Note: No upcoming trips are currently scheduled, so please check back at a later date.

For students that want to accelerate their kiteboarding progression and experience the adventure of a lifetime, we invite you to join us for one of our week-long boot camps set in the beautiful (and windy) kiteboarding mecca of Cabarete, Dominican Republic, also known as Sammy’s hometown.
Sammy’s Bootcamp is your chance to up your kiteboarding skills to a level you never thought possible. Experience the best of this legendary kite spot and enjoy exceptional Dominican hospitality with your local guide, Sammy! And if you’re already an advanced rider, even better – we’ll take you to our special private spots with both wave and flat water conditions, as well as on an amazing downwinder.

Bonus: when possible, we try to align our Bootcamp dates with the Cabarete Kite Fest(opens in a new tab) (organized by our friend and pro-kite legend Susi Mai) and a world-class big air kiteboarding competition! On your downtime, you’ll be able to watch the best guys in the world shred it from just a few yards away, and mingle with kite aficionados (and hit up the parties, if you wish).

Included

  • 5 days of intensive lessons, plus 1 fun excursion day, some cool extras, cultural exchanges, and many great memories!
  • 5 extended kiteboarding lessons/sessions at Kite Beach (or other locales for advanced riders)
  • 2 morning surf lessons at Encuentro Beach
  • 1 fun group adventure full-day excursion to Damajagua 27 waterfalls, including lunch & transport
  • Welcome Orientation, including drinks & heavy appetizers
  • Closing Party, including traditional Dominican dinner & drinks
  • Round trip transportation from Puerto Plata Airport to your hotel of choice in Cabarete town
  • Transportation to all group event locations (ex. surfing & kiting spots as needed, group dinners)
  • Plenty of recommendations for dining, nightlife, and local experiences
  • PARTIAL PACKAGES FOR NON-KITERS: Extra guests in your party who wish to participate in the group fun without hitting the water may join in for a reduced rate as a “Land Lover” (includes everything above except the kiteboarding/surfing), or a “Surf Dabbler” (includes everything above except the kiteboarding).

ADDITIONAL KITE LESSONS – NEW! Kite campers can now add 1-2 additional days on the front or back end of their trip! For a small surcharge, add a full day or two of kiteboarding before or after the Bootcamp. Please let us know at the time of your booking and payment can be added to your kite fee. Note: if the weather does not cooperate for these additional days, your money will be refunded accordingly.

Highlights

About The Lessons

Equipment: All equipment will be provided as necessary, but you are of course welcome to bring your own gear (e.g. kites, boards, harnesses) if you have it.

Instruction: In addition to working with Sammy, you’ll have the pleasure of learning from other local watersports experts who we have hand-picked for the camp. We will keep a very low student-to-instructor ratio (at least 2:1, and sometimes 1:1 for your kiting lessons) to ensure you have a fabulous experience.

Surfing Lessons: To maximize your time in the water, we’ll take you surfing, as well! On two days, campers will have the opportunity to surf in the morning, before the winds pick up. Surfing happens at Encuentro Beach, which is a 10-minute ride from central Cabarete (transport provided).

Kiteboarding Lessons: Kiteboarding lessons will happen as soon as the winds pick up, typically late morning. Campers will be able to kite for extended sessions each day and will be broken into groups by skill level.

Sample Itinerary

Campers arrive! Orientation Meeting & Welcome Drinks

8:00am – 10:00am, Surfing Session
12:00pm – 5:00pm, Kiteboarding Session

Kiteboarding Day! (10:00am – 5:00pm)

Group Adventure Day (subject to change based on the wind)

Kiteboarding Day! (10:00am – 5:00pm)

8:00am – 10:00am, Surfing Session
12:00pm – 5:00pm, Kiteboarding Session

Kiteboarding Day! (10:00am – 5:00pm )
Traditional Dominican Farewell Dinner at Sammy’s family’s home

Campers depart – transport to the airport

Recommendations

You will book your own airfare and accommodations separately; however, we have already researched the best options for you! Hint: try booking a flight and hotel as a package deal (think Expedia or Travelocity) for extra savings.

Flight Recommendations

Airport: Puerto Plata Gregorio Luperon Airport (POP), which is just 25 minutes from Cabarete center. Airlines: American, United, JetBlue, and Air Canada are the primary airlines flying into POP. Dates: Recommended – Arrive between 7/9 and 7/11 and depart between 7/18 and 7/20.

Hotel Recommendations

Millennium Resort & Spa: We highly recommend you stay at the Millennium Hotel, which is a beautiful beachfront property right at the kiting spot (and home base of the Cabarete Kite Fest)! Click here to see Millennium Resort & Spa – Expedia.

Ocean Dream: While this property is not a full-service hotel, it offers lovely upscale condominium rentals from studios to 4-bedroom apartments and has good 7-day rental rates. It’s also next door to Millennium. Click here to see Ocean Dream Cabarete.

Alternatives – There are many other properties in the area, so if you wish to find something else, feel free, but we recommend checking with us first so we can confirm it’s a good option and closely situated to our meeting spot.

Dining Recommendations

Cabarete has some amazing eats – both local and international. Prior to the start of the trip, we’ll put together an optional dinner schedule, for those that want to enjoy dinners together (most places are right on the beach, so you can dine barefoot in the sand!). Most campers have really enjoyed dinners together, both for the great food and opportunity to get to know one another and unwind. You are totally welcome to do your own thing, or you can join us each night at a different local restaurant (yes, we know all the best spots!). We’ll also provide you with a guide of recommendations for breakfast and lunch spots, so you’ll always be eating well.

Other Activities

In the rare event that wind conditions are too light for kiteboarding, we will fill up your week with plenty of other fun activities, which will be included in the camp cost in lieu of kiting days. Or, if you need a break from watersports one day and would like to try one of these out on your own, we’ll point you in the right direction!

  • Hike the caves at El Choco National Park
  • Swim in crystal waters and eat fresh fish beachside at Playa Grande
  • Ride horses along Cabarete’s beaches
  • Cascade down 27 waterfalls at Damajagua
  • Visit local educational non-profits and get a taste for Dominican life
  • Sample local rum and beer, and try your hand at dominoes
  • Find your groove learning Merengue and Bachata, the country’s national dances
  • Tour a Cacao farm with the Cabarete Coffee Company
  • Enjoy a downhill bike ride with Iguana Mama Tours or rent a mountain bike on your own
  • Explore cultural sites in the coastal city of Puerto Plata
  • Get an awesome massage or mani/pedi at rock bottom prices
  • Wander around Cabarete town and check out all of its shopping options
  • Relax at the pool or on the beach and do nothing, with a drink in hand

We look forward to having you join us on this unique and memorable adventure, and can’t wait to see your kiteboarding skills soar! Feel free to contact us with any questions, and please confirm your seat as soon as possible once trip dates are published, as spots will fill up fast.

Hisa N.

New York

I had a great experience! Of course, we had clear skies, warm water, and nice breezes in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. However, in Sammy’s camp, I also enjoyed fun water sports (surfing, kiteboarding) and time with other campers and Sammy’s team. I joined the camp by myself, so I brought a book just in case I would need to kill time. I did not have the chance to read even the first page.

Honestly, I am not a natural surfer and kiteboarder, so I needed lessons. Sammy and his team are not only good instructors but also good entertainers, keeping me having fun and laughing throughout the lessons. I enjoyed the morning surfing sessions, and afternoon kiteboarding sessions ‘till evening every day – I did not stop going out!

And it wasn’t just the water sports that were fun – so were the evenings. The campers and instructors became fast friends and hung out every single night – it was like a party every day! This is the best part of this camp.

Sammy and his team made sure everything was well organized, and us campers became friends with each other from a day one. In Cabarete, I went surfing, kiteboarding, and also made new friends.

Thank you for your hospitality, Sammy and all staff!!

Rebecca H.

San Diego, California

I got invited to do Sammy’s kite camp in the DR, and it was one of my top experiences for the summer. Sammy and his crew took care of all the campers by making sure we all got one-on-one instruction. Getting in the water with a kite can be intimidating, but Sammy and his crew made everyone feel confident getting out with the kite. We also had a blast with other activities such as surfing, hiking, & enjoying the evenings together at local restaurants. Sammy’s crew was always friendly and helpful with whatever we needed during our stay. I recommend coming out and trying this!

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