Getting to Cabarete

Cabarete is about 20 km from Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), 20 to 30 minutes on the coast road. It is a town built around its bay, with kite and windsurf schools, restaurants on the sand and surf at Playa Encuentro to the west.

POP is the logical arrival. Santiago (STI) is the alternative with more US flights, about 1.5 to 2 hours away. From Cabarete the road continues east to Gaspar Hernández, Río San Juan and Playa Grande.

Nearby airports

Which airport to fly into

Fly into Puerto Plata (POP). From the airport you head east on the coast road through Sosúa: about 20 km and 20 to 30 minutes to central Cabarete, a little less to Playa Encuentro, which comes first.

Santiago (STI) has more flights from New York and Miami. The usual drive crosses the mountains to the coast and continues east: 1.5 to 2 hours. If you are staying in Río San Juan or Playa Grande, farther east, POP is still the closest airport, about 70 km and 1 to 1.5 hours away; from STI there are inland routes to that area that can take a similar time.

Transfer routes to Cabarete

• Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Cabarete25 to 40 min · US$35 to US$60
• Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Río San Juan1 h 15 min to 1 h 40 min · US$90 to US$140
• Cibao Airport (STI) to Cabarete1 h 30 min to 2 h · US$90 to US$150

Areas and transfer times

Central Cabarete, on the bay, is the liveliest and most walkable area: 20 to 30 minutes from POP. Kite Beach, at the western end of town, has hotels and apartments for kiters at a similar distance. Playa Encuentro, a few kilometers west, is the surf area and about 5 minutes closer to the airport, but you need transport to eat in town.

To the east, the road continues to Gaspar Hernández and Río San Juan, with hotels facing Playa Grande 1 to 1.5 hours from POP. For that stretch, a pre-booked transfer or a rental car is close to essential.

Hotels in Cabarete

Pick your hotel to get a transfer quote from the airport.

Cabarete

• Millennium Resort & Spa
• Velero Beach Resort
• Viva Tangerine by Wyndham
• Ultravioleta Boutique Residences
• Sea Horse Ranch
• Hotel Villa Taina
• Celuisma Cabarete

Kite Beach

• Kite Beach Hotel

Encuentro

• Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel & Spa

Getting around

Central Cabarete is walkable along the beach: bars, restaurants and sports schools share the same strip of sand. For Kite Beach (west of the center) or Playa Encuentro (about 10 minutes by car), there are taxis, motoconchos and carros públicos.

Uber has no reliable presence in Cabarete: 2025 guides only confirm Puerto Plata city on the north coast. Taxis at the town stand charge fixed fares, and motoconchos are the most common way to make short hops; if you use one, keep it to daytime, no luggage and an agreed price. Guaguas and carros públicos run along the road to Sosúa and Puerto Plata and east to Gaspar Hernández and Río San Juan frequently during the day. For Playa Grande or El Choco National Park on your own schedule, a rental car is the practical choice.

Tips

• If you bring a kite or surfboard, say so when booking the transfer so they send a vehicle with room.
• Save a town taxi driver's WhatsApp: Uber is not a reliable option here.
• For Playa Grande or Río San Juan, leave early and come back before dark.
• Coastal guaguas are cheap for daytime trips to Sosúa or Puerto Plata.

• Beaches in the area on Beaches.dobeaches.do