@ Pingo; Yes there are storage possibilities on Encuentro. Our accommodation is based on Encuentro. The most people who are staying at Hooked and kite on Encuentro just take the right size for the day, board and a pump. We also work together with a surfschool on Encuentro so you can also leave your stuff at the school. If you want to launch from the small beach, which I recoment I can ask the owner of the restaurant for you so you can leave your stuff overthere like bag etc. Btw. It's not really a problem to leave your stuff on the beach. People do it a lot and I never heared something was missing here.

@ ruffridah89; It's hard to say what a house will cost. Contact a real estate agent. Depends on size, materials used, etc, etc.... and yes it's still affordable and great living here. I am living here for 2.5 years and I love it. Next to the whole kiting and surfing there is so much more to do. The locals are all really nice and off course warm, windy and a nice wave here on Encuentro.

Ybo

Well, Cabarete just has proven it self again to be a quality kiteboarding

Once more it produced a successful "WINDY" PKRA event now 7 times in a row...

then a Cabarete born rider Ariel Corniel wins the event on Cabarete developed equipment from EH .

Other wind destinations are hoping that their spot becomes as successful as Cabarete, and the new inhabitants f those new destinations only dream to see their investments sky rocket like they did in Cabarete.

When I got here in 1982, buying land in Cabarete was worth 0.1 US a meter now its worth 85 US... and some places 125. A beach house my friend bought for 10K just sold for 750K

Cabarete is a place for everybody, and you can even make a living if you have a couple of extra dollars to play with...

I was one of the backpackers, slept on the beach in poverty for many years, I am very happy and proud to have been able to witness the growth of this little town.

I have grown with it.. and we are far from finished growing….

CABERETE Encuentro,
so is this wave a right or left?

4)Crime, well, there are plenty of places I would not walk at night. You have to be aware of your surroundings. As for other islands, like the Bahamas... you have to be nuts to go for a walk in downtown Nassau at night.

I live in the Bahamas and walk around downtown nassau at 2 or 3 in the morning on most weekends its not dangerous as lopng as your not walking through side alleys and stuff. Talk about what u know, the bahamas is a much less dangerous place than the dominican republic

Wind direction in Cabarete and on Encuentro are sideonshore winds blowing from the NE.
Waves are normally from the N or NE.

This is a really good thread. Any updates or changes for the year 2012? How is the world economy effecting these places?

@ Toby and all around guys:

Have you ever thought of going toward the west coast of Northeast Brazil? I mean Barra Grande, Luís Correa (Piauí) or São Luís (Maranhão).
There are so many native places for sailing and buying cheap property. For these places now it's their "1982's"/cheap times!