Guide to Surfing Playa Encuentro, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic)

[@Bimp_Lizkit]

The most honest review of surfing the DR I have ever seen. Spot-on. Great place but it has it's shortcomings. Well done!

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Ian Arcuri - well that's what I aim to do so I'm glad to hear you thought it was honest. I agree, it has a lot going for it but there are drawbacks. Spent 3 months in Sri Lanka this year and the surf was pretty similar. All depends on the type of surf that you're looking for I guess!

[@alenomadedigitale]

Great video, super informative and well organized!

[@surferrobo]

I have a beach side condo a few miles down the beach from Encuentro. This is a pretty accurate review of this surf area. However, over the span of ten winter seasons living here, when the north swell rules....I find I've gotten plenty of waves....very very fast walls and excellent tube sections. However, as this review mentions...beating the crowds means you must become a member of the dawn patrol... with very early morning paddle outs just as the sun begins to rise...usually leaving the condo in the dark. But this routine is well worth getting a full session of waves in with just a few locals to share it all with. By the time we've had our two hours in the water...the wind is already beginning to pick up. It usually blows out by ten or 11 am. Plus... after your dawn patrol session you have a full day ahead to do with as you please.

[@WiththeSparrows]

@surferrobo - glad you agree. The one thing that held me back was not having my own transport to explore other places for Dawn! But yep, paddling out at first light is definitely the one.....not just in Encuentro either. Currently in Sri Lanka and if you get out for first light you tend to have 45 minutes with just a couple of other froth dogs 🐕

[@carryontravel]

I wish I knew what time of year you were there 😊. I'm going in a few days, but this is going to be much better than surfing the Great Lakes here in Ontario 😅. Great drone footage 😊

[@WEEBER13]

Or, Ohio. ;-)

[@berenicebatista6678]

Mi país es el mejor, tam bello y tiene de todo 🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴 .

[@PeterClaven]

When were you there mate?

[@ericfischer5444]

Really enjoyed the video! I'm headed there for 2 months...would like to rent a quad with board racks!...have you seen something like that there? Also....where do you put your "stuff" when you go out? In Costa Rica it was a real problem so I made sure I could walk to the beach with just my board! Thanks

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Eric Fischer - I hope you score! Didn't see many quads with surf racks unfortunately, it was one of the issues I experienced with trying to get around to other surf breaks! If you're surfing Playa Encuentro, just leave your stuff with Antonio they have a surf shop there and everyone just leaves there stuff with them. Didn't hear of anything going missing in the 3 months I was there.

[@eddybobea6709]

Next time is you may, you can try the South breaks for the sunset session, "Nizao" or la "la boya" (the buoy)... Its the sea swell...

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Eddy Bobea - that's what I've heard. When I looked it up (before I went to DR) there wasn't much on the South Coast breaks but there's been a few people commenting that the South has some amazing waves.

[@scratzch]

Do people foil surf encuentro? I've heard 'outers' is the spot?

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Greg Sturch - I'm sure they do but can't say I saw any when I was there. Sorry I can't be of more help!

[@ImranD1988]

Thx fo the video

[@WiththeSparrows]

@ImranD1988 - no worries

[@ryanmascolo3262]

Wish I watched this before I came. Currently in Playa Encuentro now and have only had one good day. The forecast is looking like shit for the next 2 weeks

[@nasrinehmeh3779]

hey man! really nice video, is January a good month for surfing? is it still windy that month?

[@WiththeSparrows]

@nasri nehme - thanks man. I was there December to March so yes, January is one of the better months to surf in Cabarete. It was windy past 9am almost everyday I was there so you have to get up early!

[@J.Paul2023]

I don't see any lifeguards there what happens if you get hurt?

[@carmenjed8020]

Where was the place you stayed at?

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Carmen Jed - at a place called Surfbreak Cabarete. There are lots of other places but obviously they come with varying prices.

[@julianmessina1969]

Hey brother, use vinegar to dissolve urchin spines. Works for me.

[@christians9158]

Its possible to surf in august ?

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Christian S - I mean it's out of season so whilst you might be able to surf, it won't be as consistent (it wasn't that consistent in the season) so it's risky.

[@lucydiamond574]

Hey awesome video thanks. Are there any places you recommend to stay or surf schools you recommend in DR?

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Lucy Diamond - I stayed at a place called i if you're talking about Encuentro......Surfbreak but if you want something a bit higher end, the Surf Lodge is nice (imaginative names I know!). The surf school that I showed in the video (ask for Antonio or Paulo) is good so you can check that out.....maybe buy your own reef boots before you get there though because they'll be nicer than the ones supplied!

[@ryderrees740]

awesome feedback thanks - I'm trying to plan a end of November 5 day trip with kids 17 y/o and 14 y/o avid Florida surfers. However, my caution is it's just us mom and 2 teenagers so naturally safety is my main concern and would I be comfortable letting them loose _i'd be on shore but still reefs and local friendliness. Plus traveling different surf spots to give them good waves - not opposed to a guide or someone they can shadow whether it is a surf school or local - if you don't mind what did you do the rest of your time there - touristy stuff or hiking again things that are friendly for mom and 2 teens. We did Aguadilla PR 2 years ago and that is the bar they are setting for me to beat lol I naturally want to visit some place else within budget. Thanks again I apologize for the loaded reply.

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Ryder Rees - I don't think the reef is a major concern if they are teenage surfers (though don't hold me to that!), I guess its part and parcel of surfing. I didn't have any major run ins with the reef for 3 months so it's not like Indonesia. The current/rips also aren't particular crazy so hopefully they are fine. In terms of other trips, I would check out my video on our weekend trip to Las Terrenas. I really enjoyed that weekend and there's loads to do in that part of the island. You could also do a day trip to Cayo Arena and there are a number of hikes in the hills close to Encuentro which are a few hours (you can do it without a guide, though you may want one). Hope that helps!@

[@jancleland6587]

what airport do you fly into

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Jan Cleland the closest airport to Encuentro/Cabarete is Puerto Plata (30 minutes away). However, my flight was much cheaper and faster to Santo Domingo. Its then a 4 or 5 hour drive to Playa Encuentro.

[@arishsn]

Puerto plata AirPort is like 35 or 40 minute from Cabarete

[@justjackman]

Thanks for the video dude. How risky is a short (say 10 day) holiday? It sounds likely that there could be no waves at all :(

[@WiththeSparrows]

@justjackman - It depends when you go....and how far you have to travel to get to Encuentro. I was discussing this with the people I was there with just last week. We were thinking of a 2 week trip back to Playa Encuentro and decided against it because you might not get any good surf (which you would get in other places.....we ended up going to South Africa). If you go for 10 days in the Winter I'd say you'll still get surf. You can definitely surf most days, it's just that you can only surf in the morning and the conditions are rarely incredible. So wave size and power wise it's average. Crystal Clear, warm water and relaxing place wise, it's real good. What are your other options? Central America?

[@reidpettersen5987]

When you say buy a motorbike and sell it back... Could you do that with a local company?

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Reid Pettersen - the people that I knew that did it usually just found someone who wanted to sell a bike, i.e not through a company. Obviously that comes with a higher level of risk and one guy did have to do some remedial work but it was still way cheaper for him.

[@erdemulubas]

Is it a wood board????

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Erdem Ulubaş it's has a wooden outside but epoxy inside. Firewire used to make them, not sure if they still do.

[@erdemulubas]

@@WiththeSparrows looks so cool like a chieftain board in ancient hawaii 😅

[@WiththeSparrows]

@@erdemulubas it is certainly a head turner, although it's not great for punchier waves unfortunately. More of a groveller.

[@reidpettersen5987]

Also, did you notice that the winds did not die down for sunset sessions? I have read that it is common to get sunset sessions but am curious what your thoughts are on it? How long would the winds last?

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Reid Pettersen - I also read (and heard) that the wind dies down for sunset sessions. I was there for 3 months and managed to get only one proper sunset session. I also missed a couple, but from my experience (during December - March) the wind really didn't die down at in the evening. Sorry if I'm the bearer of bad news!

[@FluffyAlpaca81]

Nice review. Looks too windy

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Y L - depends what you want but yes, the wind is relentless.

[@mikel87]

U should have rented a moto i rent for 10 bucks a day in cabarete

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Mike L - yeah I figure I made a bit of a mistake there!

[@joselorenzofermin3567]

Seems a bit unfair, since the three month you spent in Encuentro where in summer, season has just began and we already had 1 month of excellent head high, " sometimes bigger" swells. Winter is our surf season and if people come here in winter its impossible not to have excellent waves conditions.

[@WiththeSparrows]

@Jose Lorenzo Fermin - no that was last year so I was there in the Winter (December to March). Maybe I was just unlucky!

[@patriciayudelkasilveriojim2585]

Por favor

[@JL-rd5ue]

🌊🏄🏻‍♂️🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴

[@anabelkisamadordedonde3802]

😍😍

[@jeremydelrosario04]

🇩🇴🦋✨