If you spend any time at all on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, you’ll see some people carrying what look like small surfboards with kites attached to them. Chances are, these water sports enthusiasts are headed right for the beach — more specifically, to the small, tourist-friendly town of Cabarete.

Cabarete is known all over the world as one of the best places to kiteboard, regardless of whether you’ve never tried before or have traveled the whole world looking for the best locations. In fact, you’ll find the aptly named Kite Beach here—so named because the cove just off this stretch of beach offers the perfect conditions for the sport: an off-shore reef renders the water calm, there are consistent winds between 10 and 35 knots, and the cove itself is open enough to accommodate a large number kiteboarders.