Things to do in Cabarete
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Iguana Mama
Iguana Mama, the leading adventure-sports tour operator on the north coast, is in a class of its own. Its specialties are mountain biking (easy to insanely difficult, US$65) and cascading. It is the only operator that takes you to the 27th waterfall at Damajagua (US$85), and it has pioneered a new cascading tour to Ciguapa Falls, which only Iguana Mama offers. There’s also a variety of hiking trips, including a half-day walk (US$45) into the hills behind Cabarete (Parque Nacional El Choco), and a full-day trip to Mount Isabel de Torres (US$80), just outside Puerto Plata. Its Pico Duarte trek is expensive, but handy if you want transportation to and from Cabarete (per pers…
reviewed
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Castle Club
Just 200m past the Blue Moon on your left is this rambling, eccentric home – a castle of sorts, under continuous construction (and unlikely ever to be fully finished). The owners grow much of their own food on the property, and serve this superfresh produce in their restaurant, one of the very best in the country. Expect dishes like coconut sea bass, exquisite salads and cold lemon soufflé. Their schedule can be erratic, though – book at least two days in advance. They can cater for groups from six to 100.
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Gipsy Ranch
The fully equipped Gipsy Ranch riding stables are situated right near Playa Encuentro. Gipsy Ranch charges US$16 per person for an hour’s ride on the beach, or US$52 for a longer, half-day ride. It can also organize longer excursions along the beach and in the nearby hills. The French owner is trilingual. From the entrance to Encuentro, continue down toward the beach and turn left. You’ll find the stables opposite the Coconut Palms Resort.
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Casanova
This Asian-decorated restaurant has Buddha statues about the place, and plays funky house music. The food is the best you’ll find directly on the beach – the usual suspects like surf and turf make an appearance, but also a goat’s cheese salad and some mighty fine pizza, too. Dig your toes into the sand and relax with a beer. Now this is the life.
reviewed
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Otra Cosa
This French-Caribbean restaurant, just across from Velero and with marvelous sea breezes at dusk, does some of the choicest food in town. The forbidden paste – foie gras (US$20) – features prominently on the menu, and it also serves filet mignon with duck liver, morels and cognac (US$33). Good fish, lobster and steak dishes, too.
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Bliss
It may not be on the beach, but sitting around the crystal-blue pool with a top-shelf cocktail in your hand, you can be forgiven for not caring. The food here is creative – think rack of lamb with thyme and bitter caramel sauce, shrimp with passionfruit sauce, or roasted duck breast with green pepper sauce.
reviewed
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Hexenkessel
After a night of debauchery, nothing hits the spot like a monstrous schnitzel (US$5) at this never-closed German eatery. Clients sit side by side at picnic tables. Other house specialties include potato pancakes with ground beef (US$6.50) and fried Bavarian bratwurst (US$4).
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La Casita de Juana ‘El Tigre’
The irrepressibly warm owner of this Dominican restaurant makes Dominican food memorable (no small challenge). Choice of chicken, goat or fish with rice, beans and salad. The specialty of the house is arepita de yucca (aniseed-flavored yucca pancakes).
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El Rocón
This secluded restaurant-cum-driving-range is just east of Encuentro. Great for a beachside lunch, it also sometimes holds after-hours parties that go till dawn – ask any DJ if it’s on. Small, thatched chill-out shacks are a great place to watch the sun rise.
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Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding
Friendly, safety-conscious shop located on Bozo Beach and run by one of the world’s top kiteboarders. Offers lessons in five languages. If you’re walking along the beach from Cabarete, look for the canvas-sail roof of the restaurant next door.
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Fun Tours
The Fun Tours, next door to Iguana Mama, offers the usual range of package tours, including a day trip to Cayo Arena (US$55), and an abridged version of the Damajagua Falls tour (you only go as far as the seventh waterfall).
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Cabwake School
Cabwake School, 6km east of town, is the only operator licensed to tow on the river. A 20-minute tow will set you back US$35, and week-long ‘wake camps’ – 10 to 15 tows in a week – are available at significant discount.
reviewed
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Onno’s
This edgy, foreign-owned restaurant and nightclub serves some of the cheapest food on the beach – a basic breakfast goes for just US$2, and salads for US$7. At night a DJ spins a decent set, and the party spills out onto the beach.
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Bambú
Just 100m west of Onno’s, this bar and disco plays loud house music and reggaeton, and the crowd spills out onto the beach until it merges with that at Onno’s. Bring earplugs in case of rain (so you can stand inside).
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Pomodoro
Run by an Italian jazz fiend, this pizza joint makes the best crispy-crust pizza on the beach. It uses only quality toppings – including pungent, imported Italian cheese – and there’s live jazz on Thursday nights.
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Vela Windsurf Center
One of the best choices for windsurfing in Cabarete. On the main beach, it uses excellent gear, and can also rent sea kayaks (per hour US$10 to US$15). Works in conjunction with kitesurfing school, Dare2Fly.
reviewed
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Kite Club
This well-run club is at the top of Kite Beach, and has a fantastic atmosphere for hanging out and relaxing between sessions. The tiny kitchen delivers delicious fresh ahi tuna salads and sandwiches.
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Panadería Repostería Dick
The undisputed champion of breakfast in Cabarete, Dick serves large set breakfasts with juice and strong coffee. The bakery does wholewheat bread and mind-blowing vanilla-cream Danish pastries.
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Ocean Sands Casino
The on-site disco plays loud merengue and reggaeton, and doesn’t begin to fill up till way past midnight. One of your few options after the bars close. Moderate presence of sex workers.
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Luciano Gonzalez Kite School
Two-time winner of the Master of the Ocean, Luciano now runs this small school opposite Kite Beach. Very patient with beginners. Offers a three-day, US$300 introductory course.
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Latino Lounge
Just inside Callejón de la Loma, this new spot is the best place in Cabarete to dance merengue or bachata (sorry salsa lovers, you picked the wrong country).
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Lax
This mellow bar and restaurant serves food until 10:30pm. In many ways it’s the social headquarters of Cabarete. Try the chinola mojito – surprisingly good.
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Kitexcite
This award-winning school uses radio helmets and optional offshore sessions to maximize instruction.
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Fujifilm Digital
Next to No Work Team, this photo shop has a fast internet connection and headphones.
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Janet’s Supermarket
This is the biggest and best supermarket at the eastern end of town.
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