Cabarete

Why Cabarete

Cabarete is a beach town in Puerto Plata Province on the DR's north coast, strung along Calle Principal and known internationally for kitesurfing and surfing. For retreat groups that means a lively, walkable base with beachfront yoga in the morning and wind or waves in the afternoon, about 18 km from Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperón airport (POP), which sits in neighbouring Sosúa.

Our two Cabarete listings show the range. Yoga Loft Zen, on Kite Beach and operating since 2007 according to its site, offers individual and hosted yoga retreats with accommodation, vegetarian farm-to-table meals and massage. Natura Cabana, just outside town, has bungalows for two to six guests, the Attabeyra Spa, two restaurants and a pool: a quieter, nature-focused stay.

Who it is for and how to plan

Cabarete suits solo travelers joining a scheduled yoga retreat, facilitators hosting a group of 10 to 20, and active groups who want to combine practice with kite or surf lessons. If you want total seclusion, Natura Cabana or a mountain base such as Tubagua Ecolodge in the hills above Puerto Plata is a better fit than town.

Cabarete is also well placed for day trips along the north coast: the 27 Charcos de Damajagua near Imbert, Ocean World at Cofresí, and Puerto Plata's cable car up Pico Isabel de Torres (793 m), the first aerial tramway in the Caribbean. Ask your venue about airport transfers from POP and whether yoga and meals are included in the rate or charged separately.

Planning checklist for a Cabarete retreat

Before you sign with a venue, get answers in writing to five questions. Is the practice space covered, and is it shared with other guests or reserved for your group? Are meals included, and can the kitchen handle vegetarian, vegan and allergy needs (Yoga Loft Zen serves vegetarian farm-to-table food as standard)? Who handles airport pickups from POP, and at what cost? What is the deposit and cancellation policy? And can the venue arrange outside activities such as kite or surf lessons, or should you book those directly?

Combining the coast with a nearby base works well for longer programmes: Sosúa, next to the airport, has beachfront event venues (Playa Alicia Waterfront and Ocean Village Deluxe) for a closing dinner, and Monkey Jungle near Sosúa is a popular half-day outing. For a celebration night, ExperiencesDR's in-house Event DJ starts from US$1,000, and photo, video and social content packages are priced on request.

Getting there from the airport

Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperón airport sits in the western part of the Sosúa municipality, so the drive east to Cabarete is short. Ask your venue whether it arranges transfers; for groups, a single pre-booked shuttle is usually simpler than several taxis, and it lets the retreat start with everyone arriving together.

Day trips along the north coast

Retreat groups often schedule one free day for an outing. From Cabarete, the 27 Charcos de Damajagua (27 Waterfalls lists its 7-waterfall route from US$89), Ocean World's dolphin and sea lion programmes in Cofresí, and Monkey Jungle near Sosúa (combined zip line and monkey tour from US$100 per adult, cash only) are all within reach.