Cabarete - Culture

Cabarete is a small, pleasant and low-key beach village located 15 km. east of Sosua. It's one of those naturally charming places that have such a comfortable ambiance that most visitors who come here want to come back. In fact, quite a few free spirits spontaneously decide to change their plans after arriving so they can hang around the village for a few extra weeks or months, if not settle down for a while.

The main reason Cabarete’s size is limited is that on the southern side of the highway, behind a row of buildings, lies a superb large lagoon popular for more tranquil row-boating and bird-watching of some interesting species, including pelicans, that nest there. Other local attractions include caves that formerly served as home for the original Indian inhabitants of the island.

The heart of Cabarete lies at the base of a small bay. The road that runs through its half-mile long centre is bordered with several small hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and other businesses lining both sides. Behind the businesses on the northern side of the road lies one of the finest beaches in the Caribbean, whose golden fine sand stretches for more than 3 km. in both directions, perfect for taking long strolls or jogging. Because of its unique situation, there are no huge hotel complexes close to the village centre, so the beach is never too crowded.

Although fairly tiny, Cabarete offers plenty of entertainment options after sunset. A handful of restaurants along the beach compete in offering a variety of tasty dishes, including seafood and shellfish, for reasonable prices (between $8-12 US), while others have daily or weekly specials, such as all-you-can-eat Bar-B-Qs of a variety of meats for as little as $7-8.

For later in the evening there are several excellent bars (New Wave, Tiki Bar, Onno's Bar & Las Brisas), some of which have inexpensive specials for rum-based drinks. During peak seasons some of them feature live musical entertainment certain nights of the week (mainly rock, blues and reggae), including visiting artists from North America or top Dominican bands, or spontaneous Jam Sessions where visiting musicians are invited to join in. Later in the evening you can go dancing where the Djs mix up a blend of rock/techno/reggae with doses of popular Dominican merengue/bachata/salsa (Las Brisas & Onno's Bar).

Caves - now part of the El Choco National Park. Just outside Cabarete, towards Sosua you'll pass a sign saying Cabarete Caves - you should definitely visit this place. Escape the sun altogether for a day into these mysterious caves and learn trough excellent guides all about the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the island Hispania and much more.

Cabarete is a paradise for those who love outdoor activities. Although it is known worldwide as a fantastic windsurfing spot, Cabarete offers a wide range of other exciting adventures and sports.  

	Windsurfing - Cabarete is among the ten best windsurfing spots in the world and is the heart and soul of this small town.
	Surfing - playa Encuentro, only five minutes from Cabarete, is unanimously considered the best place to surf on the north coast. Surfing is becoming increasingly popular in Cabarete. More and more businesses offer boards to rent and shuttles to various surf spots, some also offer professional lessons.
	Horseback riding - the equestrian will not be disappointed in Cabarete given there are several ranches to choose from offering horseback rides on the beach and through the mountains where the views will leave you breathless.
	Water-skiing and wake boarding - an outfit working on the nearby Yasica River offers this thrilling recreation throughout the year.
	Scuba diving - the scuba diving (and likewise snorkelling) is a popular activity in the area because of the fabulously clear water containing abundant marine life.
	Mountain biking - join the hundreds of people who come to Cabarete for the sole purpose of challenging the region’s beginner to advanced level bike trails.
	Golf - a 9-hole golf course is minutes from Cabarete and is available to the public for a reasonable fee. About thirty minutes away is Cabrera / Playa Grande Golf Course one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Caribbean designed by the celebrated architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., where ten of the eighteen holes are played right along the ocean cliff.