Cabarete

Why Visit?

Cabarete is one of the original kitesurfing meccas, people have been making the pilgrimage to this amazing spot in the Dominican Republic for year. The wind blows consistently the year round and the waves roll in during the winter. You’ll find a relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere and a town filled with people who love to kite. When the sun goes down the party starts and the nightlife is vibrant and great fun.

The kitesurfing can be world class, with lots of spots to choose from and a mix of flat water and waves there is something for everyone. It is a popular spot for beginners and experts alike with many pro riders visiting throughout the year and a few that live here permanently.

River Floats

Getting Around

Everybody gets around on motoconchos or “motos” they are flying up and down the strip day and night and you’ll never have to wait long to catch a ride. You can also hire a care from $25 dollars a day or jump in a taxi. Be very vigilant when walking along the road or driving, the roads are hectic places.

Food and Drink

With such a cosmopolitan town there are plenty of different options for eating out. There are lots of Italian restaurants as well as numerous establishments offering the Dominican staple of chicken and rice. Expect to pay more for your food and drink if you are sat on the beach and a little less if you are on the main strip or a little out of town. There are two beers in the Dominican Republic, Presidente and Bohemia; rum is also very popular although the rum and cokes are very very strong, so be careful!

Visit Ali’s Surf Camp in Pro Cab for a fantastic meal, the churrasco steaks and papas salteadas are fantastic.

No Wind?

The bustling town has lots to offer on the non-windy days with almost limitless activities to keep you entertained. Of course there is great snorkelling and surfing, but you could float down the river in a rubber tyre or fly down the zip-lines at the Monkey Jungle. There is even a pretty amazing circus school where you can learn all sorts of cool stuff and even fly the trapeze. If anyone ever tells you they are bored in Cabarete, check their pulse, they might actually be dead.

Sunset at Kite Beach

Internet

Cabarete also has a pretty good internet connection, you can get up to 10mb speeds here so a lot of people come from all over the world to work online and kite all day.

Accommodation

There are lots of accommodation options, from cheap hostels and rooms to luxurious condos and hotels. The prices get more expensive the closer you get to the beach and there are deals to be had if you choose to stay for longer than a month.

If you want to kite all day and not be bothered by the noise of the nightlife in town, stay towards Kite Beach. If you want to party all night and be able to stumble home stay in Cabarete town itself.

Wind and Weather

The wind blows all year round and during a good season they have well over 250 days of kiteable wind! The windiest season is from April to September with October and November generally offering more rain and less chance of wind. The weather starts to turn in December and you can be lucky and get good winds from then until March as well.

SUP Yoga

The air temperature ranges from around 26°C/80°F in the winter to over 30°C/86°F and above in the summer. The water temperature is warm and board shorts and bikini’s are the order of the day, you might want a thermal rash vest for those sunset sessions.

Only pack one jumper, it stays hot all day and night, you’ll never wear socks either, so leave those at home.

During the winter the swells can be large and powerful, in the summer they are smaller but you have more consistent wind. If you want to surf as well as kite head to Cabarete in the winter months, if you just want to kite and are not bothered about the waves then visit in the summer!

Bonfires

Wave Slaying