Where to Live in Cabarete: Best Areas & Neighborhoods

Where to live in Cabarete: a local guide to the best areas

If someone tells me, “I want to move to Cabarete, where should I live?”, my first question is always:

What kind of lifestyle do you imagine for yourself?

Do you want to walk to the beach and restaurants? Wake up and go surfing? Be close to the kite and water sports action? Have more space and green areas? Or live somewhere quieter while still being close to town?

After living in Cabarete for five years, coming here with my family for more than a decade, and working in real estate and rental & property management, I've learned that there isn't one best area to live in Cabarete. There is a best area for the way you want to live.

And I've seen this many times with buyers and renters: they fall in love with a property before realizing that the location doesn't actually match their lifestyle.

So before you start looking at apartments, villas or investment properties, here's how I see the different areas of Cabarete.

First: Cabarete is smaller than you think

One of the things I love about Cabarete is that it doesn't feel like a big city.

You can move between the different areas quite quickly, but the feeling of each one can be completely different.

You can have dinner, walk along the beach and meet friends downtown one evening, and the next morning be surrounded by trees and feel completely away from the noise, maybe on a surf board.

That's why I always tell clients: choose the lifestyle first. Then find the property.

1. Downtown Cabarete and Cabarete Bay

Best for: walking everywhere, restaurants, nightlife, beach access and being in the middle of everything.

If you want to walk everywhere, this is the area I would look at first.

Cabarete Bay is the classic Cabarete experience: beachfront condos, restaurants, cafés, bars, water sports at your doorstep, shops and plenty of activity right outside your door, or very close by.

You can walk to the beach in the morning, grab a coffee, go grocery shopping, meet friends for lunch and go out for dinner without getting into a car.

For me, this is one of the biggest advantages of living here.

I live close enough to the center that I can walk to the beach and to work, and I really appreciate not having to drive every time I want to do something.

The area is also very social. You'll find a mix of Dominicans, expats, long-term residents, visitors, digital nomads and people who come specifically for the water sports.

This area can feel lively depending on how close you are to the center, while communities like Ocean One, Coccoloba, Harmony, Ocean Dream, Ultravioleta, and Seawinds offer a quieter, more peaceful atmosphere, close enough to enjoy everything Cabarete has to offer, but far enough away to feel more private and relaxed.

I would recommend Cabarete Bay if you:

• Want to walk almost everywhere
• Like restaurants, cafés and nightlife
• Want easy beach access
• Don't want to depend on a car every day
• Want strong rental appeal
• Enjoy being around people
• Want to be close to water sports

I wouldn't choose it if you:

• Want a large garden or private villa
• Don't like nightlife or activity
• Need complete peace and privacy with no neighbors
• Want to feel completely removed from town

2. Kite Beach

Best for: kitesurfing and an active beach lifestyle

Kite Beach is just outside the center and has a completely different energy.

As the name suggests, this is one of the main centers of Cabarete's kitesurfing community.

The wind, beach, kite schools and international sports community are a huge part of the identity of the area.

Even if you're not a kitesurfer, you might like living here because it has a smaller, more relaxed feeling than the center.

If you want to go everywhere on foot, the center is more convenient.

For everyday life, I would personally want a car or another easy way of getting around if I lived farther out on Kite Beach.

Some condominiums here include Ocean Point, CabaReef, The Loop, Upwind Estates, Mareal, Travieso, and Kite Beach Villas.

I would recommend Kite Beach if you:

• Kitesurf or love water sports
• Want to be close to the wind and beach
• Like an international atmosphere
• Want rental potential from kitesurfers
• Prefer being slightly outside the center
• Don't mind driving for some errands

I wouldn't choose it if you:

• Don't like wind or sand
• Want complete quiet
• Need to walk everywhere
• Don't have an interest in the water-sports lifestyle

3. Cabarete East

Best for: being close to Cabarete while having a quieter residential lifestyle.

Cabarete East is a good option if you like the idea of being close to Cabarete but don't necessarily want to be right in the center.

You're still close enough to enjoy everything Cabarete offers, but some areas feel more residential and less busy.

This is one of those locations where the exact property matters a lot.

Two properties can both be described as being in Cabarete East while offering very different lifestyles depending on their exact location.

So if you're buying here, I always recommend visiting the property and driving around the surrounding area rather than relying only on the neighborhood name. I’d be happy to show you around myself. Just reach out!

4. Encuentro

Best for: surfers, families, outdoor activities and a quieter beach lifestyle.

If Cabarete is famous for kitesurfing, Encuentro is the surf side of the story. Playa Encuentro has a strong surfing community and a much more relaxed residential atmosphere.

This is one of my favorite areas for families. There are people running, cycling, surfing, doing group activities and spending weekends at the beach.

There’s The Surf House, which offers kindergarten and elementary education, with a soccer field and space for kids to play and be active. You’ll also find fun activities like parkour and a skatepark, making it easy for children and young adults to stay active and meet other kids.

It’s a great area if you want a quieter beach lifestyle while still having plenty to do as a family.

You don't have to be a serious surfer to enjoy living here.

I would recommend Encuentro if you:

• Love surfing or want to learn
• Have a family or plan to have one
• Like outdoor activities
• Want a quieter environment
• Enjoy walking, running or cycling
• Want more space than you typically find downtown

I wouldn't choose it if you:

• Want to walk to restaurants and shops every day
• Don't have a car/scooter and don't want one
• Want Cabarete nightlife right outside your door

5. Perla Marina

Best for: families, privacy, nature and a more residential lifestyle

Perla Marina is one of the first places I would show someone who says: “I want to live near Cabarete, but I don't want to live in the middle of town.”

It feels greener, quieter and more private than the center.

You'll find villas, residential properties, pools, tropical vegetation and a more established community atmosphere.

The area has a nice mix of residential living, nature, restaurants and wellness. You’ll find an Italian restaurant with pizza from a wood-fired oven, called Ceiba.

Natura Cabana offers an amazing beachfront restaurant, as well as a yoga temple, regular weekly activities with music, and a monthly market, giving the area a strong community feel.

It's particularly attractive to families and people who want more privacy while remaining close enough to Cabarete and Sosúa.

You give up some walkability (although you can walk within the community) in exchange for peace and space.

6. ProCab

Best for: full-time residents, long-term tenants, families and people who want a quieter neighborhood close to town.

ProCab is one of the areas I think people should explore more when they come to Cabarete. It's close to the center but feels more residential, with quieter streets, more space and often more affordable housing options than you’ll find right on the beachfront. You can still reach the beach, restaurants and shops easily, while getting more for your budget.

It is also a good example of why I tell buyers to get out of the beachfront zone and explore.

Some people arrive in Cabarete thinking they have to live directly on the beach.

Then they see what they can get a few minutes away and realize they might actually prefer having more space, greenery and privacy.

So which Cabarete area is best for you?

Walk everywhere ➝ Downtown Cabarete / Cabarete Bay

Beachfront lifestyle ➝ Cabarete Bay / Kite Beach

Kitesurfing ➝ Cabarete Bay / Kite Beach

Surfing ➝ Encuentro

Restaurants and nightlife ➝ Downtown Cabarete / Cabarete Bay

Family lifestyle ➝ Encuentro / Perla Marina

Gated or residential community ➝ Perla Marina / ProCab

Privacy and nature ➝ Perla Marina / ProCab

More space ➝ Encuentro / Perla Marina / ProCab

Remote work + walkability ➝ Cabarete Bay / ProCab

Rental-focused condo ➝ Cabarete Bay / Kite Beach

Quiet but close to town ➝ Cabarete East / ProCab

Do you need a car in Cabarete?

This is one of the questions I get all the time. It depends entirely on where you live.

If you're in Cabarete Bay, you can do a surprising amount without a car. I walk whenever I can.

But if you live farther east or west of the center, having a car becomes much more useful.

Personally, I drive, walk when possible and occasionally use a moto concho, especially when there's a tapón, or traffic jam.

So don't just ask: “How far is this property from Cabarete?”
Ask: “How will I actually live here every day?”

What about families?

If you're moving with children, I would approach the search differently. I'd think about:

• Where the children will go to school
• How much driving you want to do every day
• Whether you want a gated or residential community
• Outdoor space
• Pool access
• Beach access
• Other families nearby
• Activities after school
• How easy it is to meet other parents

For many families, an area like Encuentro or Perla Marina can make daily life easier. But some families love being downtown precisely because everything is close.

What if you don't care about water sports?

This is something I think gets misunderstood about Cabarete. You don't have to kitesurf to live here.

I don't make water sports a huge part of my own everyday life. I swim, go to the gym, play padel, walk on the beach, work, meet friends and spend time at home.

The water sports are part of the identity of Cabarete, but they're not the only reason people live here.

The town also has restaurants, cafés, wellness, fitness, social activities, international schools, remote workers and a strong community of people who simply enjoy living close to the ocean.

What is everyday life actually like?

For me, this is where Cabarete really wins. My ideal day isn't necessarily a day spent kitesurfing.

It's waking up slowly, having a coffee and deciding what the day looks like.

Maybe I work immediately. Maybe I exercise first. Maybe one of you is about to give me a call to schedule a property tour.

Maybe I go for a beach walk. Maybe I spend the entire day on my computer creating content.

In the evening, I love being outside around sunset. I can walk to the beach, meet friends for dinner, go dancing, play padel or simply go home and cook.

That's the part of Cabarete that is difficult to understand until you actually live here.

There is so much more to do and see than you think.

Downtown or outside the center?

This is probably the biggest decision you'll make.

Choose downtown if you want:

• Walkability
• Restaurants and nightlife
• Beach access
• Social life
• Convenience
• Less dependence on a car

Choose outside the center if you want:

• More space
• Privacy
• Green surroundings
• A villa
• A quieter environment
• More of a residential lifestyle

And there is no right or wrong answer. It's really about what you want your everyday life to look like.

My biggest advice before choosing a neighborhood

Don't make your decision based on one recommendation.
I've seen people arrive with a friend telling them: “You HAVE to live here.”

But what works for one person might be completely wrong for another. Instead, spend time in different areas.

Walk around. Have coffee. Drive the route you'd take to work or your favorite beach. Visit the supermarket. All of them. Go to each beach. Come back in the evening. See how long it actually takes you to get places. And most importantly, ask yourself: could I see myself doing my normal Tuesday here?

Not your vacation Saturday. Your Tuesday or another boring weekday.

That's when you really start to understand whether a neighborhood is right for you.

If you're thinking about buying property in Cabarete

This is where I think having someone who knows the neighborhoods and all of the insights can make a real difference.

A property can look fantastic online, but the neighborhood might not fit your lifestyle at all.

And as a real estate agent and rental and property manager, I also look at the question from another angle:

What will this property be like to own?
How easy is it to rent?
Who is likely to rent it?
How easy is it to manage?
How far is it from services?
What happens when something needs maintenance?
What kind of property will be attractive to the next buyer?

Those questions matter whether you're buying a home, vacation property or investment.

What about Sosúa?

If you're considering Cabarete, I always recommend spending some time in Sosúa too. It's close enough to be an easy part of everyday life, but the atmosphere is different.

You'll find more residential communities, supermarkets, services, beaches, restaurants and different types of properties, including several gated communities that are popular with families and full-time residents.

Some of the communities I often discuss with buyers include Casa Linda, Sosúa Ocean Village, Sea Horse Ranch, Lomas Mironas and Hispaniola, to name a few.

For some people, Sosúa makes more sense because they want more space, privacy and everyday convenience, and don't mind driving to Cabarete for the beach, restaurants, water sports and social life.

For others, being able to walk into Cabarete and feel part of the town is much more important.

Cabarete and Sosúa are close, but they don't feel the same, and that's exactly why I recommend exploring both before deciding where you want to live.

My personal opinion

If I had to explain Cabarete in one sentence, I'd say:

The closer you are to the center, the more convenient and social your life becomes; the farther you go, the more space, privacy and peace you can get.

And that's exactly why I don't think there is one “best” neighborhood.

I came to Cabarete from Italy initially to work on the digital marketing side of the real estate agency I now work with.

I stayed because things worked out for me, I met my person, found a home I had dreamed about, close to the beach and within walking distance of my office, and over time, Cabarete became home.

If you're thinking about doing something similar, don't just look at properties online. Come and explore the areas.

And if you want to know where I would personally send you, ask me.

Tell me how you want to live, whether you have a family, whether you want to walk everywhere, whether you need a gated community, and what matters most to you.

I'll show you around and help you understand what each area actually offers. Finding the right property starts with finding the right place to live.

The area map on the home page shows you the neighborhood areas and the properties for sale are pinned on the map to help you get a better feel for where everything is located and even calculate the distance to the beach, if that matters to you.