This page is part of our Cabarete guide and covers two related but distinct spots. Cabarete Bay is the historic windsurfing bay, right in the town centre, now more of a bar-and-restaurant hub. Encuentro Beach, a short drive west towards Sosúa, is the island's reference surf spot. Both are easy to fit into the same trip — one on foot, the other by scooter or car.
Before kitesurfing took off in the 2000s, Cabarete first made its name as an international windsurfing destination, and Cabarete Bay is the living reminder of that history. It's the town's main bay, right in the centre, where most of the bars and restaurants cluster. The water here is more sheltered than at Kite Beach or Bozo Beach, which keeps it a solid choice for windsurfing, particularly for intermediate levels after a more urban, lively setting.
It's worth being upfront: the windsurfing scene here has quietened considerably compared with the bay's heyday, with most of Cabarete's watersports activity having shifted to Kite Beach and Bozo Beach. Cabarete Bay is still perfectly rideable and makes for a pleasant session right in the heart of town, between café terraces.
View on Google Maps open_in_newFor travellers combining kitesurfing with surfing, or a mixed group of riders, Encuentro Beach sits a short drive west of Cabarete towards Sosúa. It's the most consistent surf spot in the Dominican Republic, with several distinct peaks packed into the same stretch of beach.
Bobo's is the most forgiving wave, reserved for beginners and longboarders — the spot to head for on a first session or to build confidence gradually. Destroyers, at the other end, is a reef break for experienced surfers when the north swell is big enough. Between the two, there's plenty to keep a mixed-level group busy on the same beach.
The best swell window runs November to March, while summer brings calmer conditions well suited to learning or longboarding. As with Cabarete's other spots, the water stays warm year-round, between 26 and 29°C, so no wetsuit is needed.
View on Google Maps open_in_newCabarete Bay sits right in the town centre, within walking distance of most of Cabarete's hotels and accommodation. For Encuentro Beach, further west towards Sosúa, hiring a scooter or car is the easier option, or using shuttles run by some of the surf schools. The official currency is the Dominican peso (DOP), but the US dollar is widely accepted across tourist areas.
The emergency number in the Dominican Republic is 911, working across the whole country. The tourist police, POLITUR, can be reached on 809-222-2026 for any tourism-related question or incident. No wetsuit is needed at either spot, with the water sitting between 26 and 29°C year-round.
Yes. The water here is more sheltered than at Kite Beach or Bozo Beach, which keeps it a solid choice for windsurfing, particularly for intermediate levels. The bay has mostly turned into a lively town centre, with the majority of Cabarete's bars and restaurants clustered around it, a different vibe from the days when it was the town's main windsurfing scene.
Bobo's is the most forgiving wave at Encuentro Beach, reserved for beginners and longboarders. Destroyers, at the other end, is a demanding reef break for experienced surfers when the north swell is big enough.
The best swell window at Encuentro Beach runs November to March. It's also when tourist traffic is heaviest across all of Cabarete's spots.
Cabarete Bay sits right in the town centre, within walking distance. For Encuentro Beach, a short drive west towards Sosúa, hiring a scooter or car is the easier option, or using shuttles run by some of the surf schools.