Things to do in Cabarete
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Cabarete
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Dry high season, best overall for most visitors, biggest surf and the most expensive, crowded weeks.
Wind season, the most consistent 15 to 25 knot trades and the best window to learn to kite.
Wet hurricane season, hottest and wettest with tours sometimes cancelled, but the lowest prices and quietest town.
What's on
- Master of the Ocean Late February
The town signature waterman championship across surf, windsurf, kitesurf, SUP and wingfoil at Encuentro and the bay.
- Cabarete Carnaval February
Small beach town carnival with parades and music.
- Dominican Independence Day 27 February
Fireworks, food and live music, tied to the Master of the Ocean closing party.
- Caribbean ILCA Midwinter Regatta January
Sailing regatta adding buzz to the high season bay.
Best things to do in Cabarete
Kite Beach
The defining afternoon spectacle, dozens of kites over the reef off a younger, sportier stretch west of the centre.
Playa Encuentro
The dawn ritual, clean surf and a quiet pine shaded beach before the trade winds chop everything up.
Playa Cabarete
The town living room, safest swimming at the east end and a lit restaurant row to stroll at night.
El Choco National Park
Lagoons, jungle and limestone caves with swimmable underground pools, the essential non beach half day.
Callejón de la Loma
The Dominican neighbourhood where Cabarete actually eats, comedor plates and fried chicken at local prices.
Wilson's La Boca
Rustic riverbank lunch of fresh fish and lobster over open fire where the river meets the sea.
Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel & Spa
The wellness reference point, eco boutique spa with yoga decks and slow mornings west of the centre.
Blossom Yoga
Highly rated beachfront yoga, fitness and stand up paddle classes for a slow Cabarete morning.
Where to stay in Cabarete
Cabarete Bay Centre / Beachfront
first-timers, couples, nightlife on foot
Walk to dinner in the sand, the supermarket and the calmest swimming, with bar and road noise as the trade off.
Kite Beach / Punta Goleta
kiters and longer stays
Quieter, sportier and younger, with schools at your door and a walk or taxi to central dinners.
Encuentro / Perla Marina / Sea Horse Ranch corridor
quiet, families and surfers
Greener, gated and more spacious west end with dawn surf access, but you need transport to central nightlife.
East Cabarete / Pro Cab
long-stay regulars with a reason
Cheaper condos east toward La Boca, but a busy main road walk to everything and thinner social life.
Think twice about
- Deep Callejón de la Loma lanes
Eat here by day, but steep, poorly lit residential lanes have long running reports of robberies after dark. Not a first time base.
- Central Sosúa
A long standing overt sex tourism and bar scene around Calle Pedro Clisante, plus a drive to everything in Cabarete. Visit the beach by day only.
- Isolated main-road motels on Carretera 5 far east or west of town
Truck and moto noise, dangerous road walking with no consistent sidewalks, and no beach access or walkability.
- Unmanaged standalone houses between Kite Beach and Encuentro
Dark, empty beach and road stretches at night with no guard, lighting or neighbours. Choose a gated, managed complex instead.
Best restaurants in Cabarete
Bliss Restaurant
The best food in Cabarete, elevated Italian Mediterranean cooking in a romantic garden at the Callejón entrance.
Mojito Bar
The beach institution, most crowded every night, best mojitos on the beach at the lowest consistent prices.
Gordito's Fresh Mex
The crowd pleaser, famous Mambo fish taco and margaritas plus burritos, bowls and a full vegan menu.
Vagamundo Coffee & Waffles
Post surf brunch headquarters with Belgian waffles, smoothie bowls and serious coffee near Millennium.
Fresh Fresh Café
The healthy lunch, wraps, bowls, smoothies and fresh juices with a strong vegetarian and vegan range.
La Casita de Papi
The famous beachfront seafood spot for shrimp and lobster a la Papi, brilliant or brusque depending on the night.
Friend's Cabarete
Cheap French bakery lunch of fresh sandwiches, breads and croissants away from the beach markup.
Happy Family Restaurant
The Dominican plate fixture, family owned sancocho, conch in garlic and fried chicken at local prices.
Best bars in Cabarete
Voy Voy
Beach bar famous for Monday karaoke, Sunday open mic and the best passionfruit juice in town.
Ojo Club
Two floors in the centre of the beach, a restaurant by day and the town dance party after 10pm.
Onno's Cabarete
Dance beneath the stars spot with live music and DJs playing merengue, salsa and reggaeton in the sand.
Outdoor things to do in Cabarete
ION Club Cabarete
The long running reference kite school with Duotone gear, supervised lessons and rentals by Villa Taina.
Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding
The premium, highly personal kite school at Millennium, best for structured progression over several days.
AGK Kiteboarding School
Small school praised for taking complete beginners to riding upwind with strong safety teaching.
Bozo Beach
The launch for intermediate and advanced riders who can handle chop, shore break and a fun reef break.
Cabarete Windsports Club
Centre renting modern wingfoil and windsurf kit by the half day, plus lagoon stand up paddle tours.
Pauhana Surf School
The local favourite surf school, patient ISA certified instructors, honest pricing and affordable rentals.
Bobo's Surf School
Professional, easily bookable surf lessons with full theory and equipment included, from age five.
House of Waves
Well rated Encuentro surf school for lessons on a reef break where local entry channel knowledge matters.
Best hotels in Cabarete
Ultravioleta Boutique Residences
The modern luxury pick on the main bay, condo residences with an infinity pool facing the ocean.
Millennium Resort & Spa
Spacious suites and pools directly on the bay by Kite Beach, the best all rounder for kiters and non kiters.
Sea Horse Ranch
Private villas with pools in a guarded oceanfront ranch with an equestrian centre, tennis and a beach club.
Amanera
Aman 29 casita resort over Playa Grande beach, a split stay splurge rather than a Cabarete base.
Velero Beach Resort
The location play at the quieter east edge of the restaurant row, condo style units in prime sunset position.
Hotel Villa Taina
Long running boutique hotel right on the beach with the ION Club wind and kite centre attached.
Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel & Spa
Eco boutique in tropical gardens with unique cabanas, a yoga deck and a spa, priced mid range, felt as a retreat.
Hotel El Magnifico
Small, lush and exceptionally reviewed apart hotel, adults leaning calm despite its centre location.
Is Cabarete expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | DOP 4,500 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | DOP 10,500 a person |
| Splurge | DOP 22,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- ION Club Cabarete: a few days ahead
- Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding: a few days ahead
- 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua: a few days ahead
- Magic Mushroom: a few days ahead
- Ciguapa Falls: a few days ahead
- Cayo Arena: a few days ahead
- Iguana Mama: a few days ahead
- Pico Duarte: months ahead
- Book Ultravioleta, Millennium and El Magnifico weeks ahead in high season, and kite lesson packages in May to July.
- Book Magic Mushroom and Ciguapa canyoning, Playa Grande golf and a Friday or Saturday table at Bliss ahead.
- A day ahead is enough for Damajagua early slots, Sosúa diving, Cayo Arena, Velero Sunset Grill and Le Bistro.
Is Cabarete safe?
- Ocean safety is the bigger risk than crime, rip tides mid bay and at Bozo, shore break and kite traffic. Swim at the east end and in marked areas.
- Do not walk dark unlit beach stretches or Callejón lanes alone at night, take a cheap association taxi.
- Road safety is the second risk, poor roads and motos. Avoid night highway motos and wear a seatbelt in taxis.
- Do not drink tap water, use repellent at dusk, and decline drug offers, possession carries serious legal risk.
Cabarete travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Beachfront fine dining prices for what is really a cocktail view, Drifter is the named example. Bliss with no view has the best food.
- One hour kite lessons from unattached beach touts, you will not learn and may not be insured. Book a package through a centre with a shop.
- Anonymous excursion operators for Damajagua and Cayo Arena, where pickup failures concentrate. A physical shop in Cabarete is your recourse.
- All inclusive isolation misses the town, the beach restaurant row is Cabarete. Check every bill, 18 percent tax plus 10 percent service may be added on top.
Getting around Cabarete: public transport and more
- Walk the beach in town, not the main road. Centre to Kite Beach is 20 minutes on the sand.
- POP airport is 25 to 30 minutes away, fixed taxi fares run about 35 to 45 US dollars. Santiago airport is 1.5 hours, Santo Domingo 4 plus hours.
- Motoconchos are the local hop, agree the price in pesos before you get on. Use association taxis at night and for the dark Kite Beach stretch.
- Guaguas are the cheapest way to Sosúa and Puerto Plata. Rent a car only for repeated east day trips.
Who Cabarete suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Great |
Make Cabarete your trip
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