Find Your Winter Destination in the Sun: Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Authors Michael and Lana Law are both professional travel writers and spend at least six months of the year travelling to destinations around the globe. Cabarete is one of their favourite places, and they return annually.
On the north coast of the Dominican Republic, the resort town of Cabarete has been known to travellers for over 30 years, yet it has still managed to stay under the radar enough to remain authentic and free from overtourism. This former fishing village stretches along Cabarete Bay, a beautiful crescent of beach lined with small restaurants, and is void of high-rises.
For many people, though, the real draw is that this is a small town with a sense of community, and it’s easy to navigate. This is not a holiday destination with a transient tourist population; it’s where many Canadians spend their winters.
You can easily rent a beachfront condo and walk everywhere you need to go. Stroll to the grocery store, dine in a different restaurant every night if you choose, listen to live music, meet people, swim in the ocean, go to the gym, and be part of a community.
But Cabarete also attracts more than just retirees. The adjacent beaches are hotspots for kiteboarding, windsurfing, and surfing, which also draws a younger crowd from North America and Europe. The watersports make it a perfect place for a family with a mix of ages and interests.
If you want an action-packed vacation, there is no shortage of adventurous excursions, from jumping and sliding down waterfalls to zip-lining at Monkey Jungle. Nearby, you’ll also find beachfront yoga and exercise classes.
Getting There: Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat fly non-stop to Puerto Plata from Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Halifax. Flight time from Toronto is 3.5 to 4 hours. You can also connect through Miami and Atlanta. The time zone is Atlantic Standard Time (one hour earlier than Toronto). Cabarete is a 40-minute drive from the airport.
Getting Around: If you are staying near Cabarete town center, you may find that you walk everywhere, with most places connected by the huge expanse of beach. Taxis are available, but ride-share programs do not operate here. A local minibus/van known as a Guagua runs regularly, but this is for adventurous bus riders only.
We do not recommend renting a car or driving yourself. The best option is to hire an English-speaking taxi driver and keep them in your contacts to call for pickup when needed. Your hotel or Airbnb host can usually recommend a driver, or you may find someone you like at the taxi stand in downtown.
Places to Stay: Cabarete offers a wide range of accommodation options, from condo rentals and hotels to larger villas to accommodate families or groups. Hotels are mostly boutique-type places rather than large resorts.
Beachfront Hotel Recommendations:
The Millennium Hotel is the go-to beachfront hotel for modern amenities and is close to town.
Ultravioleta Beach Residences is a luxe property with large units, about a 25-minute beach walk from Cabarete's main strip.
Velero Beach Hotel is another popular mid-range luxury hotel anchoring one end of Cabarete Beach.
Condo Complexes: Numerous oceanfront condos offer opportunities for Airbnb rentals. Some of the most popular complexes are The Victorian, Nanny Estates, Ocean Dream, and long-term rentals at Velero Beach Hotel.
Oceanfront Villa Rentals: Private villas with 8 to 12 bedrooms for families or large groups are found a little farther from downtown. While these are on the beach and have pools, they do not always offer the best ocean swimming due to large surf. Most people swim at the main beach in Cabarete, or Kite Beach in the mornings before the wind picks up and kiteboarders arrive. One recommended facility is Villa Coco Mar, about a 5-minute taxi ride from downtown, and walkable to town along the beach at low tide.
Beach Dining: Cabarete’s main beach is packed with restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with some tables right on the sand. Options include fresh seafood, BBQ offerings, pizza and pasta, Asian food, casual pub fare, and traditional Dominican dishes.
Favourite restaurants include Serenade, Papi’s, LAX/Ojo, and the best sunset spot is at Velero Beach Resort’s aptly named Sunset Grill. Fine dining can be found at Tuva (Italian) and outside of town at the fantastic Beach Club at the Seahorse Ranch complex.
Activities: Many of these you can do on your own, or excursions can be arranged from a tour operator in downtown Cabarete.
- Cabarete Beach - Chair rentals with food & drink service are available on the beach for a modest fee.
- Kiteboarding - Cabarete is famous for this adrenaline-filled sport, which takes place on Kite Beach and Bozo Beach on the west side of Cabarete Beach. Several kiting schools offer lessons on both beaches, but beginners should head to Kite Beach. Good schools here are Kite Point and Champion Kite School.
- Surfing - The surf beach is at Encuentro, about a ten-minute drive west of town. Surf shacks tucked beneath shady palms offer cheap and fun lessons. Go in the morning for the best waves.
- Waterfall Exursion - 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua National Park. Find your inner Indiana Jones as you jump off waterfalls into deep pools in the jungle. This is about 2 hours from Cabarete.
- Yoga – Zen out under the thatched roof of the Yoga Temple, located just back from the beach on the grounds of the Natura Cabana Resort, a ten-minute ride from town. Stop in for a papaya smoothie at Karaya beachfront restaurant after your practice.
- Puerto Plata Day Trip - Wander the Old Town, visit the 450-year-old Fort San Felipe, and stop for a rum tasting at the Macorix House of Rum.
- Other: Horseback riding, Ocean World Adventure Park (1 hour away), and catamaran snorkelling trips from the nearby town of Sosua.