Cabarete

If you can imagine a scene such as the photo [right] thronging with good natured people having a great time on New Year`s Eve, that was it! Unforgettable!

It reminded me more of a mediteranean holiday, perhaps somewhere like a Greek Island. Instead of the all-inclusive facilities, with their private beaches, you gained more of a feel of an informal Dominican holiday destination.

It is an excellent location for the young traveler seeking fun, sun and sport although there really is something for everyone. If you also want the beach holiday, taking in a few bars in the evening, this will suit you.

This location is a favorite summer resort for locals as well as tourists.

The younger visitors come to enjoy its strong surf, beautiful sea and watersports. This part of the Dominican Republic is blessed with very special natural features which lend themselves to world class watersports. The trade winds blows at speeds from 15 to 25 knots coming from the Atlantic.

Location

Cabarete is a small Caribbean beach village on the northern coastline of the Dominican Republic. Due to its size, you can get around by foot. Everything is close by if you are staying in the town.

If you are located slightly out of town some resorts provide a shuttle service.

The bay is formed by a barrier coral reef and is a popular destination for surfers and divers.

The village of Cabarete is spread out across the center of a semi-circular beach of golden, sun-soaked, sand. Just behind, is a tranquil lagoon.

It is located approximately 20 km east of Puerto Plata [about 20 minutes drive] International Airport.

It is also mere 15-minute drive east from Sosua.

Water sports

Cabarete is considered by many to be one of the top places in the world to windsurf and kiteboard.

Apart from the beautiful location, the direction of the wind is from inside to out, which makes it safe for windsurfing competitors.

The best months for strong winds are June, July and August.

In 2000, kitesurfing started to take off.

Kitesurfing and kiteboarding, use wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard. Generally kiteboarding refers to a style of riding known as free-style or wakestyle where as kitesurfing is more waveriding oriented.

Surfing

Surfing at nearby El Encuentro beach. is probably the best in the Dominican Republic. This is an excellent stretch of beach and known by the locals as the best surf spot on the island.

There is plenty of golden sand, but there are a couple of rock shelfs just offshore before the reef. Even on a bad day for surf the waves are about 6 feet.

If you surf or boogieboard you must try this beach.

For non surfers there are some excellent shells at the eastern end of the beach.

Cabarete Golf

If you are a fairly serious golfer you have two choices:

I have played Playa Grande quite a few times [photo right] and it is just over an hour away.

Click on the link for further information. It is quite simply one of the finest in the Caribbean.

In my view it is worth the trip. If you have a non golfer with you they will enjoy driving around in the cart and enjoying the view.

If you don`t believe me on the view check out the photo left.

Please accept my apologies but it yours truly in a state of some euphoria after a rare victory against the good Ambassador.

The photo was taken on the 18th tee.

A nearer course is another Robert Trent Jones, Sr course located just 30 minutes away, in the beautiful Playa Dorada area. This Par 72, 18-hole course serves the 14 resorts within Playa Dorada.

It is a decent course and handy if you are staying in Puerto Plata or Playa Dorada. Given the choice however I would drive the extra half hour to Playa Grande.

If you interested in golf in Cabarete you may want to know more about golf in the Dominican Republic

Other activities

Cabarete offers other activities such as mountain-biking, scuba-diving, cave exploring or canyoning.

You will be able to find a well-organized horse ranch tours, cave tours in El Choco National Park (Laguna Cabarete and Laguna Goleta), and mountain biking. There is waterskiing in Yasica River and safari-type excursions.

For the even more adventurous you can get excursions to the highest mountain in the Caribbean river rafting in the Central Mountain Range.

CHECK OUT MORE ABOUT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Check out Samana for the whale watching

More on Santo Domingo`s famous colonial zone

Check out Dominican cuisine

Or Dominican history

Larimar stone. The beautiful precious stone unique to the Dominican Republic

Or Dominican Republic travel tips

Golf in the Dominican Republic

More on merengue music

Check out one of the main holiday destinations in the north-Puerto Plata

You may also wish to check out the resort of Punta Cana in the east of the Dominican Republic