GKA Cabarete Kite Festival July 2019
The Global Kitesports Association (GKA) had such a blast in Cabarete last summer that they will be back again in July 2019 for the 7-day Kite Festival. Though the date is not yet confirmed, it is likely to be 22-28th July 2019. The Cabarete Kite Festival celebrates the ocean and everything it gives us, including our favourite watersports! As well as awesome kite tricks, the Festival promotes awareness of how we can protect the life and health of the ocean. There are plenty of activities to choose from: kiting clinics run by pros, health and wellness seminars, epic downwinders, surf sessions, networking events and, of course, the nightly after-parties. Out on Kite Beach, you can expect to see some crazy ‘big air’ displays from local pros and athletes from around the world. Last year’s event was the Air Games, part of the GKA World Tour. It was a tense battle, with the closely-matched finalists fighting it out for first place. In the end, the young talented Brazilian Mikaili Sol was crowned the winner of the women’s competition. The 13-year-old sensation is four-time Junior Freestyle World Champion, and is now storming the world of pro kiting. Hannah Whiteley from the UK placed second, and put her usual solid performance. Highlights include Hannah’s super-clean blind judge and Mika’s stomped slim chance. In the men’s division, two-time Freestyle World Champion Carlos Mario, another Brazilian, came out on top. Jesse Richman came in second. Richman wowed the crowd with some huge board-off rotations and a mean half cab. But Mario stole the show with a faultless double heart attack and kiteloop which scored him two tens from the judges. He upped the drama by landing a massive triple front roll board-off in the last minute of the final. Keep an eye out for more details of the Festival on their website, and make sure you don’t miss the registration date for this awesome event. Not on the water? Head down to Kite Beach for a chance to see the pros go at it in the much-anticipated Cabarete Kite Festival. Mojitos on the beach and a steady stream of empanadas will make your day that much more perfect. Check out our kiting lingo post, so you can mingle with the pro kiters like a pro. The themed after-parties will no doubt be lively, as rum and dancing light up Cabarete nights!
Master of the Ocean
Strap yourself in, the world’s only four-water sport competition is back in Cabarete! Who is brave enough to wrestle the wind and the waves and be crowned Master of the Ocean 2020? Kite, windsurf, surf and SUP your way to victory! It kicked off on February 23 in the global water-sports paradise, Cabarete, on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. For five glorious days, this event presents a unique challenge to water-sports athletes. Competitors have one week to excel in four different disciplines in the stunning tropical beach town of Cabarete. Only athletes with the upmost versatility and stamina will be able to succeed. Visitors can watch all the action from the beach and enjoy what is sure to be a breath-taking show of talent and individual flair. This year’s Master of the Ocean is not to be missed. The fun doesn’t end there. By night, you can discover Cabarete’s wild party scene at LAX on Cabarete Beach. Sip on fresh cocktails, feast on the local delights, and show off your raunchiest dance moves, Cabarete style! Join us in Cabarete for this amazing event. Stay with us at eXtreme Hotel, on Kite Beach, for front row seats to the world-class kiting action. We are all set up for your kiting adventure, with a grassy patch perfect for hosing down your kit when the day is done. Bring a group and we will make all the arrangements, so all you have to is focus on the competition. If the wind and waves are calling you, come experience the beautiful Caribbean water-sports scene in Cabarete! Be warned, the warm community, affordable cost and perfect conditions will likely keep you coming back for more, year after year!
Cabarete Casinos
In Cabarete, once the clubs close up for the night, the party moves to the casinos. If you like to play a little blackjack or dabble in poker, you’re in luck. You can play to win in Ocean Sands Casino. But, luckily, you don’t have to be a gambler to join in the fun. You can drink, mingle, and break out your craziest moves on the dance floor in the casino’s nightclub and bar area. The nightclub gets pretty lively late at night. It has a great atmosphere, and often features live DJs and special events. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to stay on top of the hottest nights at Ocean Sands. Ocean Sands is on the outskirts of town, past Janet’s supermarket. The casino company recently opened another venue on Cabarete beach, near Waves, called The Playhouse. Yes, that’s right, all the decadence and hilarity of a casino with an ocean view and your toes in the sand. You can count on the crashing waves and sea breeze to celebrate your victories and commiserate any losses. If you decide all of this isn’t quite enough to satisfy your gambling needs or just fancy a change of scenery, Sosua our neighbouring town is well known for its bustling casino scene. There are various venues that offer table games, roulette, slot machines, as well as a dancefloor and bar. There’s Playa Chiquita Casino, Coral Reef Casino, and Sosua Bay Grand Casino to try. You can also head over to Puerto Plata if you’re craving more of a ‘big city’ experience. The Kviar Show Disco and Casino receives rave reviews from regulars, and also has a fun nightclub. Remember to stay safe when gambling, both with your money and in the slippery casino environment. Be aware that there might be illegal activity of all sorts around you, so don’t be naive and get involved in anything seedy by accident! Keep your wits about you!
Dominican Barber Shops in Cabarete
There are those who say that once you’ve had the Dominican barber shop experience, you’ll never settle for anything less. The coffee, the beer, the music, the dancing, the banter. The charismatic barber’s skill with a blade. It’s all part of the Dominican barber shop culture. If you look at men’s hair around Cabarete, you’ll notice that the young men generally keep their hair in great condition. It’s not uncommon for a Dominican man to go to the barber shop every week to keep his trim looking fresh. You’ll also notice that there are barber shops all over town. These shops are not just places to get a sweet trim. They are buzzing social centres. Dominican barbers talk to everyone. That means, they know every single little bit of juicy gossip in town. As well as social goings-on, they are fountains of information on local dealings, like who might be wanting to sell a motorbike or house. Basically, in Cabarete, the barbers can hook you up, whatever you need. These guys can be some of the most popular, friendly folk around. Don’t be surprised if the barber shop plays really loud music. And I mean really loud. The guy cutting your hair may be dancing along to a breakneck quick Merengue song with his eyes shut, but don’t be alarmed. He knows what he’s doing. The booming music frequently draws in crowds, and many locals will stop by the shop for a beer or a cuba libre (rum and Coke). The young and not-so-young rock up for a good time, revving their motos and honking their horns. It’s even known to be a good place to meet a nice lady. It’s a lesser known fact that some of the best party vibes in town are found in unexpected places. Like the local barber shop or petrol station (la bomba). Wherever there is music and beer (or rum), Dominicans bring the party. These are the sites of real contemporary Dominican culture. Count yourself lucky to take in the lively atmosphere of a spontaneous barber shop party.
Cabarete Nightlife
Bachata, karaoke, open mic, beach parties: Cabarete is known for its lively nightlife. In Cabarete, everyone is welcome. Party fiends who are right at home in the middle of a sweaty mosh pit; chill folk who love meeting someone new and talking all night, taking in the beachy vibes. There are dancefloors and cosy, quiet beach couches, here. You just do you. Generally, if you head down to Cabarete beach, you’ll find out quickly where the party is at. But, it can help to know the standard pattern of popular nights out in town. Here’s a run-down of Cabarete nightlife, day by day. Mondays Monday night in Caberete is almost synonymous with karaoke night at Voy Voy. Things usually kick off at around 10-10.30pm, but tables fill up fast, so get there a bit earlier to avoid having to stand on the beach. The hosts are wonderful and will get the ball rolling by singing a few classic karaoke hits. It couldn’t be easier to sign up to warble a song from your past. There are also two microphones so, if you’re shy like me, one of the hosts will kindly sing ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ with you. Expect Backstreet Boys, expect Green Day, expect Gwen Stefani, expect Maroon 5. Expect to spend the whole night drunkenly shouting ‘Oh my gosh, I love this song!’. Voy Voy on Mondays always delivers a sing-along night to remember. Tuesdays Tuesdays are the one night a week in Cabarete when there isn’t too much going on in Cabarete. You might wander along the beach bars, and enjoy some drinks with friends. In high season, the bars will still be fun, pumping with those party-loving souls. The Laguna Park Hostel, known as The Castle or El Castillo, in ProCab has a cheap, friendly bar with pool table. It’s a great place to meet people and relax, and an alternative to beach bars. There’s usually something going on there in the evenings. But, if you’re looking for a rest day, Tuesday is a good one to take off. You could head to bed early so you can wake up for an early morning surf or SUP or yoga class. Or you could stay in and catch up on your favourite Netflix show. Or call your mum. The Cabarete chill options are endless. Wednesdays On a Wednesday in Cabarete, there’s only one place to be: La Chabola’s Open Mic Night. La Chabola is a cosy, comfortable local bar that serves cheap drinks and great pizza (2 for 1, every night of the week). If that’s not enough to convince you, their Wednesday open mic nights are a classic Cabarete experience. The music is always pretty cool at La Chabola, whether live or played off YouTube. The weekly open mic is the time for musicians to show off what they can do in front of an easygoing crowd of locals and expats. You’ll find La Chabola a little down the Callejon de la Loma, which is by the traffic lights (there’s only one set in town). Visiting musicians, you can usually ask around and find a guitar to borrow, so be bold and sign up! Thursdays Thursday night is Latin Night at Ojo, which is upstairs in the same building as LAX, on the beach. This is the cultural experience you’ve been waiting for in the Dominican Republic. If the blaring music and dancing everywhere didn’t give it away, music is super important and loved here. The most beloved genre of all here is bachata. If you’ve done any sort of Latin basic step before, you’ll pick up the one-two-three-tap rhythm easily. You can check a YouTube tutorial beforehand to have a little pre-game practice, if you want. Better still, just pair up with a local, they’ll be happy to teach you! Ojo Latin night has the major advantage of starting early by Cabarete standards, at around 8pm. Ideal if, like me, you need to get to bed to wake up at 6am because surfing is life. A little rum, a little dancing, a little water, and off to bed. Perfection. Fridays Although Friday nights are not as big here as they are in other parts of the world, there are always people up for a night out in Cabarete. If it’s high season, there will be a whole crowd of people livin’ it large Stroll along the beach bar strip and follow the music to find yourself a good spot for a Friday night dance. Saturdays On Saturday nights in Cabarete’s high season, the beach bars get pretty full. ONNO’s and Kahuna are fun places to be, as is Lax/Ojo which has two storeys of party fun. You can take your pick, depending on what music you’re feeling in the moment. Check out the drink deals at ONNO, they have a late Happy Hour that runs from 11pm to midnight – half price cocktails and shot, and pitchers for around 350RD. Wherever you end up, try and keep your wits about you somewhat, since drunk stumbling tourists are prime targets for pick-pocketing. If you’re not done partying when the clubs close, keep an ear out for Cabarete’s legendary after-parties that rage on towards dawn. Full respect if you can get up and do watersports after that. Or if you can do anything except lie on the couch and groan, really. Sundays Sunday nights are reasonably big here. Many locals like to day drink on Sundays through the afternoon and evening, and there’s nothing stopping you from doing the same! Mojitos on the beach? Yes, please. Not to get mumsy with you, but make sure to drink plenty of water if you’re drinking in the heat. You do want to make it to the club, later, after all. Kick off your night with some gentle bachata dancing to live music at Voy Voy from 6pm. Take in the atmosphere, try out your moves in a very safe space, with staff on hand to show you the steps. For the party
Your Guide to Pizza in Cabarete (Part 2)
Welcome back to part 2 of my Big Cabarete Pizza Tour 2018. I’m putting my health at risk to find you the perfect pizza for you in Cabarete. Just kidding. In part 1, we toured the Callejon’s La Chabola (my fav), beachy LAX, the legit Italian pizza of Antonio’s and Pizza Spaghetti House, and the Perla Marina family classic Ceiba Pizzeria. In the second and final part of the guide, I will continue to seek Cabarete’s best pizza, searching high and low for the crispiest crust, the meltiest cheese and the tastiest toppings. On with the show. ROMA Probably the most expensive pizza in town, this is Cabarete’s fancy Italian pizza joint. The half-indoor, half-outdoor space is really beautiful. It’s a bright, clean restaurant, full of plants and large tables (great for medium-large groups). The food is pretty good, too. ROMA’s pizza dough is top-notch (seriously, so tasty) and it came with a generous slathering of cheese, though I felt the toppings lacked a little something. Definitely worth a try, if you are looking for proper Italian-style pizza base. For some reason, we always get a lot of mosquito bites at ROMA, so come prepared with repellent. ONNO Onno’s sign makes a bold claim to be ‘The Best Pizza in Town’. Sadly, after my experience there, I can’t get behind that statement. The restaurant is on the beach next to Kahuna, on the strip of beautifully decorated places that generally serve quite disappointing food. Also, watch out for the ‘taxes and tip not included’ note on the menu. It’s an unpleasant surprise when the bill arrives with nearly 30% added onto the cost. A big positive for ONNO is the food ‘Happy Hour’ special: 2 for 1 on tapas and pizza. And, yes, you can combine the two options. But, the pizza itself was nothing too impressive. It was a standard floury base, which tasted a little bit too sweet for me. There was plenty of ham, but the overall pizzazz of this pizza was not there. It was pretty small, too. Sorry, ONNO, but this pizza left me saying ‘Oh no’. Aquarius Cafe I learned from the waitress that Aquarius serves just fish and pizza. Not together, but I’m sure that can be arranged. The restaurant space is pretty wacky but fascinating. While you wait for your pizza here, you can walk around the rows and rows of fish tanks and take in the sights. There are so many bright little tropical fish to peer at. If you like to look at fish, this restaurant is a pretty special experience. I, myself, not such a fish fan. It kind of freaked me out to eat pizza surrounded by lit-up tanks of kissy-mouthed creatures. My partner, however, gave it two thumbs up! Sorry, onto the food. The pizza was alright. Our ham and vegetables came loaded with toppings. But, I think you more go for the spectacular fish environment than for the food. Calla Pizza I think this name is mean to be ‘Call-a-pizza’, but there’s not much word spacing on the sign, so lots know it as Calla Pizza. This is your spot for a late night quick takeaway pizza. You’re likely drunk, you can’t really take in your surroundings, all you want to do is take giant bites of cheesy pizza and chew with your eyes closed. In that case, Call-a-Pizza. Or just go there. As the name suggests, they deliver and fast. You can reach them at (829) 865-6500. It’s right next to the Lax/Mojito beach clubs stretch, just a little further heading towards Janet’s. Pomodoro Pomodoro is probably your best bet for an Italian-style pizza on the beach. Dig your toes into the sand as you dig into your circular doughy goodness. The setting is beautiful, and they sometimes have live music in the evenings. Lunchers or early diners can watch the kite and windsurfers at play on the water. I do love a pizza with a view. Sadly, though the meal experience was lovely, the pizza itself fell a little short of expectations. My first slice was pretty bland. After a thorough salt and pepper seasoning, and the addition of chili oil to my plate, the pizza was much improved. Still, I’m all about that base, and this base lacked flavour. You can’t salt the base! The tiramisu we had for dessert was top notch, and not excessively sweet. Points for pudding. They have an ice cream bar too with a good selection of sorbets and ice creams, for hot nights. Overall, it’s a pricey meal, and I didn’t feel the Pomodoro pizzas were that much better than those less than half their price around town. Top marks for restaurant experience, but the pizza only hits middling scores. Your tour ends here Sadly, that is the end of our guided pizza tour of Cabarete. Please take care as you step out of the moving carriage. The good news is it might be just the beginning of your vacation pizza adventure. Cabarete is a great place to enjoy guilt-free pizza. Everyone here is so active, you kind of need the calories! Okay, maybe not pizza every night, but now you have an idea of where to go when your pizza craving hits. Speaking of, I’m off to La Chabola for my regular jamon y hongos pizza and cuba libre. Hasta la proxima!