Central Cabarete
Beach bars, foodThe main beach and street.
Town guide
Things to do in Cabarete
The kitesurfing capital of the Caribbean: steady afternoon trade winds, dozens of schools on Kite Beach, surf at Encuentro, bars on the sand, and a crowd of travellers who come for a week and stay a season.
4
Hostels in the city
7.6
Average, from 132 reviews
20 min
From Puerto Plata airport
4–7
Days
Wind, waves and long stays
Cabarete is a small town on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, about 20 minutes east of Puerto Plata's airport. A fishing village until the 1980s, it was put on the map by windsurfers, and then by kitesurfers, drawn by a reef-protected bay and trade winds that blow strongly most afternoons.
Today the main beach and Kite Beach, just west of town, are lined with schools, and Cabarete is one of the best places in the world to learn. Playa Encuentro, a few minutes away, has reef breaks for surfers of every level, and the mornings are calm enough for paddleboarding.
The town itself is one long street and a beach of bars and restaurants, with a mix of Dominicans, long-term expats and travellers. Nearby are the caves of El Choco National Park, the waterfalls of Damajagua and the town of Sosúa. Give it four days, or a week if you are learning to kite.
Where to base yourself
Central Cabarete for the beach bars, Kite Beach for the schools, or Encuentro for surf.
Kite Beach
Kite schoolsWest of the centre.
Encuentro
SurfSurf beach west of town.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Cabarete
Take a kitesurfing course at Kite Beach, where a three-day beginner course gets most people riding, or a windsurfing lesson in the bay. Surf or take lessons at Playa Encuentro, best in the mornings before the wind.
Explore El Choco National Park on the edge of town, with caves and freshwater pools, and go canyoning or rafting nearby. Take a day trip to the 27 Charcos de Damajagua, waterfalls you jump and slide down with a guide.
In the evening, watch the kites from a beach bar at sunset, then eat with your feet in the sand.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beaches are free, and watching the kiters at Kite Beach in the afternoon wind is the best free show in town.
Walking the beach from Cabarete to Kite Beach, and the sunset from the sand, cost nothing.
El Choco and Damajagua charge small entry fees, and lessons and gear rental are the main costs.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Cabarete has beachfront restaurants with international menus, at tourist prices, and cheap Dominican comedores along the main road serving la bandera for €3 to €6. Fresh fish with tostones is the classic beach meal.
Smoothie bars and cafes cater to the watersports crowd.
Restaurant bills add 18 per cent tax and a 10 per cent service charge by law, so check whether menu prices include them; a little extra for good service is appreciated.
Nightlife
Going out
Cabarete has the liveliest nightlife on the north coast. Bars on the sand run late, with DJs, live music and different party nights through the week.
The crowd is a mix of kiters, surfers, expats and Dominicans.
Cocktails cost €4 to €8 and beers €2 to €4. Walk back in groups or take a registered taxi.
Getting around
Getting around
Gregorio Luperón International Airport, near Puerto Plata, is about 20 minutes away by taxi. From Santo Domingo, Caribe Tours and Metro Tours buses go to Sosúa or Puerto Plata in about four hours, and guaguas run along the coast road to Cabarete.
In town, everything is walkable. Motoconchos are the quick option, but rarely come with helmets.
Guaguas reach Sosúa in about 20 minutes.
Costs
What Cabarete costs
Dorm beds start at around €15 to €25 a night. La bandera costs €3 to €6.
A beginner kitesurf course costs about €200 to €350, surf lessons about €40 to €60, and board rental extra.
Cards work in most bars and schools; carry pesos for comedores and guaguas.
Safety
Safety and scams
Cabarete is relaxed, but petty theft from the beach and rooms happens. Do not leave belongings on the sand, and lock up.
The beach is unlit at night; use the main road and walk in groups. Choose a kite school with certified instructors and radio helmets, and check the conditions.
Do not drink the tap water; bottled and refill jugs are cheap everywhere. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Waterfalls, caves and the north coast.
Sosúa
A calm bay for snorkelling.
Puerto Plata
The Victorian old town and fort.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Wind seasons and festivals.
June to August
Summer wind season
Kite Beach
The most reliable kiting.
Usually November
Dominican Republic Jazz Festival
North coast
Concerts in Cabarete, Sosúa and Puerto Plata.
Sundays in February
Carnival
Puerto Plata area
Costumes and parades.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Cabarete, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
Cabarete is good all year. The wind is strongest from June to August and in winter, from December to March. December to April is the driest and busiest time, and hurricane season runs from June to November.
Jan
Winter wind
Feb
Winter wind
Mar
Dry
Apr
Semana Santa
May
Rain
Jun
Summer wind
Jul
Strongest wind
Aug
Wind, hot
Sep
Hurricane risk
Oct
Wet
Nov
Rain easing
Dec
Busy
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Wind most afternoons.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Cabarete prices.
Treat these as a guide. Kite and surf lessons cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Cabarete questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Cabarete good for learning to kitesurf?
Yes. Steady afternoon winds and dozens of schools make it one of the best places in the world to learn.
How long does it take to learn to kitesurf?
Most beginners need a course of about three days, wind permitting.
How much is a kite course?
About €200 to €350 for a beginner course.
How do I get to Cabarete?
From Puerto Plata airport in about 20 minutes by taxi, or by bus from Santo Domingo to Sosúa or Puerto Plata, then a guagua.
Can I surf in Cabarete?
Yes, at Playa Encuentro, best in the mornings.
Is there nightlife in Cabarete?
Yes, the liveliest on the north coast, in bars on the beach.
When is the best wind?
June to August, and again from December to March.
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