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Northcore

Stormrider Guide to surfing Amber Coast

Dominican Republic, CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN


La Derecha, HookedCabarete.com

Summary

+ Great surf/wind/kite combo - Short swell season
+ Indented coastline with good reefs - Unfavourable trade winds
+ All-inclusive resorts - Afternoon sea breezes
+ Cheap for the Caribbean - Urchin infested reefs

Considering it’s position next to wave-drenched Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic should have a much longer history and established surf culture. It has managed to duck the spotlight and remain relatively low-key until recently, as north coast hotspots are now getting swamped by surfers from the US, Puerto Rico, Europe and a growing local contingent. The Amber Coast extends along the central, north-facing part of the island, picking up the constant N-E swells, either wind generated or from North Atlantic frontal and pressure systems. Either way, its hard to avoid the wind, which blows hard from the NE or E most days from 10am or sometimes even earlier, resulting in towns like Cabarete becoming world-class kite and windsurfing centres.

When to Go

Between November and March, 2-15ft N swells arrive from lows located off Florida. Early winter is usually good despite regular rain which diminishes before the trade winds pick-up from mid-January. Prevailing winds are either side of E all year-round, getting super strong in winter, so surf early before the trades kick in. Hurricanes and SE windswells awaken the south coast, mainly through the summer months. Tidal range remains under 0.6m.

Surf Spots

Next to the colonial fort in Puerto Plata, a channel splits the reefs of La Puntilla, offering intense rights and lefts on a head high northerly swell. The cityÕs other option, Coffee Break is a reef peak worth checking when itÕs too small for La Puntilla. On the biggest northern swells when Encuentro spots start closing-out, peaks will appear in Sosua Bay, groomed by the offshore trades, creating a short, clean, sucky ride thatÕs best going left. Also check La Boca to the southwest. El Canal is a good but fickle left reef with a shorter right that needs a headhigh swell to work. Encuentro is the Dominican RepublicÕs surf hotspot with a concentrated variety of waves. Destroyers is a very shallow, urchin covered reef, holding fast, round lefts in NW-NE swells and the neighbouring left of Mini Tavarua is even faster and hollower - pros only! La Izqierda is a lower tide left with plenty of push and barrel sections, especially in NW swells, but all these lefts are very exposed to the wind. La Derecha is the most consistent wave in Encuentro with long, walling rights for shredders on the outside reef plus the occasional left in all swells, especially NE. BoboÕs rights and lefts are a bit faster, less-crowded and thereÕs easier rollers in deeper water over the sandier inside for the many surf schools. The treacherous peak at Coco Pipe is for experts only who can handle the heavy drop, barrel, get out quick sequence that the better rights demand. The whole Encuentro stretch usually gets blown-out by 10am in summer trades, yet winter can have plenty of glassy days. Kite Beach hosts an outer reef A-frame thatÕs a long paddle and handles the biggest N-NE swells. The rights are best and itÕs never crowded until the kiteboarders appear around midday. Beyond Punta Goleta is Bozo Beach a thumping, fast, experts only shorebreak that pits and spits, keeping bodyboarders and shut-down tube hunters happy. In east Cabarete just opposite the Police Station, thereÕs more sandy reefbreak that seems to line-up better in an E swell. Both La Bomba (opposite an old gas station) and Mananero are curvaceous beachbreaks leading down to the La Boca rivermouth kite spot and providing there is little wind, short barrels are plentiful amongst the shifting peaks. East of Rio San Juan, rights peel down a reef in front of the main entrance to the Playa Grande. Around the corner and a long paddle against the sweeping current, La Preciosa peak is known to get picture perfect, especially going left. Needs more size than Encuentro, but gets real good in a due N without the same crowd factor. Tucked into the next bay east, the wreck of El Barco helps another A-frame reef sculpt some speedy rights and it will handle a bit of E-SE wind. Even better protected is the experts only pointbreak La Muela that doesnÕt start breaking until itÕs overhead, but will hold shape as big as it gets, rumbling down the point with power and purpose.

Statistics
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
dominant swell N -NE N -NE NE -E NE -E N -E N -NE
swell size (ft) 3-4 3 1-2 1 3 3-4
consistency (%) 80 65 30 30 60 75
dominant wind NE -E NE -NE NE -SE NE -E NE -SE NE -E
average force F4 F4 F4 F4 F4 F4
consistency (%) 79 76 89 81 84 79
water temp (C) 25 26 27 28 28 27
wetsuit boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts boardshorts

Travel Information

Weather
The so-called ÒcoolÓ season (Nov to March) is pleasantly warm with low humidity and a few days rain each month. The temperature hovers around 29¡C (84¡F) during the day and 20¡C (68¡F) at night. Summer temperatures range between 28C-35¡C (60-95¡F). The highlands are considerably cooler. June to September is the hurricane season, with one blowing through every 8-16yrs. Boardies only.

Lodging and Food
Lots of resorts between Sosua and Cabarete. Hooked Cabarete have apartments from $25/n behind the beach at Encuentro. DR Surf Tours (book via Waterways) offer surf packages and explore the whole coast. Dominican dishes come with brown beans (habichuelas) and rice. Presidente is the local beer and the local Brugal rum is cheap and cheerful.

Nature and Culture
Cabarete is busy with bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Check Lake DuduÕs tarzan swing and 10m zipline jump. Visit the beautiful island of Cayo Lavandado, in the Bay of Samana or travel through the highest mountain chain in the Caribbean. World-class kitesurfing in Cabarete.

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