Cabarete.
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Overview

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.

Get in

Fly to Puerto Plata Airport . Departure is fast and easy, as Puerto Plata airport is very small, but make sure you are there 2 hours before your flight. It is always a good idea to call the airline on the day of your flight to make sure the departure time has not changed.

Another option is to fly into Santiago airport and take a taxi from there. If coming at night, ask the driver to drive through Puerto Plata, not on the mountain road (too dangerous at night). It is always best to negotiate the prices before you hop into a taxi. Alternatively, from Santiago Airport get to the Caribe Tours bus station in the Jardines neighborhood in Santiago .

Puerto Plata is an expensive airport to fly to. Check all of your options including flying in to and out of Puerto Plata, Santiago, and Santo Domingo. The trip from Santo Domingo takes about 3½ hours depending on the time of the day.

It is advised that you do not fly into Punta Cana airport.

Get around

The town centre of Cabarete consists of a main road of about 800 meters (0.5 mile). You will find that walking from place to place in the center of town during the day is reasonable. At night you should stay with the crowd and use your common sense. Do not walk off into dark lonely areas by yourself. This is the same advice you should use when you travel anywhere in the world. The Caribbean is no different than New York, USA or Vancouver, Canada, for example.

Aside from walking, there are 4 main ways to travel around Cabarete: Motoconcho: This is the preferred way to get around Cabarete. During the day a 'motoconcho' (a simple motorbike with a driver) is cheap and fast. This will get you from the east end of Cabarete to the first main stoplight in Sosua on the main road. You should keep in mind that some drivers will drink and drive. So, use your eyes and nose to spot a drunk driver. If you find a motoconcho that you like and trust, get his whatsapp number and call him to come pick you up from wherever you are.

Public transportation comes in two forms that you can flag down from anywhere on the side of the road. You can get in and out anywhere on the main street. Guagua: Usually a white passenger van stuffed full of people. Only runs during the day. Always bring change since the "cobrador" may "not have change." Carrito Publico: Usually a Toyota Corolla with a topper on the roof signifying it is a carrito. These are faster than a guagua because there are less passengers to stop for.

The most comfortable way to travel. Taxis are everywhere. They are usually in the form of a Toyota Previa or something similar. They will have a taxi topper. The taxi union is very strict, so you will know they are part of the union if they have a taxi topper and ID card. There are set prices for all destinations. Some stands will have them listed, but others will not. So best to negotiate the prices before you get in. Since they are usually very nice and well maintained, the ride will be much more expensive than the other choices.

Do

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 6 km (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. Dare2fly is a full service kiteboarding center in the center of Kite Beach. The school provides professional kitesurfing courses taught by IKO certified instructors.

Kite Club Kiteboarding Center. Services include Beginner Kitesurf Lessons, Kiteboarding Rental, IKO Instructor Training Course and Advanced private lessons with Profesional IKO Kiteboard Instructors to improve your level. Personal Kitesurf Equipment Locker Storage. Kite Club has a bar & restaurant, free wifi, showers, changing rooms, toilets, sunbeds, parking, kitebeach access, a grassy area to set up and an air compressor to pump up your kite right on the beach.

Buy

So, it is better if you exchange any currency to Dominican pesos.

Exchange 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.

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.

Goods and services 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.

Eat

La Bandera Dominicana, Spanish for “the Dominican Flag”, is the national standard lunchtime dish consisting of rice, beans, and meat. 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 on the beach that 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 people max). 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).

Vitamin D Cafe. 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.

Drink

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

Lax/Ojo. Ladies' night and salsa night on Thursday night

Onno's. Restaurant late night disco that plays popular American music

Sleep

For additional nearby options see Sosua and Puerto Plata.

Hotel Alegria. A family-run budget hotel on Cabarete beach, with direct beach access, in a quiet area, 5 minutes' walk to the town center, with amenities including free WiFi, room safe, cable TV, rooftop jacuzzi and workout area. Restaurant on premises.

Areca Apart Hotel Cabarete. Managed by its owners, with the personal atmosphere of a guest-house.

Swell Surf Camp. Purpose built surf camp in the center of Cabarete.

Velero Hotel and Resort. Velero Beach Resort is a condo hotel so most rooms have cooking facilities. All rooms have ocean views. It is located at the quiet end of the beach, a 5-minute beach walk to the center. Infinity pool and beach beds.

Cabarete Palm Beach Condos. Offers beachfront 2-bedroom condos, penthouses, and large studios, each with an ocean view. Located in a quiet area in the center.

Bahia Residence Cabarete. Renovated beach apartments with hotel service, located in quiet residential area with private access to Bozo Beach, world class kite spot. 10-minute beach walk to Cabarete center, 5-minute walk to Kite Beach. Mid-range prices, special offers available.