The Dominican Republic has ideal surf conditions for learning to surf ; warm water, mellow waves.
Beginner-friendly bays in the morning, longboard cruisers all day. Calm, forgiving water to find your feet — and the unhurried time to actually get good at it.
Cabarete’s bays face the right way for a gentle, wind-protected morning. We surf early, while the water is glassy and the crowd is thin, and save the talking and the video for the heat of the afternoon. Nobody is rushed up the levels before they’re ready.
Ideal conditions for learning
and improving your surf level
Surfing is such a great watersport and when you are in the hands of true surf professionals, surfing is accessible for people of all ages — so never think you’re too old to learn surfing.
The Dominican Republic has perfect beginner and intermediate surf spots; water and air temperatures are warm year-round, so you can leave your wetsuit at home. This truly is the ideal learn-to-surf destination.
Our beginner surf coaching program is specifically designed for people with no previous surf experience and up to 14 surf lessons. We can cater for people with more experience, intermediate and advanced surfers, but send us an email with your requirements first to see about availability.
Another reason Playa Encuentro, where we go surfing, is so good is that it’s one of the most consistent surf spots in Central America. There are surfable waves year-round — normally we can surf about 350 days a year.
Who benefits most from our
surf lessons and surf coaching
We have been teaching our guests how to surf in a structured, safe and quick way since 2009. Since then we have taught over 9,000 guests the sport of surfing.
See where you fit in with our surf lessons. We specialize and excel in teaching people from beginner to progressive levels.
Note: for advanced surf coaching and video analysis to fine tune certain surfing techniques * there might be other surf retreats better suited for you.
*(Tube riding, riding overhead waves, carving hard turns on shortboards)
Never surfed before
You have never surfed before or very little surf experience and it's been a few years since you tried to stand up on a surfboard.
Some Experience
You have done some surfing; a handful of times over the last 5 years, not a complete beginner but definitely not confident to surf waves independently.
Needs a refresher
Have done a decent amount of surfing in the past, but could do with lessons of certain aspects of your surfing, pop-up, paddle technique etc so that you can be on your way to becoming an independent surfer.
Everything but the swimsuit.
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Capped 1:4 coaching
Four guests to a coach, never more. You get the time and the eyes you came for.
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Video review
Every session filmed from the beach, then picked apart together over a cold drink.
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Boards graded to you
Foam, funboard, longboard — the right volume for your level and the day’s waves.
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Glassy morning bays
We surf the wind-protected breaks early, before the afternoon trades fill in.
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Theory at the table
Forecasts, tides, line-up etiquette — the parts that make you self-sufficient.
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Safety & etiquette
How to fall, where to sit, who has priority. Confidence built on the right habits.
Surf, Eat, Surf, Sleep
Repeat.
The rhythm of the week is half the point. A loose template — the bay, not the clock, has the final say.
Get ready
A Quick coffee or tea at Swell before we all head to the beach
Before you
paddle out.
The things first-timers and returning surfers ask us most. Anything we’ve missed — write to us, a real person replies within a day.
Zero. Most first-timers start in the whitewater on a soft foam board with a coach in the water beside them — by day three the majority are riding to the beach on their feet.
No wetsuit, all year. The water sits warm enough to surf in boardshorts or a swimsuit and a rashguard, which we provide. One less thing to pack.
Whatever suits your level and the day’s waves — foam boards to find your feet, funboards as you progress, longboards to cruise. We grade the volume to you, not the other way round.
Not a chance. We move you out the back to the green faces, work on trimming, speed and cross-stepping, and film every session for video review — the half-second detail you can’t feel on your own.
Cabarete’s bays work year-round. Winter brings the more consistent swell; summer is mellower and ideal for first-timers. Tell us your level and we’ll point you to the right weeks.
Limited spaces available
Tell us your dates, which watersport you’d like to learn (or improve) and we’ll send you a custom price and availability quote; almost instantly. Hasta pronto.