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Cabarete
I love the cosmopolitan feel of Cabarete, a water sport paradise on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, only a 20-minute drive from the Puerto Plata international airport. Being recognized as one of the world’s best wind and kite surf destinations, Cabarete beach has attracted an international, young and fun loving crowd. When in Cabarete, I stay in one of the smaller and often really affordable hotels, try different restaurants and take part in the exciting nightlife this wonderful Dominican beach town has to offer. more…
It has been a while since I visited Cabarete and cannot wait to see what has changed and what has stayed the same. The town used to be a quiet fishing village until, in 1984, Cabarete was “re-discovered” as the best windsurfing destination in the Caribbean. The constant trade winds and sea breeze guarantee perfect windsurf and kite board / kite surf conditions throughout the year although windsurf experts agree that the summer months are the best time for a visit. Many overseas travelers fell in love with this windsurf paradise and decided to stay, opened Cabarete hotels, restaurants and windsurf schools along the Cabarete beach. I stick with boogie boarding, watch how the Kite surfers pull off their amazing jumps, walk along the beach that stretches out for miles in both directions and enjoy my book, lunch and glass of Chardonnay. After dark, Cabarete beach turns into a really romantic place when the restaurants put candles on the tables and people dress to impress. Later at night a party atmosphere takes over. Cabarete nightlife is superb, exiting venues like the Bambu bar and LAX are located within a real short distance from each other. Although there are some great all-inclusive resorts in the area, I always stay in a small Cabarete hotel. The proximity of Cabarete to other towns on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic allows for a day of shopping in Puerto Plata or lunch in fabulous Sosua. Cabarete stole my heart in many ways. I just love the youthful energy and cosmopolitan vibe that you also will notice everywhere. When I feel stiff from an overdose of physical activities, including dancing until the wee hours of the night, I just get a relaxing massage on the beach.
How to get there and around
I always fly into the Gregorio Luperon International Airport of Puerto Plata (POP). In case you fly into Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) you will have to prepare for a 4-hour drive to Cabarete.
– Dominican Republic International and Domestic Flights
There is a bus service from Santo Domingo to Sosua, from which point you can take a minibus or taxi onward to Cabarete. Minibuses travel all day long to and from Cabarete from Puerto Plata, Playa Dorada or Sosua. Once in Cabarete you can reach everything on foot. A ten 10 minute cab ride will take you from the center of Cabarete to most nearby resorts.
For bus info please see: Caribe Tours
Tours and excursions
In case all kinds of surfing are not your cup of tea, there is always Iguana Mama, which offers Eco-adventures like biking, hiking, rafting, various extreme sports, deep-sea fishing and more. Twenty minutes east of Cabarete you can visit the lovely place where the Yasica River meets the ocean and eat at a the small restaurant that offers fresh fish. The Damajagua waterfall area, hosting no less than 28 waterfalls is located about 1.5 hours west of Cabarete, near Puerto Plata. For a small fee you can hire a guide who will accompany you on your journey. The nearby beach town Sosua is one of my favorite beach destinations in the Dominican Republic and makes for a great day trip.