Surfing in the Dominican Republic: the best resorts and schools

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Perfect summer vacation each of us sees in his own way. For some it's lazy time on the beach, while for others it's sightseeing. But there is another category of tourists. During the holidays they try to master a new sport. Often it is characterized as extreme and gives the opportunity to experience a lot of unusual sensations.

In recent years, surfing has become increasingly popular, making it a real “love” for tourists of all ages from the first trial lesson. In places suitable for surfing, new schools and campsites open every year, where you can even come with the whole family and settle in the most comfortable conditions. Such schools are most in demand in Goa and the Dominican Republic. Surfing in these countries is actively developing, and now tourists come here only to fly on the waves on the board. In the high season, when the waves are both high and long, there is no free space on the beaches for lovers of this type of water sport. We will tell you a lot of interesting things about surfingin the Dominican Republic. Where to go surfing? Which school to choose? What beaches and resorts are best suited for such a pastime? We will cover these and many other questions in the article.

The Dominican Republic from an extreme watersports lover's point of view

Surfing in the Dominican Republic began to develop actively since the beginning of the 2000s, when the authorities of the republic began to pay close attention to the tourist infrastructure. The country, located on one of the islands of Haiti, is ideal for people with different interests. There are many kilometers of white sandy beaches, luxurious all-inclusive hotels, unique sights and simply incredible sea. More precisely - two seas. The Dominican Republic is washed by the Sargasso and Caribbean seas, so nature itself has created all the conditions for water sports. Its most popular types in the Dominican Republic are classic surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing. All this can be learned in specialized schools.

They open in large settlements and small villages, which were once known only to fishermen. In addition to them, campsites, sports equipment rentals, shops selling specialized equipment, and new surfing bases are being built in the Dominican Republic.

Thanks to this infrastructure, the flow of tourists coming to the country's resorts for water sports is only increasing every year.

Five reasons to come to the Dominican RepublicRepublic for surfing

If you are wondering whether it is worth spending time on a trip to the Dominican Republic, because you are not aware of the level of surfing training, then do not worry - both beginners and professionals will be comfortable on the beaches of the republic. There are a lot of spots of different difficulty levels here. Among them, you can always choose a place suitable for skiing, and if you wish, try all the locations that exist on the beaches.

The second reason to come here for vacation is a large number of surf schools. There are more than twenty of them in the Dominican Republic, and many of them conduct classes in Russian. A novice surfer can choose a school only with Russian-speaking instructors, but also with classes conducted in two or even three languages at the same time.

Another factor that acts as a kind of "plus" for the Dominican Republic is the developed infrastructure for surfing. On almost every beach there are rental centers, small shops and diverse training schools. This makes surfing easy and simple even for beginners.

Tuition and living costs are the fourth reason surfers go to the Dominican Republic. Here you can find a center that will suit your budget. Moreover, the average cost of living in campsites and surfer hotels is fifteen dollars. One lesson with an instructor usually costs no more than thirty-five dollars. Compared to other overseas surf lessons, these numbers are well below average.

The fifth reasonto come to the Dominican Republic can be considered the ease of paperwork for the trip. A tourist will only need a desire and a plane ticket, because our compatriots do not need a visa to stay on the island for a month.

Surf season in the Dominican Republic

This country is good because you can surf here almost all year round. If you simply consider the weather conditions of the Dominican Republic, it turns out that the high season here begins in November and ends in April. During these months, there is little rain on the island, a fresh breeze blows, and temperatures often exceed thirty degrees Celsius.

The rainy season starts in May in the Dominican Republic. Precipitation falls mainly in the morning and evening, and the temperature fluctuates around twenty-five degrees Celsius. Hurricanes and storms come to the coast in May and September.

Based on the above, we can draw conclusions about the seasons suitable for surfing. It is better for tourists to come to the north of the island from September to March. This part of the coast is washed by the waters of the Sargasso Sea, which during this period give surfers the most desired waves.

From June surfers can travel to the south of the country. Here, sports take place in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Despite the frequent rains at this time, during the day the weather is conducive to boarding on the waves.

Interestingly, one to three hours by car separates one part of the country from another. Therefore, tourists can always change their location to a more suitable one if they wish.

BestDominica Resorts & Surf Schools: North Coast

If you decide to go to this country to practice this sport, then you should still choose a place at home where you will master the art of skating on the board. Where is the best place to surf in the Dominican Republic? You may be surprised, but there are a lot of places like this.

Since we found out that the seasons for surfing vary depending on the coast, we will consider the beach areas separately. If the northern part of the country tempts you, then two areas should seriously consider for beginners and professionals:

1. Puerto Plata. This province is famous for its luxurious beaches, which attract both ordinary tourists and lovers of extreme water sports. In general, the coast here stretches for one hundred and fifty meters. It is well-groomed and well-equipped, and wild stretches of the coast alternate with private beach areas belonging to hotels. The advantage of Puerto Plata is its own small airport, which greatly simplifies the road to the holiday destination for tourists. Three beach areas are considered the most suitable for boarding on the waves:

Near the city of Sosua.
At the resort of Playa Dorada.
Near the city of Cabarete. By the way, this beach area is included in the world list of places ideal for boarding on the waves. This is facilitated by the bottom topography and special climatic conditions. In season, the waves on this beach often reach one hundred and fifty meters, which is the dream of both beginners and professionals in surfing.

2. Rio San Juan. This area has long beentimes considered the fishing center of the country. From here, the daily morning catch diverges to hotel complexes and catering establishments. But the beach areas brought great fame to the province:

Playa Grande.
El Barco.
La Prechios.

A distinctive feature of these places are waves of different nature. They rise to a height of fifty to three hundred meters, moreover, they are not of the same length. Naturally, this attracts surfers from all over the world to the coast.

Surfers choice on the south coast of the Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, surfing in the south is no less developed than in the north. Therefore, if you go on vacation in June or July, be sure to choose the right place for yourself to ride the board.

In the south, two provinces are the most famous among fans of water sports:

Juan Dolio. This region of the country is famous for its calm coastal zones. Most of the beaches are suitable for swimmers, but not for surfers. However, one interesting place for them in the province still exists - this is Playa Caribe. A distinctive feature of the beach is the unpredictability of currents and waves. They constantly change their height and size, which is very attractive to surfers.
Baraona. There are several beach areas in this province where you can enjoy boarding:

San Rafael.
Barranca.
La Chinaga.

Usually athletes gather here,above average skiing skills. The waves on the beaches are intermittent and rise from twenty to two hundred meters in height. In recent years, surfing competitions have often been held here, where beginners come to get invaluable experience.

East coast of Dominican Republic

Tourists come here not only for the thrill, but also for the usual beach holiday. After all, on the east coast is the most famous resort in the country - Punta Cana.

Surfing in the Dominican Republic is already developing by leaps and bounds, but this place has the most famous schools and campsites. The resort itself is famous for its luxurious hotels, an abundance of entertainment facilities and a wide range of opportunities for a memorable vacation. Surfers are attracted here by the length and height of the waves. Nowhere else in the country are there such suitable conditions for water sports.

Most often, surf schools in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) are located near the Macau beach. It is considered wild and it is impossible to find even sun loungers with umbrellas here. The entire beach area is covered with golden sand and stretches for several kilometers. This coast is far from tourist centers, hustle and bustle. Surfers are attracted to Macau by its clean and even bottom, the absence of algae and the depth, starting literally at the very shore.

Surf schools in brief

There are many centers in the country where a beginner can choose a suitable training program and eventually receive a certificate, inwhich will indicate his level of board control. If you plan to come to grips with learning to surf in the Dominican Republic, then you should settle away from large cities. Like-minded people from all over the world gather in campsites and schools. Here you can meet beginners who practice basic moves on the beach, and surfers who have an initial riding skill and come to improve their level.

Often, water sports enthusiasts come to schools to prepare for competitions. The infrastructure in such places is usually very well developed, so families can come to them, even if one of its members is surfing. The conditions of living in campsites are selected for any budget: from Spartan to the level of a five-star hotel.

If you are a beginner and you just have to get acquainted with surfing, then pay attention to three schools that provide a high level of training for tourists who prefer active and extreme recreation:

Surf camping in Rio San Juan.
La Preciosa.
Cabarete Surf Camp.

They will be discussed in the following sections of the article.

Camping in Rio San Juan

This Russian surf school in the Dominican Republic is pretty well known. It is located near the best spots and offers a wide range of training programs. For beginners, a package that includes accommodation and training is suitable. The course lasts from one to three weeks and costs one hundred dollars per person.

If you already have board experience, then you should choose another program. It implies the presence ofsurfer own board and costs ninety dollars per person.

For those who stay at the hotel but want to surf, we can recommend a package without accommodation. It will cost seventy dollars per person. Course duration is limited to three weeks.

In Russian camping, only group classes are practiced, lasting two hours. During this time, tourists master the theory, conduct a warm-up, train and, in conclusion, make an analysis of the mistakes made by the group.

La Preciosa

There are quite a lot of Russian surf schools in the Dominican Republic, but La Preciosa is very popular. It was founded about sixteen years ago and over the years has managed to win the trust of tourists from around the world.

The school uses modern methods that have proven to be very effective. In addition, professionals in their field work here, receiving prizes at various surfing competitions.

Some of the instructors are Russian, but also local guys teach at La Preciosa. Usually the group does not exceed ten people, which allows you to pay maximum attention to each student.

La Preciosa has a very convenient location. Nearby there are restaurants and cafes, so tourists do not have problems with food. In addition to teaching, the school organizes excursions to the most beautiful places on the island. One day of surfing costs tourists ninety dollars.

Cabarete Surf Camp

This campsite is the perfect choice for family vacations and learning. It is located in a secludedand quiet lagoon. But just five minutes from Cabarete Surf Camp there are shops, shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment venues.

You can live in this school with a high level of comfort - in cottages, bungalows, studios and family apartments. In addition, on the territory of Cabarete Surf Camp there is a swimming pool with a relaxation area and a restaurant known throughout the island for its delicious cocktails.

Also, this school has very good quality boards and a staff of highly professional instructors.

Many of our compatriots go to surf in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic). Reviews of local schools are always full of enthusiastic comments. Since there are always a lot of tourists in Punta Cana, one-day packages are mostly practiced here. They include transfer from the hotel to the ski area, training and lunch. Usually it is with such mini-programs that a great love for surfing begins.