Cabarete Kite Beach - solo traveler tips

[Taarz]

Hi,
I'm going on a solo trip to Cabarete this summer.
I will stay close to Kite Beach.

Any tips for solo travelers, best places to hang out and such.
I understand that you should not leave your valuables on the beach.
But what about pump and kite bag, is there any safe place to store it when you are not travelling with someone who can look after your stuff?

[Taarz]

Several kite centers offer storage. But if you stay in a hotel etc at kite beach you are right at the beach.
Put all in your room.

The centers have compressors.

To Cabarete center you need transportation, but taxis and moto taxi you there.

You can also rent a scooter or moto...then you are independent.

Several good food places in Cabarete town.

For sure try the steak at Ali’s Surf Camp.

The moto drivers know where it is...it’s hidden, you won’t find it alone. Also a bit longer walk from town.

Nightlife is fun.

It’s a nice place, so enjoy

[TracyS]

Hey! I have been living in Cabarete almost 8 years. It's such a great place that I ended up buying a kite school and opening a restaurant on Kite Beach. In general, Cabarete is pretty safe. You need to keep your head on straight like you would in any unfamiliar area. Don't walk alone in super dark areas. Leave your rolex at home. Things like that.

As far as hanging out and making friends, that will come naturally! Cabarete is set up to make friends....mostly because it is so small! haha

Monday night is karaoke at Voy Voy.
Thursday is Salsa and ladies night at LAX/OJO.
Saturday night is general party night.
Kite Club has once a month full moon parties.

Here is an article I wrote for a client of mine. It talks about why Cabarete is great for solo travellers: https://villataina.com/travel-cabarete-solo/

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions. I am more than happy to help you out with whatever I can.

[Havre]

Ali's Surf Camp is nice.

I'm not fully updated on which restaurants are still there, but:

Front Loop: love the breakfast. Been there 50+ times. Number 7 is great (egg wrap).
Pomodoro: Great pizza (if I remember correctly Toby doesn't like it though - so might be just me).
Le Bistro: A bit more classy than the normal beach food.
La Casita de Papi: Good seafood. I think it is a bit overrated (always busy), but still nice food and my preferred place for seafood.
Los Gringos: I like the pulled pork sandwich - not the rest.
Yalla: Tapas. Quite expensive for Cabarete, but good food. Not a beach location though.
Fresh Fresh: Very nice place for lunch
Bliss: If you want to go for a romantic date (assuming you find one). This is "fine dining" Cabarte-style. Nice place.
Vagamundo: Really cool coffee place. A place to "hang" when there is no wind.
Cabarete Coffee Company: More of a take away place for coffee, but do serve some food as well. Closer to kite beach than the other places.
Gorditos: Very good value for money. Perfect to combine with Vagamundo.

I guess my favourite place on kite beach might have gotten new owners? I guess Tracy would know. I see it is called Vitamin D now. At times ridiculously slow service (slow is the norm in Cabarete), but I always planned accordingly so.. had some nice food.

Caberete got a surprisingly good selection of decent places to eat. There is a lot more places, but many of those (I can't say I have tried every place in Cabarete, but not far from it - obviously new ones might have popped up and things can have changed) are what I consider "standard" beach style quite average food.

[Havre]

A bit off topic, but how is the wind in Cabarete these days? I heard February was quite good? The last two winters I was there it was very very average in terms of wind (earlier it had been great, but after two poor winters I stopped going).

[Toby]

The food in Cabarete is excellent, I can only confirm!

[deniska]

A bit off topic, but how is the wind in Cabarete these days? I heard February was quite good? The last two winters I was there it was very very average in terms of wind (earlier it had been great, but after two poor winters I stopped going).

I was there for 9 nights feb20-march1
had 10 days of kiting.. every day was 15-20 or 20-25kts
but it's a hit or miss.. last year I had only 3 solid days during same period.
also as a tip to OP, you may want to consider staying closer to the village.
Kitebeach can be such a zoo when crowded.
Lookup places on the stretch between millemium and seawinds, if you can afford them.
way less crowded, usually offer protection (some guard to watch your stuff) and walking distance to the restaurants..

[Toby]

But...water choppier and the wave is way out in the bay.

Not easy to decide, all has pros and contras.

Your call

[Havre]

Thanks deniska!

Haha. Zoo. Very true.

Personally I'm not a big fan of kite beach for that reason, but so easy to move from one spot to another in Cabarete. By foot or just kite yourself downwind (fyi OP).

[deniska]

But...water choppier and the wave is way out in the bay.

Not easy to decide, all has pros and contras.

Your call

yep.. hard decisions everywhere
I am sitting now and trying to decide between 1 and 2 wool sweaters under a drysuit, for today's -1c session..