself why eXtreme Hotel is the most unique and fun place on Kitebeach in Cabarete.  For a personal touch and that little extra something, this is the place to be.

Samana Bay

This week, some guests of eXtreme Hotel decided to explore some other areas of the Dominican Republic.  A three day kitesurfing road trip was organized by the staff here at eXtreme.  A 4×4 was rented for three days from a rental agency here in Cabarete and was loaded up with kiteboarding gear.  Everyone jumped in the car and off we went.  Only stopping for cold water and a bathroom break, the driving was smooth on the newly resurfaced highway 5.   In Sanchez, we left Highway 5 to head up into the mountains towards Las Terrenas.  At one point, the view opened up displaying the beauty of Samana Bay far below us, surrounded by coconut palms as far as the eye could see.  The road from Sanchex to Las Terrenas was an adventure on its own with many potholes and construction, and switchback turns.  Make sure your breaks are in good repair before attempting this road!  The scenery was beautiful for the entire drive.

Once we arrived in Las Terrenas, we were surprised by its size.  It was even bigger than Sosua, and shaped like a figure 8, with one way streets.  The main road followed the coastline where there were many hotels, Bed and Breakfasts and restaurants.  The entire coast was beach with some reef further out.  As kiteboarders, our first priority was to check out the two local spots and to determine the kitesurfing conditions.  After talking with some of the locals, we were told the wind would be up later in the afternoon, so we decided to go look for a place to stay before kiteboarding.

Hotel Casa Nina

Earlier on, we had decided not to make any reservations, but to look for an inexpensive place to stay upon arrival.  We found a place called Hotel Casa Nina that suited our needs perfectly.  It was simple and cheap and had room for four people to sleep and a bathroom.  We wanted to keep it simple as we would be on the beach kiting all day, everyday and out enjoying the nightlife in the evenings.

Flatwater riding

After we checked into the hotel, we changed into beach clothes, grabbed out kitesurfing gear and returned to the local kite spot in time to catch some wind.  The beach was beautiful and we were kiteboarding in a protected bay, so we had excellant flatwater conditions.  The only concern were the patches of reef underwater inside the bay where some came very close to breaking he surface of the water.  One member of our group hit the fins of his board on one of the reefs.  Further out, the reef became very shallow and covered most of the bay.  When doing tricks, you had to be careful to pick a line so that if you crashed, you wouldn’t land on any reef.  The second and third days, the water was higher and the reef was easier to navigate.  Over the three days we rode 8-12m kites, with 10m kites being the most popular.  The kiteboarding location was about a three minute drive from our hotel, and the 4×4 came in handy navigating the trail from the road to the beach.  The flatwater conditions and small number of kiteboarders made this an excellant place for everyone in our group to work on new tricks.  At one point in our second day, I was the only person on the water for nearly an hour.  The most kitesurfers out on the water at any time was eight or nine.  Usually there were four to six kitesurfers at a time.  The beach had both sunny and shady areas, though I recommend bringing water with you as there was no food or drink available here.

The local kite scene

After our first day of kiteboarding we returned to the hotel and bathed and changed our clothes.  Afterwards we went looking for a local place that served Dominican style food and enjoyed all sorts of local cuisine from pollo fritos, yuca, porco and platino fritos to name a few.  When we were finished eating we went to check out a country fair that was operating in town.  They had all kinds of tents set up and a very old ferris wheel, carousel and swing ride.  There were venders selling anything you could think of and we bought cotton candy and some beer to enjoy while listening to local live music playing Haitian based tunes.

After our second day of kitesurfing, we went to check out a different restaurant that had an American theme and some very good hamburgers.  Afterwards we went in search of a pool hall and had a great time playing together.  We even had a mini-tournament (I lost) and drank some more beer while we played.  The music coming through the speakers was primarily Dominican Reggaeton.

The drive home

Our third day had the best wind and weather and we stayed to kiteboard until around 4pm.  Then we packed up the car, had some food and hit the road for our return trip back to Cabarete.  The drive back through the mountains was just as beautiful the second time through as the first.  On the return drive we stopped at a couple of potential kitboarding locations for possible future adventures.

After arriving safe and sound in Cabarete, it sure felt great to sleep in my own bed again.  We ended up with some great photos and videos of our adventure and a lot of happy memories of good times with friends.

Unlike any other hotel on the beach, we offer a nice big grassy area, free of obstruction where you can pump up your kite, wash it and pack it down safely without bringing home half the beach with you!  This helps to keep sand out of your pump, valves and bladders, prolonging the life of your kite.  With conditions ranging from flat to choppy and various sized waves breaking on the reef, kitebeach offers some of the best conditions in the world.  The wind is side-onshore, usually 15-25 knots and blows consistantly from lunch time until after sunset.

In addition to kitesurfing, eXtreme Hotel also boasts some other great board sport activities.  When the swell is in, we have one of the best surf breaks in the area, with waves reaching to over double overhead in height.  There might be a bit of a paddle to get out to the break, but you’ll have the whole wave to yourself.  Want to spice things up?  eXtreme also offers tow-in surfing, using a jetski.  This is for advanced riders only!  In addition, Encuentro surf beach is just a five minute moto concho ride away from the hotel.  Located there are many surf schools and rental shops, plus the break is a little closer to shore.  Be careful though!  You probably want to wear water shoes to protect your feet from the fire coral and reef.

"The Underground"

Also located on site at eXteme Hotel is a world class skateboarding halfpipe, “The Underground”.  Open to the public on weekends, you can kill it with some of the Dominican’s best skaters.  Don’t feel intimidated by the level of riding, we also have plenty of kids and women learning to skate here too.

SUPs in the lagoon

Also to be found on kitebeach and soon to be availale at eXtreme Hotel are standup paddleboards (SUPs).  Several locations on the beach offer rentals and some instruction.  They are much longer and wide than conventional surfboards and much more stable.  The use a paddle to propel yourseld out to the break, and standing on your board, you can see the sets c in earlier than when you surf, allowing you more time to set up for your ride.  Kite Method also offers an eco-tour into the Cabarete Lagoon in small SUPs where you leisurely paddle around the lagoon at your own pace while taking in the local flora and fauna.  IT’s very beautiful and tranquil here and protected from the wind.  Make sure you wear a hat, sunscreen and bring some water with you!  Afterwards, you’ll be treated to a coconut, some sugar cane and some almonds from the lagoon.

Further down the beach is Bozo Beach whereyou can find many windsurfers riding hard and their associated schools and rental shops.  Most windsurfers stay in Bozo Bay, and rarely venture forth to kitebeach.  This area has been one of the premeir locations for windsurfing for decades, and is the home for many competitions for both windsurfing and kiteboarding.

Wakeboarding can also be found locally here in Cabarete and is usually done on the local river where the water is always flat.  If you are interested, there are local tour groups that arrange outings, or you can ask at the front desk and one of our receptionists will be happy to call and inquire about wakeboarding availability for you.

Extreme Hotel is your extreme board sports vacation destination.

The hot water heaters were removed from the hotel rooms and 600 Litres of solar hot water heaters were installed.  There is enough hot water for three showers per room.

The key components (things you can never be without) were identified and an independents solar panel and battery system was installed.  The key components were identified as the internet connections and wireless routers, the security cameras and the hallway lights.  These systems are always on, so you can get to your room, surf the web and have a hot shower anytime.

Banana Palms

A model of the hotel was put into a wind simulator to identify optimum venting and take advantage of the constant winds  in  Cabarete.   Vents were installed in key locations in all rooms, ensuring proper circulation and the result was an amazing reduction of 5 degrees that removed the need for air conditioners.  It worked so well that in the winter months guests occaisionally request extra blankets.

The roof was sealed with a special material containing reflective particles developed by NASA, reducing heat by a further 3 degrees.  We have also painted the hotel white to further reflect the sun from the building, again reducing the internal temperature.

Over the years we have nurtured the growth of many different palm trees that provide shade to the hotel and it’s grounds.  (These palms also provide fresh coconut, banana and platino).

The landscaping plants used on site are local and can survive and thrive on local rainfall, so do not require regular watering, reducing our water consumption.  In the hotel bathrooms we use low-flow showerheads, also reducing water consumption and increasing the amount of solar powered hot water available for use.

Our herb garden

Our kitchen puts it’s organic waste into a compost bin which is taken regularly to our organic farm called Taino Farms located up in the foothills of Los Brazos.  Produce from the farm is used in our kitchen and sold on Saturdays at the local  market.  We also have a small herb garden growing on site, that in the future will provide herbs for the kitchen.  In addition, planter boxes in the hotel hallways are currently being planted with aromatic herbs and spices.

We offer a water exchange program through the MiGym, where you can purchase an 18L (5 gal) bottle of water that when finished is exchanged for a full one and the empty bottle is returned to be sterilized and reused.

Room fridges are certified energy efficient and are unplugged when not in use.

A windmill was installed on the leading edge of the hotel to power the pool pumps.

We hang dry the laundry and use environmentally conscious cleaning products.

Low wattage light bulbs and low consumption fans have been installed in the rooms.

It’s been an effort, but the resulting reduction in power consumption has been tremendous.  We have reduced our overall consumption by over 60%.

Permaculture at work

Our newest project is to bring organic permaculture to the hotel grounds.  We are currently in the process of establishing several different varieties of vegetables and fruit trees.  We are using recycled materials as building material, including used tires and driftwood.  Given a little time to grow and some TLC, this area of the hotel will be a beautiful greenspace to be enjoyed by all and a great way to learn about permaculture.

“What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet. We don’t know what details of a truly sustainable future are going to be like, but we need options, we need people experimenting in all kinds of ways and permaculturists are one of the critical gangs that are doing that.”

Dr. David Suzuki, geneticist, broadcaster and international environmental advocate

We are always looking for more and better ways to live a “green” lifestyle here on Kitebeach in Cabarete.  We will continue to make changes here at eXtreme Hotel over time in our effort to be as environmentally responsible as we can.

]]> http://extremehotels.com/green-hotel/feed/ 0 http://extremehotels.com/another-excellant-demonstration-by-kaiceitos-circus-at-extreme-hotel/ http://extremehotels.com/another-excellant-demonstration-by-kaiceitos-circus-at-extreme-hotel/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:34:56 +0000 Sara http://extremehotels.com/?p=1101

Somersaults by the youngest circus students.

Children's flying trapeze

On Saturday June 19, 2010, from 5:00-6:30, Kaiceitos Circus put on a fabulous demonstration with their students.  The demonstration showcased the range of moves and techniques learned by the students at the circus school located here at eXtreme Hotel on Kitebeach, Cabarete.

Students ranged in age from 3 years old to adult.  The demonstrations primarily featured the kids from the children’s classes.  Demonstrations included feats on the flying trapeze, static trapeze, Spanish web, trampoline, juggling and body balancing.

Juggling with really big knives

Body balancing

Everyone had a great time including the spectators, participants and our circus school hosts.  Hot dogs were available to eat and the bar was open to quench your thirst.

Kaiceitos Circus School is open Monday to Saturday and run classes at least twice a day.  Flying trapeze classes run most days from 11:30-1:30pm and again from 4:00-6:00pm, with other specialty classes inbetween.  Children’s classes are on Wednesday and Saturday.

Stay tuned in July for Kaiceitos Circus’s demonstration to be held at Lax restaurant in downtown Cabarete.