This one-time fishing and farming hamlet is now the adventure-sports capital of the country, booming with condos and new development. You’ll find a friendly, slightly raucous beach town, with great independent accommodations, and a beach dining experience second to none (not to mention the best winds and waves on the island). Cabarete is an ideal spot to base yourself for exploring the area – you’re within two hours’ drive of the best that the coast has to offer, and if you want to go surfing, or windsurfing, or kitesurfing, heck, you don’t even need to leave town. You’ll hear a babble of five or six languages as you walk Cabarete’s single street, where the majority of the hotels, restaurants and shops are located.

WHY VISIT?

Cabarete is one of the original kitesurfing meccas; people have been making the pilgrimage to this fantastic spot in the Dominican Republic for years. The wind blows all year consistently 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 favourite spot for beginners and experts alike with many pro riders visiting throughout the year and a few that live here permanently.

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.


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 bikinis are the order of the day, you might want a thermal rash vest for those sunset sessions. You'll only need to pack one jumper, it stays warm all day and night, and you’ll never wear socks either, so leave those at home!

STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING (SUP)


The outer reefs collect swells, it is here where expert paddle-boarders ride World Class Waves. The hurricane season and the winter storm season provide the finest wave riding for advanced wave riders. The protected bays have calmer waters inside the reef for mid level paddle boarding, where as the Kite Beach Lagoon offers excellent paddling for nature lovers and all levels Paddle Boarding, no matter the wind and waves.

SURFING & BOOGIE BOARDING


The North Coast is becoming increasingly popular for surfing due to its warm and safe surfing waters. Considered to be the best place to surf in the Dominican Republic, Encuentro, is just 10 minutes from Cabarete. It's a fantastic spot for beginners, as well as for those looking for something much more challenging. The local surfers are extremely friendly and will help give you the lay of the waves. The best time of year to surf is from November to the end of March.

WINDSURFING


Windsurfers have been visiting Cabarete since the mid 80s because of the fantastic conditions available for every level of sailor. Cabarete has played host to numerous world-class events. Every June, it hosts Cabarete Race Week, an international windsurfing competition that incorporates exciting windsurfing competition and a ton of fun! All windsurfing centers are located right in the Bay for easy rigging and direct launch from the beach at their site. You can rent gear, store gear, purchase gear and take every level of instruction from each windsurfing center.

KITEBOARDING


According to legend, Canadian windsurfer Jean Laporte came here in the 1980s and was quite literally blown away by the consistent and warm trade winds. The windsurfing community in Cabarete exploded and began to appear in the most popular windsurfing magazines of the time.


Since then, Cabarete has hosted many prestigious kite competitions. From the PKRA to the WKL our local pros are either winning or on the podium! Thanks to awesome conditions, tranquilo culture, and inexpensive travel, Cabarete has maintained its status as one of the top kiting destinations in the world.