A Guide to Your Cabarete Vacation Part 2

If you’re considering Cabarete for a vacation this winter, this guide will help you get an idea of the area and prepare for your vacation. If you haven’t already, check out part 1!

What are the best beaches in the area?

If you’re thinking about a Cabarete vacation, you are surely imagining a lot of beach time in addition to lounging by the beautiful pool at Ocean Palms, so let us help you navigate your choice of beaches while you are here:

Sosua Beach:

Sosua beach is one of the largest and most popular beaches in the area. The crescent shaped beach is about a 10 minute drive from our residences and is a great place to go for the day if you want to enjoy a beach side meal at one of the local BBQ spots. Inexpensive cold beers and coconut waters flow freely as you are served at your table or on your beach chair in the shade. The water at Sosua beach is almost always crystal clear, and there are many outfits where you can rent snorkel or scuba equipment or go on an excursion. In most conditions, this is a great beach for families, as the water is calmer than in Cabarete.

Playa Alicia:

Playa Alicia is one bay east of Sosua’s main beach mentioned above. Playa Alicia is a beach goers dream, with a ¼ mile of untouched sand and beautiful cliffs on either side. Playa Alicia does not have the same Dominican restaurant scene as the main beach, so it can be a lot more quiet and good for a relaxing beach day with your loved one or family. While the water here is normally calm, the waves can get strong on the west side of the bay, so if you visit in these conditions, stay to the east side, and use caution while swimming with little ones.

Encuentro Beach:

Encuentro Beach is the stretch of beach located just down the hill from Ocean Palms. Our ocean view suites have a beautiful view of coastline right from their balcony! Encuentro beach is an amazing place for beach walks and to take in the sunrise and sunset. There are a few surf schools where you can rent surf gear and try out one of the best breaks in the Caribbean which is actually super friendly for beginners. We recommend swimming outside of the main surfing areas, as that part of the beach is covered in reef. If you go west of the surf break, just past the Chez Arsenio restaurant sign, there is a small bay excellent for swimming.

Cabarete Beach:

Cabarete Beach is the main beach area in Cabarete and is populated with some of the areas best and most interesting restaurants and bars. Enjoy a Caribbean beach scene at any time of the day. From morning to night, there is something for everyone here. You can take out paddle boards, kayaks or a small sailing boat and enjoy the view of the bay from the ocean. As the sun sets, enjoy a mojito with your toes in the sand at one of the many bars serving the best mojitos in town. Read on to the final section to see our recommendations on restaurants in Cabarete!

Playa Grande:

Playa Grande is located outside of the area of Cabarete but it makes this list because it is well worth the hour long drive to get there. Not only is the scenery breathtaking en route, but once you arrive at this 2 mile long beach, you won’t want to leave. At the main entrance there is a cluster of restaurants serving up fresh fish dishes and a small surf school offering board rentals. You can pass an entire day here and never even look at your watch. Surrounded by untouched jungle that seems to be falling into the sea, and with turquoise waters stretching in front of you, this beach conjures up images that you’ve grovelled at in travel magazines in the past. Enjoy and take notes, because you will definitely be telling your friends about this place!

Cabarete Activities:

Cabarete is the place to visit if you love your vacations to be filled with interesting activities. We will give a quick recap of what you can expect to find in the region, and you can follow up with our front desk staff to book your adventures and activities:

• Yoga
• Fitness
• Crossfit
• Zumba
• Jiu Jitsu
• Tennis
• Circus
• Beach Volleyball
• Standup Paddle Boarding on the ocean or lagoon
• Sailing
• Wind surfing
• Kite surfing and kite boarding
• Surfing
• Body surfing
• Body boarding
• Waterfall tours
• Lazy river float
• Rum factory tour
• Chocolate factory tour
• Painting Classes
• Latin dance classes
• Spanish language classes

Where to Eat: 

Cabarete beach is home to some amazing restaurants. If you are looking for the best seafood in the region, Casita de Papi has a reputation worldwide. All over Cabarete, Italian food is quite popular, but our favourite is Pomodoro, located beach side on Cabarete Beach. If you’re looking for a light meal and the best Mojito in town, Mojito Bar is our fave. With excellent seating for viewing the sunset, and lots of seating inside, this spot is a favourite for locals and tourists alike. There are plenty of other restaurants to explore on Cabarete beach, if you are looking for a restaurant in the Encuentro Beach area, we recommend Chez Arsenio for dinner and the Encuentro Surf Lodge for Breakfast or Lunch.

We hope this blog has helped you plan your Cabarete vacation. If you have any further questions about your upcoming trip, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below.