Cabarete

Cabarete is a small, lively town about 20 to 25 minutes east of Puerto Plata's airport, and it has built its identity on wind and waves. Founded in the 19th century as part of a plantation estate, it was a quiet fishing village until windsurfers discovered the reliable afternoon breeze in the 1980s. Since then the bay has hosted the Professional Windsurfing World Cup, professional kiteboarding tours and the annual Master of the Ocean competition.

The town is basically one long main road running parallel to Cabarete Beach, with restaurants, bars, small hotels, surf shops and supermarkets packed along both. At night, many restaurants put tables on the sand, and the beach becomes the social center of town. It is one of the few places on the coast where you can stay in a beach hotel and walk to dozens of independent restaurants and bars.

The water sports spots are spread along the coast. Kite Beach, about 2.5 kilometers west, is where most kite schools work. Encuentro Beach, about 5 kilometers west, is the country's main surf beach, best in the mornings. Inland, the Monumento Natural Lagunas Cabarete y Goleta protects caves, sinkholes and mangroves, and there are horseback and mountain bike tours into the hills.

Places to stay range from hostels and surf camps to apartments, boutique hotels and condos. There are no large all-inclusives in town, which is part of the appeal for independent travelers. The most distinctive option nearby is Natura Cabana, a bungalow hotel near Encuentro. Cabarete also has a big long-stay and digital nomad community, with coworking spaces and good internet in many cafés.

The trade-offs: the main road is noisy and traffic can be heavy, afternoons on the beach are windy, and the bay is not as calm for swimming as Sosúa. Late-night music near the beach bars can carry into nearby rooms, so ask for a quiet room if you are a light sleeper.

Who it suits: kiters, windsurfers, surfers, active travelers, couples and friends who want walkable nightlife, and long-stay nomads. Who should look elsewhere: families who want an all-inclusive with calm water; Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada or Sosúa fit better.