Major city · Dominican Republic
Cabarete
Stay 3–4 nights if you kite or surf; 2 nights if you don't. Wind is best Dec–Apr and Jun–Aug; the town itself is 800 m of one road.
Cabarete is the north coast's wind and wave town: about 300 windy days a year in the bay, and about 300 wave days a year 6 km east at Playa Encuentro. The centre is one 800 m main road with the beach on one side and bars, schools and guesthouses on the other. Come for the water sports, not for sightseeing — there is almost nothing to see on land.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- DOP
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (wind), Jun–Aug (wind); surf works year-round
- avoid Sep–Oct (peak hurricane season, wettest)
- Airports
- POP · STI · SDQ · PUJ
- Nights
- 3–4
Rules in force · 6Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…
- Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
- Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
- Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.
- Dominican Republic ↗Fill in the free e-Ticket form on the official migration site (eticket.migracion.gob.do) for arrival and departure; ignore sites that charge for it.
- Dominican Republic ↗The land border with Haiti is not a tourist route: do not plan overland travel into Haiti.
- Dominican Republic ↗Avoid driving at night outside cities: unlit roads, motorbikes without lights and animals make it the main risk.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Cabarete911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Cabarete, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Dominican peso (DOP); resorts and tour operators often quote in US dollars.Dominican Republic-wide
- SIM or eSIMClaro and Altice sell prepaid SIMs and eSIMs at the airports and malls; bring your passport.Dominican Republic-wide
- Tap waterDo not drink tap water; buy garrafones (big refillable jugs) or bottled.Dominican Republic-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10% service already added; 5–10% extra for good service.Dominican Republic-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Dominican Republic-wide
- SafetyCabarete is a small beach town and the main road is fine day and night.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsIn restaurants and malls; carry tissue.Dominican Republic-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysLong lunch breaks in small towns; Sunday is quiet.Dominican Republic-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPOP Puerto Plata (Gregorio Luperón) (Closest airport, about 20 min by taxi; small terminal, arrive 2 h before departure).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable day and night along the main road.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealBeachfront restaurant main courseRD$400–900
- BeerPresidente beerRD$100–200
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personDOP 900
- Mid-range bedDouble room, budget hotel or apartment, a night, per roomDOP 4,000
- High-end bedDouble room, budget hotel or apartment, a night, per roomDOP 9,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget DOP 2,500 · Mid DOP 6,000 · High DOP 14,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- POP Puerto Plata (Gregorio Luperón) (Closest airport, about 20 min by taxi; small terminal, arrive 2 h before departure) · STI Santiago (Cibao) (About 1.5 h by road; usually cheaper fares than POP) · SDQ Santo Domingo (Las Américas) (About 3.5 h by road; only worth it if the fare saving is large) · PUJ Punta Cana (Skip: about 6 h by road from Cabarete)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Feb
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Mar
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Apr
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
May
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jun
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Best: Jun–Aug, Dec–Apr. Avoid: Sep–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C) low), wettest Oct (12 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Cabarete: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8 rd
Feb
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7 rd
Mar
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7 rd
Apr
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8 rd
May
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11 rd
Dec
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable day and night along the main road. Motoconcho (motorbike taxi) is the local default: about RD$50 before dark, RD$100 after. Guagua vans and carrito publicos run along the main road in daylight; taxis cost more but are fixed-price and comfortable. Agree every fare before you get in.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sosúa
goDoor to door: 20–25 min
Gua gua or carrito along the main road, or motoconcho
Beach, restaurants and a busy nightlife strip; easy half-day.
Puerto Plata
goDoor to door: 30–45 min
Gua gua or taxi west along the coast road
Largest town in the area; cable car and old centre.
Playa Encuentro
goDoor to door: 10–15 min
Motoconcho or taxi east
Surf breaks for all levels; five main breaks.
Santiago de los Caballeros
cautionDoor to door: 2–2.5 h
Caribe Tours bus from Sosúa, or taxi
Long for a day; better as a transfer stop.
Jarabacoa
overnightDoor to door: 3.5–4 h
Bus via Santiago, then local transport
Mountains and rivers; sleep at least one night.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Cabarete centre (main road)
Walk to schools, bars and the beach; noisiest at night.
Bozo Beach
North-west half of the bay; kitesurf focus, wider water, 10–15 min walk to the centre.
Kite Beach
East end; flatter water but a smaller riding area, reef close to shore.
Playa Encuentro
6 km (3.7 mi) east; surf breaks, quiet, needs a motoconcho or taxi for everything.3.7 mi (6 km) east; surf breaks, quiet, needs a motoconcho or taxi for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- RD$2,500–4,500 excl. bed
- Mid
- RD$4,500–9,000 excl. bed
- High
- RD$9,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, budget hotel or apartment1 × 3 nights × DOP 4,000 | DOP 12,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × DOP 6,000 | DOP 36,000 |
| Taxi POP airport → Cabarete, one way1 × DOP 2,100 · about US$35 per trip, not per person | DOP 2,100 |
| Motoconcho, one ride2 × DOP 50 · about RD$100 after dark | DOP 100 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × DOP 1,500 | DOP 3,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | DOP 5,320 |
| Trip total≈ DOP 9,750 per person per day, bed included | DOP 58,520 |
2026 estimate in Dominican pesos; flights, lessons and gear rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Local plate (pica pollo, guisado, la bandera) | RD$150–350 |
| Burrito or bowl at a Tex-Mex spotplus 16% tax | RD$110–130 |
| Beachfront restaurant main course | RD$400–900 |
| Presidente beer | RD$100–200 |
| Brugal rum shot | RD$100–200 |
| Motoconcho ride in town | RD$50 day / RD$100 night |
| Gua gua ride | RD$25–50 |
| Kitesurf lesson, per hour | check |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Motoconcho drivers sometimes drink and ride: look and smell before you get on.
- Carry small change — guagua and carrito drivers often claim to have none.
- Do not walk alone on dark side roads at night; stay on the lit main road.
- ATMs cap withdrawals (about RD$4,000 per day) and most charge a fee.
- Airport exchange rates are poor; change money in town or bring pesos.
- Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov, with Sep–Oct the riskiest.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
CabareteCabarete
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Cabarete; the US has a consular agency in Puerto Plata and most countries keep embassies in Santo Domingo.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- POP airport → Cabarete, taxi: about US$35 per trip, not per person, 20 min
- STI airport → Cabarete, taxi: about US$100 per trip, 1.5 h
- Motoconcho in town: RD$50 before sunset, RD$100 after
Say or show
- ¿Cuánto es? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh es)
- Muy caro — Too expensive (mwee KAH-roh)
- A esta dirección, por favor — To this address, please (ah ES-tah dee-rek-SYON por fah-VOR)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR)
- ¿Dónde está la playa? — Where is the beach? (DON-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah)
- Ayuda — Help (ah-YOO-dah)
Prices in pesos; US dollars are widely accepted but at a poor rate.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cabarete. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Apr (wind), Jun–Aug (wind); surf works year-round · avoid Sep–Oct (peak hurricane season, wettest) · month by month →
- 4 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for POP and STI: last-transfer times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four water clusters with rescue anchors: Cabarete Bay, Bozo Beach, Kite Beach, Playa Encuentro.
- School pages with verified lesson prices and IKO certification status.
- Storm and sargassum fixtures so gates A–D can go green.