Cabarete
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Cabarete

Cabarete

North-coast Dominican beach town shaped by trade winds, kitesurfing, and windsurfing schools

Cabarete is one of the top kitesurfing and windsurfing destinations in the Caribbean, a laid-back beach town on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Consistent trade winds, warm water, and low prices have turned it into an international hub for wind sports, with a lively scene of riders, schools, and beachfront bars.

The trade winds blow from the east almost year-round, giving Cabarete near-perfect side-onshore conditions. The best season runs from February to August, with June bringing the strongest winds — up to 30 knots — and the annual kiteboarding world tour. On a typical day the morning is calm, the wind picks up around 11:00 (good for beginners), and by 12:30 the thermal kicks in with consistent, solid conditions until around 16:00.

Kite Beach, about a kilometre from the town centre, is the main launch spot — sandy beach, several kiteschools, and a reef 300 metres offshore that creates flat, shallow water on one side and decent swell on the other. For proper waves, Encuentro Beach is a well-known surf break that also works for kiting. La Boca, a river mouth 6 km east of town, has glass-flat water perfect for freestyle.

Beyond the wind sports, Cabarete has a good strip of restaurants and bars along the beach road, and the nightlife runs late. It is a genuinely fun place to spend a few days, even if you have never touched a kite.

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Bars and Cafes

The beach road turns into a social strip as the wind dies down in the late afternoon. Many bars open onto the sand directly, and the atmosphere is reliably relaxed — a mix of surfers, kiteboarders, and travellers comparing wind conditions over Presidente beer.

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Eating Out

Cabarete's restaurant scene is small but lively, strung along the beach road. There's a reasonable mix of international food driven by the expat and tourist crowd, alongside straightforward Dominican options.

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Getting There

The nearest international airport is Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), about 30 kilometres west of Cabarete. Taxis from the airport take around 30–40 minutes; arrange the price before you get in. Shuttle services connect to Santiago and Santo Domingo. Guagua (shared minibus) connections run frequently along the north coast road and cost very little, though they may require a change in Sosúa.

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Things to Do

Cabarete is built around wind sports — kitesurfing and windsurfing are the main draws, with beaches suited for different skill levels and conditions. Beyond the water, there are a few natural attractions nearby and a beach strip that makes for pleasant wandering in the evening.

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When to Go

For kitesurfing and windsurfing, the best months are February through August, with the trade winds most reliable and strongest from May to August. June is the peak month for wind: expect 25–30 knots on good days and the annual kiteboarding tour events. July and August bring the strongest thermal winds alongside the trade winds.

Outside wind season — September through January — Cabarete is quieter and cheaper. The surf at Encuentro still works year-round. Temperatures stay warm throughout the year (25–30°C), and the north coast gets less rain than the south. September and October are the peak of hurricane season.