Cabarete is a city in Dominican Republic. It is the city of kitesurfing and windsurfing and considered one of the best places to practice these sports in the Caribbean. Also has a great beach and a lot of great bars and restaurants.
Cabarete averages 300 days of wind per year. Therefore it is a well known destination for kitesurfing and windsurfing. There are approximately 33 windsports schools to choose from in Cabarete Bay, Bozo Beach (the north western half of Cabarete Bay) and on Kite Beach. Cabarete Bay is mostly known for windsurfing, while Bozo Beach and Kite Beach are mostly known for kitesurfing. Kite Beach tends to be flatter than Bozo Beach but the play area is much smaller as the reef is much closer to the beach. Bozo Beach is a bit choppier but has a huge wide-open playground as the reef is further away. On both beaches the reef creates great waves for wave kitesurfing.
Playa Encuentro, about 6km / 4 miles from the center of Cabarete, has about 300 days of waves per year, making it one of the most consistent surf spots in the Caribbean. There are 5 main surf breaks making the beach suitable for all levels of surfers. There are several qualified surf schools offering lessons and equipment rentals at Playa Encuentro.
Standup paddle boarding can be practiced on non-windy days. You can SUP on the flat waters inside the reef or SUP surf the waves on the reef. Cabarete Bay, Bozo Beach, Kite Beach, and Encuentro Beach all offer suitable conditions.
- Dare2fly Kiteboarding School, Agualina Kite resort (Park at Agualina Kite resort and walk the path back toward the beach., +1 809-858-0936. 10am-6pm 7 days per week. Dare2fly is a full service kiteboarding center located in the center of Kite Beach. The school provides professional kitesurfing courses taught by IKO certified instructors.
Dare2fly Kiteboarding School, Agualina Kite resort (Park at Agualina Kite resort and walk the path back toward the beach., +1 809-858-0936. 10am-6pm 7 days per week. Dare2fly is a full service kiteboarding center located in the center of Kite Beach. The school provides professional kitesurfing courses taught by IKO certified instructors.
The local currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP). Most restaurants and bars and services will accept American Dollars, Canadian Dollars, and Euros for a high exchange rate for the convenience. So, it is better if you exchange any currency to dominican pesos.
Do not exchange money at the airport unless it is absolutely necessary. It is very expensive. It is better to exchange money in your home country and bring it. But if you have to exchange money while in Cabarete, keep in mind that most ATMs charge a fee to withdraw (Soctia bank does not as of May 2019) and have a cap of RD$4000 per day.
- Wally Exchange Cabarete - passport required
- Caribe Express - passport required
- Janet’s Supermarket - passport not required
- Supermercado La Rosa - passport not required
- Casa de Cambio Luis - passport not required
You can also exchange money inside at any of the local banks that are affiliated with your home bank. Passport is required for all bank transactions.
Wally Exchange Cabarete - passport required
Caribe Express - passport required
Janet’s Supermarket - passport not required
Supermercado La Rosa - passport not required
Casa de Cambio Luis - passport not required
There are plenty of cool gift shops to buy all kinds of things to remember your holiday and share the Caribbean spirit with people back home.
One unique idea is Mamajuana a bottle of herbs and sticks that you fill with red wine, empty, then fill with rum and honey. It's for settling the stomach after dinner and makes a very cool addition to anyone's home bar. It is said that Mamajuana is also used for male vitality.
For healthier alternatives try a T-shirt or a photo CD of you taking kiteboarding lessons!
Cabarete is known worldwide as a testing ground for kite manufacturers, so you can often find slightly used kites at discounted prices. And amazingly its cheaper to rent gear then to bring your own (airlines have a $100 charge each way).
Local fare includes dishes such as pica pollo (fried chicken), Guisado (chicken or beef stew), mangu (mashed plantains), and sancocho (a meaty soup with vegetables reserved for special occasions). La Bandera Dominicana, spanish for “The Dominican Flag”, is the national standard lunchtime dish consisting of rice, beans, and meat. Most local plates cost around $150 DOP. You will not usually find these restaurants on the beach in the center of town. Instead look for them on the main road (street side) or in the local neighborhoods.
- Luis Parilla. The restaurant serves BBQ chicken and ribs, rice and beans, and yuca.
- Nativo's Cafe. They serve a variety of local Dominican Dishes such as pica pollo and fried fish.
There is an array establishments with authentic foreign dishes. You will find restaurants that serve Italian, German, Chinese, Japanese, American, French, BBQ, Seafood, Vegan and Vegetarian, and just about any other type of food you can think of. There are many restaurants located directly on the beach so they have great views and a nice breeze to top off the ambiance. Usually they are foreign owned and more expensive than the locally owned restaurants.
- Alis Surf Camp. Famous for their churrasco steak, but they serve a variety of other plates such as curry chicken and cream shrimp and rice.
- Belgian Bakery. It serves a variety of homemade pastries, as well as breakfast and lunch plates.
- Blue Moon. Indian-Dominican; 20 min ride from Cabarete (taxi). You have to call before, the restaurant is small (30-40 ppl mx). Romantic atmosphere, wonderful sunset, delicious plates of food that you eat with your hands. Note that this restaurant requires a group of 8, unless they are already hosting a larger party which they are almost always willing to let you join.
- Gordito's. Serves very popular Tex-Mex food (run by a family from Florida). Burritos and bowls typically RD$110 (or RD$128 after +16% tax).
- Vitamin D Cafe, Agualina Kite Resort, +1 809-858-0936. 8:30AM-3PM Tu-Su. A mostly vegan and vegetarian beachfront restaurant serving a robust selection of raw, vegan, and vegetarian plates. There are a few carnivore options, too. Menu items are made in-house with local ingredients. Free fast wifi.
- Yamazato. Serves fresh sushi made by a Japanese sushi chef who now lives in Cabarete.
Luis Parilla. The restaurant serves BBQ chicken and ribs, rice and beans, and yuca.
Nativo's Cafe. They serve a variety of local Dominican Dishes such as pica pollo and fried fish.
Alis Surf Camp. Famous for their churrasco steak, but they serve a variety of other plates such as curry chicken and cream shrimp and rice.
Belgian Bakery. It serves a variety of homemade pastries, as well as breakfast and lunch plates.
Blue Moon. Indian-Dominican; 20 min ride from Cabarete (taxi). You have to call before, the restaurant is small (30-40 ppl mx). Romantic atmosphere, wonderful sunset, delicious plates of food that you eat with your hands. Note that this restaurant requires a group of 8, unless they are already hosting a larger party which they are almost always willing to let you join.
Gordito's. Serves very popular Tex-Mex food (run by a family from Florida). Burritos and bowls typically RD$110 (or RD$128 after +16% tax).
Vitamin D Cafe, Agualina Kite Resort, +1 809-858-0936. 8:30AM-3PM Tu-Su. A mostly vegan and vegetarian beachfront restaurant serving a robust selection of raw, vegan, and vegetarian plates. There are a few carnivore options, too. Menu items are made in-house with local ingredients. Free fast wifi.
Yamazato. Serves fresh sushi made by a Japanese sushi chef who now lives in Cabarete.
Cabarete has a wide variety of bars, restaurants, and discos offering full bars with liquor and beer. Presidente is the local beer. Brugal is the local rum. Mamajuana is a locally made aperitif served after meals at many restaurants.
- Mojito Bar. Busy happy hour hang out spot
- Voy Voy. Karaoke on Monday night
- Lax/Ojo. Ladies' night and salsa night on Thursday night
- Onno's. Restaurant late night disco that plays popular American music
Mojito Bar. Busy happy hour hang out spot
Voy Voy. Karaoke on Monday night
Lax/Ojo. Ladies' night and salsa night on Thursday night
Onno's. Restaurant late night disco that plays popular American music
- Sosua - Located to the west of Cabarete, this town has a nice beach, a wide selection of hotels and restaurants, and a notorious nightlife.
- Puerto Plata - The area's largest town.
[[Sosua]] - Located to the west of Cabarete, this town has a nice beach, a wide selection of hotels and restaurants, and a notorious nightlife.
[[Puerto Plata]] - The area's largest town.