All these activities and tours are close to Villa BayWatch

Kiteboarding and Windsurfing

Cabarete is renowned for its fantastic wind and reef breaking waves. The conditions can be good year round, however the best conditions are from mid-December through to early September. The combination of the offshore reef, the easterly trade winds and the hills behind the village produces a unique thermal effect, creating near perfect wind and wave conditions for both kiteboarding and windsurfing.

The wind generally comes from the east (Cross-on shore from the right - starboard tack out from of the beach) and is usually a trade wind with localized thermal acceleration.

The wind 'turns on' mid-morning to early afternoon and peaks around 1600 hours lasting until dusk. On a good day the wind can start early in the morning.

There can be exceptions to this rule when there is unusual low pressure (a depression) in the Atlantic to the North-West of the Dominican republic. The wind produced by these depressions is usually on-shore or cross-on-shore from the LEFT (North or North West), these days are sometimes rainy but the conditions are often still good. These conditions make the waves even better.

An added bonus is the reef break is renewed by these storms leaving big waves (often 2.5m-3m) ready for when the wind switches back to the prevailing easterly direction.

There are several kiteboarding centers both in Cabarete Bay and at Kite Beach at the western end of the bay, offering instruction for all levels of ability together with equipment rental and storage facilities.

There are also numerous windsurfing centers in Cabarete Bay offering all levels of instruction together with equipment rental, storage facilities and sales of windsurfing equipment.

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Wind & Weather Forecasts

The River Yasica just 10mins east of Cabarete is ideal for wakeboarding on perfectly flat water. A Cabarete based wakeboarding center welcomes all abilities from beginners to advanced.
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Encuentro beach just 10mins west of Cabarete is a fantastic surf spot for both beginners and the more experienced. Several surf schools in the area offer board rental and surf lessons.
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A Cabarete based company offers laser dinghy sailing at its training center in Cabarete Bay, offering dinghy sailing courses for beginners, clinics for the more experienced and hourly boat rental.
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Ocean Kayaking

Ocean kayaking is a great way to experience the waters of Cabarete Bay, either close to the shore or out on the waves of the reef. Several windsurfing/kiteboarding centers offer ocean kayak rental.
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Sosua just 15mins west of Cabarete offers clear turquoise waters for scuba diving, everything from shallow water reef dives to deep water wall dives. Several dive centers in the area offer gear rental and diving certification.

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Several dive centers offer snorkeling excursions by boat which include a guide and all necessary equipment, both in Sosua 15 minutes west of Cabarete and in the Rio San Juan area one hour east of Cabarete. It is also possible to snorkel off the beach in Cabarete Bay, the best places being at either end of the bay where the reef meets the beach.
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Enjoy the fantastic scenery of the Dominican mountains whilst rafting on the Rio Yaque del Norte in Jarabacoa with many river rapids from calm stretches to level four rapids. A Cabarete based adventure tour company offers one day excursions which include all instruction and equipment.
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Land Sports

Mountain biking tours are offered by a Cabarete based adventure tour company. Daily excursions range from beginners trails to advanced rides through challenging mountainous terrain.
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There are several ranches in the Cabarete area offering horseback riding for both beginners and the more experienced. Trips include rides along the beach and trails through tropical mountain forests.
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The mountainous terrain behind Cabarete offers great opportunities for dirt-bikers. Cabarete based motocross professionals offer all the gear and expertise for lessons and enduro-tours.

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A Cabarete based operator offers tandem paramotor (powered paraglider) flights over Cabarete Bay together with guided paragliding tours to a wide range of sites on the island from smooth flights on the coast to more demanding flights in the central mountain ranges.
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The Dominican Republic is becoming a very popular golf trip destination due to its beautiful tropical courses and reasonably priced equipment hire, green and caddy fees. Just 5 minutes west of Cabarete is the Costa Azul Golf Club with a 9-hole course and for the more serious golfer there are two 18-hole courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, the first at Playa Dorada, 30 minutes west of Cabarete, and the second at Playa Grande, one hour east of Cabarete.

Canyoning combines hiking, climbing, swimming, jumping and rappelling (abseiling) into river canyons. Cascading involves jumping off waterfalls ranging in size from one meter to fifteen meters, depending on abilities, skill and level of fitness. Both activities are offered by a Cabarete based adventure tour company and include all instruction and equipment.

Hiking adventures are offered by a Cabarete based adventure tour company. Several one day hiking adventures are offered for all levels of ability, together with a three day/two night climb up Pico Duarte, at 3085m the highest mountain in the Caribbean, for the more experienced hiker.

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From mid-January to mid-March each year, about 3000 Humpback whales migrate from the North Atlantic to the warm shallow waters of Samana Bay to mate and give birth. Boats take you as close as they can to view these large mammals swimming and jumping through the water. Numerous tour companies in Cabarete offer excursions which include transportation to Samana, refreshments and a guided boat trip.
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The spectacular El Limon waterfall, 40m high, is set among the Sierra de Samana hills about 300m above sea level. The trail to the waterfall takes about an hour either walking or on horseback. Numerous tour companies offer this excursion or you can hire a guide at El Limon.


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Cayo Levantado (Bacardi Island) is a small island in Samana Bay, the perfect tropical island with white sand and crystal clear turquoise water, ideal for snorkeling and swimming. Amongst the palm trees and tropical vegetation there are a large number of bird species including Hispaniolan parrots, gannets and owls. Numerous tour companies in Cabarete offer this excursion which includes transportation, refreshments and boat trip.

Ocean World Marine and Water Park is one hour west of Cabarete, in the resort area of Cofresi. It has the worlds largest dolphin lagoon, sea lion encounters, the worlds first shark interaction pool together with tigers, exotic birds, reptiles and tropical fish. Numerous tour companies in Cabarete offer this excursion.

These five million year old caves are found in the 77 square kilometer El Choco National Park just outside Cabarete. Guided tours are offered which take you through the caves, explaining how they were formed together with other interesting information on caves. El Choco National Park is a protected area with many species of flora, birds and bats. The park includes pasture, lagoons, jungle areas, caves, fresh water springs and many trails.
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Puerto Plata (Silver Port) is a town 40 minutes west of Cabarete. Interesting sights include San Felipe Fort built by the Spanish in the 16th Century, Puerto Plata Lighthouse built in 1879 and restored in 2002, Victorian architecture in the Central Square, the Brugal Rum Factory, the Amber Museum, the Taino Art Museum and the Isabel de Torres Botanical Gardens.

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Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic with a population of over 3 million people. Historic sights include the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor built in 1514, the Palace of Diego Colon built in 1510, the 16th Century monastery of San Francisco and the fortified walls of the old Spanish town. Cultural sights include the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Dominican Man (for its pre-Columbian collection) and the Museum of Modern Art. There are a huge number of restaurants and nightlife especially around La Malecon, the main boulevard of the Zona Colonial. Also on offer are great shopping opportunities including discount stores for designer brands and the large Mercado Modelo selling a huge variety of goods.


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From Cabarete drive 15 minutes eastwards to Sabaneta, then turn right onto the Moca mountain road, which leads into the Cordillera Septentrional Mountain area. The winding road passes through small villages and farming areas with beautiful views of the countryside on the way. The road eventually comes to Moca, the cigar-making capital of the Dominican Republic.

From Cabarete drive 20 minutes westwards and turn left onto the Carretara Turistica road towards Santiago. The winding road has fantastic views of the hills and countryside, as well as ocean views from some points. Along the road there are many vendors selling fresh fruit, flowers, cheese, meat and furniture. There are several places along the way to stop for refreshments and to enjoy the view.
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Cabarete and Sosua have plenty of shops selling souvenirs, clothes and jewelry. Further away Puerto Plata and Santiago have a huge scope for shopping.

Prepare to bargain hard!

Numerous Supermarkets stock most goods. Anything not available in Cabarete can be bought in the large Playero supermarket in Sosua.

Pharmacies have a good range products, western pharmacists offer a high level of service.

You will find most of the shops and services here. Hairdressers, bakeries, cigars, tattoo, internet cafes etc
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Many of the major companies have offices at the airport. Many cheaper local companies offer better rates. If you are coming at holiday time then pre-booking would be recommended.










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Many bars turn into beach side night clubs as midnight approaches.
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Casinos

A large new casino on the east end of Cabarete.
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Huge variety of dishes available at reasonable prices. Sit on the beach and dine!

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Sit at a beach bar or at a table on the beach and watch the world go by!

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