Sometimes you want to travel someplace you’ve never been, but sometimes you find a special place that keeps you coming back for more. Cabarete is one of those special places that keeps people coming back for more. It has so much to offer, but It’s also such a small town that you really get to know the locals that work there as well as many tourists that come back year after year.
Like most popular vacation destinations, Cabarete is full of tourists. However, the friendly locals are also very visibly present, running their shops and restaurants, taxiing tourists on their motorcycles, teaching kiting lessons, playing volleyball, selling things on the beach, and even climbing trees to cut down coconuts. It’s impressive how quickly they can scale these trees without ropes. They can get about 8 pesos (20 cents) per coconut while also helping to prevent death by falling coconuts for unsuspecting tourists. Before lounging on a chair on the beach, always look up and make sure there are no coconuts above, especially when the wind is blowing.
While at home or on any other trip, my husband checks the wind forecast online daily (not for falling coconuts, but for kitesurfing conditions). In the last three summers he has gone, the wind has been roughly the same strength (17-25mph) almost every afternoon.
However, even with steady wind conditions this year, he was reminded that kiting is an extreme sport when he accidentally launched about 30 feet across the water and smacked his ribs on impact. He then had to kite back to shore injured and hobble around for the next few days in severe pain with every breath, cough, laugh, or movement of his rib cage.
This gave him time to take pictures and read on the beach like a “normal” tourist. Fortunately, he doesn’t think any ribs are broken and he got back on his board a few days later (and the photos below of flying kiters are not of my husband!)
There is plenty to do near Cabarete even if you don’t want to learn to kite, surf or play volleyball. Less than an hour away, there are beautiful waterfalls, and several companies offer canyon tours and mountain biking, among other adventures. The tropical island also offers gorgeous displays of nature including interesting birds, geckos, flowers and trees.
Playa Encuentro is a surfing beach 6km from Cabarete where there are several surf schools and horseback riding riding along the beach. The waves are typically small in the summer, but my husband got lucky this year scoring head high and overhead waves and long rides. The break is good for beginning long boarders and advanced riders alike.
The wind is slightly offshore in the morning switching to side onshore in the afternoon as the land heats up and colder air rushes onshore to replace the rising hot air on the land (thermal wind). This creates good surfing in the morning and good kitesurfing in the afternoon. My husband’s favorite thing to do there is kite 6km downwind from Cabarete to Encuentro and then catch a taxi back.
Encuentro beach is quite scenic, with lots of shade, huts and hammocks to relax and watch the surfers. There is also a nice beachfront hotel next door and horseback riding is only about $25/hour.
Another popular spot about 5 kilometers from the main strip in Cabarete is La Boca, where the river meets the ocean. Flat water kiters like this spot for the smooth water conditions, and tourists come for the restaurant that serves excellent shrimp and fish. The restaurant ferries people across the river for free while the kiters put on a show for the guests.
The taxi to and from La Boca cost him just $20, and the friendly driver waited for him while he enjoyed his lunch and watched the kiters. He knew he could have bargained the price down further but we like to support the local people and economy when we travel. Marino, the taxi driver was a reminder of the good vibes in the DR – The first thing Marino said when he got into the car to La Boca was “Cabarete – best place in the world man!”
In case you missed the Dominican Republic on a budget (part 1) you can check it out HERE!
I have never heard of Cabarete before, but it is now officially on my bucket list! These photos are magical – the one with all of the kite surfers is incredible! And, let’s be honest, you had me at fresh coconut water!
Looks like a great place!
This look amazing! I’ve heard great things about the DR but haven’t had a chance to go. Definitely pinning this for future reference. Will make it out there soon!
Definitely let us know if you make it there. ??
Whooooa, amazing photos on the kiteboarding! DR looks like an outdoor adventure wonderland! La Boca is now on my list
Thanks!!!
And let us know if you make it there.
Your amazing photos speak volume of the so much fun and pleasure you had…
He definitely had a fabulous trip! ?
Beautiful images! 🙂 Never thought of going here until now
Thank you! Yes. It’s a gorgeous place.
Gorgeous photos! This looks like a fantastic trip. 😀
We haven’t found that one place we just have to go back over and over. Maybe someday. It is a beautiful place
Your photos are so vibrant! This looks like a place I would fall in love with.
? I can’t get over the colors there.
beautiful! i’ve officially added this to my bucket list!
I know the feeling. My bucket list grows daily. ??
Wow! the DR is so gorgeous. I MUST go there, Thanks for the inspiration!
Absolutely!! ?
If you make it there, let us know.
beautiful photos!! I would love to travel there one day
Thank you! Let us know if you do!!
The beaches look beautiful! I’d love to go on a surfing trip there 🙂 I can’t believe how many kite flyers there were in one of those photos, all packed so close together!
It is crazy but so cool! I hope you make it there someday!
Such beautiful pictures. I have never heard of Cabarete but you learn something new everyday. Thanks for sharing
Thank you! Yes, its a fabulous place… especially if you want to learn how to kite board!
It would be awesome to stay in a place like this! Quiet and peaceful except for the falling coconuts, lol! I would love to go here to relax and just spend some time with my family!
Haha! Right?! I could definitely do without the falling coconuts! 🙂
What a fun adventure! Having a vacation in 14 days like this? is just blessed!
You are so right! We are definitely blessed to be able to travel so much!
The trip sounds great! I’d love to go there.
I hope you make it someday! It is gorgeous!
Beautiful! It looks like you had fun!
Yes… So much fun! He can’t wait until next year.
Cabarete looks like a fairyland. No wonder you keep going back there. i entirely agree with you, there are some places which are really magical and keep drawing you to them like a magnet. For me Switzerland is one such place.
Switzerland looks amazing! My husband has been (years ago)… but it is definitely on my MUST SEE list! The photos are gorgeous! Do you have a favorite spot?
Love this kind of place! Its just very relaxing!
Love it… great info and beautiful pictures
You just sold me on this being our next big trip to plan. Beauty and fun are the best combo. This is perfect.