Best time to kitesurf Buen Hombre

The best time to kitesurf at Buen Hombre is July, with about 30 windy days a month (15+ knots) and water around 28°C.

Villa Vásquez, Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic

Sports: Kitesurfing

Best time to go: July

Buen Hombre is a small fishing village on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, in Monte Cristi province (municipality of Villa Vásquez), facing a wide bay sheltered by an offshore reef. Santiago airport (STI) is about 90 minutes away by car, Puerto Plata (POP) about 2 hours and Cabarete about 3 hours; the roads have potholes and livestock, and some Cabarete schools run kite trips here.

This is a kite spot. Inside the reef the water is flat to lightly choppy and shallow: depending on the tide it is ankle to waist deep over sand, shells, rock and patches of reef, deeper near the village and towards the reef. The shallow water suits lessons and freestyle but not foiling. Local schools run downwinders over the flats and past mangroves to Paradise Island.

The east to north-east trade wind blows cross-onshore from the right at the launch beach and usually picks up around midday, giving 6 to 8 hours of riding. Local sources say it averages several knots more than in Cabarete. June to September is strongest, often 20 to 30 knots or more; December to April is lighter, typically 18 to 25 knots; October and November are rainier and less reliable.

Kite camps on the beach have bungalows, meals, rental and lessons. There is no kite shop, so bring spares; power is unreliable and medical help is far away. Wear booties against shells, rock and sea urchins, watch for shallow patches and keep clear of fishing boats and nets near the village. The water is about 26 to 27 °C in winter and 28 to 29 °C in summer and autumn: boardshorts and a lycra are enough.

Month by month at Buen Hombre

January: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 27°C, air 28°C (nights 22°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
February: 20 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 14 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 27°C, air 27°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 5; a day can have both
March: 21 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 14 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 27°C, air 28°C (nights 22°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
April: 17 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 0.6 m, water 27°C, air 28°C (nights 22°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 13; a day can have both
May: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 28°C, air 30°C (nights 24°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 12; a day can have both
June: 20 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 0.4 m, water 29°C, air 31°C (nights 25°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both
July: 30 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 17 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 28°C, air 31°C (nights 25°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 7; a day can have both
August: 26 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 15 knots, waves 0.4 m, water 29°C, air 32°C (nights 26°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both
September: 17 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 30°C, air 32°C (nights 25°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 14; a day can have both
October: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 30°C, air 31°C (nights 24°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 16; a day can have both
November: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 29°C, air 30°C (nights 23°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 13; a day can have both
December: 14 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 0.5 m, water 28°C, air 28°C (nights 22°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both