Anyone ever kite in Cabarete? I'm looking for recommended places to go, stay, take lessons.
How about the same info for South Padre.
Anyone been to both, can you tell me which was better?
Thanks,
Tom
Kiting Cabarete?
Moderator: MK
Cabarete has become a kiting destination for kiters around the world. I have not been down there recently but everyone I talked to said the entire bay goes off. There are kiting hotels, many places to take lessons and quite a few pros. I've also heard reports of it being a bit crazy to learn down there with so much going on. Beautiful island, great winds, more consistent in the summer, bigger waves, less consistent in the winter.
S. Padre is the other extreme. It is the best place to learn IMO. There are great instructors, shallow flat water for 6 x 60 miles. There is flat water or surf and steady winds. Not nearly the kiting mecca that Cabarete is, but on a smaller scale it is pretty sweet. Check the info in Destinations on this site.
You'ld have fun at either.
S. Padre is the other extreme. It is the best place to learn IMO. There are great instructors, shallow flat water for 6 x 60 miles. There is flat water or surf and steady winds. Not nearly the kiting mecca that Cabarete is, but on a smaller scale it is pretty sweet. Check the info in Destinations on this site.
You'ld have fun at either.
Tighe
Cabarete kiting
Just my two cents worth from a windsurfer. I was in Cabarete in Feb. and I have been there quite a few times. I took a kite lesson there a couple years ago and thought that the teaching quality was good, but the location wasn't that great for beginners.
There is often a shorebreak to deal with which is just another thing you don't want to have to worry about. Also, the kiting area is small so there are a lot of kites in the air. Some of them are beginners and you never know when one will be comming down. So it was just too crowded for me and my limited skills.
I agree with Tighe, Padre is a better place to learn kiting. No real shorebreak, more room and good instructors. It doesn't have as much fun as Cabarete though.
If you want to get away, maybe Margarita Island if you can get a good deal. I thought it was a top knotch place for learning.
There is often a shorebreak to deal with which is just another thing you don't want to have to worry about. Also, the kiting area is small so there are a lot of kites in the air. Some of them are beginners and you never know when one will be comming down. So it was just too crowded for me and my limited skills.
I agree with Tighe, Padre is a better place to learn kiting. No real shorebreak, more room and good instructors. It doesn't have as much fun as Cabarete though.
If you want to get away, maybe Margarita Island if you can get a good deal. I thought it was a top knotch place for learning.
sPk
I just got back from Cabarete, and I total agree with Steve K. There are lots of instructors and places to rent gear in Cabarete. However, it is a bit crowded on a heavy day and shore break is tough to deal with if you are a begginer. Other then that it is a great place to spend time beatuful weather and ocean.
If you want you can do some research at http://www.windsofcabarete.com/windsOfCabarete and
http://www.kitexcite.com/
P.S. I am personnaly a windsurfer, but I was there with some kitesurfing friends.
If you want you can do some research at http://www.windsofcabarete.com/windsOfCabarete and
http://www.kitexcite.com/
P.S. I am personnaly a windsurfer, but I was there with some kitesurfing friends.