Riding Waves and Catching Rays: Unforgettable Things to Do in Cabarete in March

The Ultimate Menu of Things to Do in Cabarete in March

If months were menu items, March in Cabarete would be the chef’s special—perfectly prepared and impossibly hard to improve upon. The combination of ideal weather conditions, reasonable prices, and that sweet spot before peak tourist season creates the perfect storm (minus any actual storms) for visitors seeking the ultimate Dominican adventure playground.

Water Sports Nirvana

March transforms Cabarete into what can only be described as the world’s most perfect water sports laboratory. With 90% wind reliability—a statistic that makes meteorologists elsewhere weep with jealousy—the conditions create what locals call “the sure thing” for anyone hoping to harness the power of wind and waves.

Kiteboarding stands as the undisputed king of Cabarete’s aquatic offerings, with March delivering afternoon winds that maintain a Goldilocks-approved 15-20 knots. Not too weak to stay grounded, not strong enough to send beginners to Puerto Plata hospital. Beginners can book lessons at reputable schools like LEK Kiteboarding, where $60-80 buys an hour of instruction. The more committed can secure three-day packages around $300-350, which transforms from seeming expensive to bargain-basement once you’re airborne above turquoise waters.

Windsurfing enjoys equal March glory, with conditions that particularly favor intermediate riders. Equipment rentals run about $40-50 per hour or $120 for a full day at outfitters like Vela Cabarete. Unlike California or Hawaii, where wetsuit rental feels like paying for the privilege of wearing someone else’s rubber sausage casing, Cabarete’s warm waters mean the only additional equipment you’ll need is sunscreen.

Encuentro Beach—a short 10-minute drive west—offers March surfers consistent 3-5 foot waves without the territorial localism that plagues more famous surf destinations. Board rentals ($15/hour or $35/day) and lessons ($45/hour) provide entry into this world without requiring a second mortgage. The warm water means the only ice you’ll need is in your post-session cocktail, not on your bruised ego after wiping out.

Nature’s Greatest Hits Tour

For those whose idea of adventure extends beyond water sports, March offers perfect conditions to explore Cabarete’s natural surroundings without the muddy complications of rainy season or the sweltering intensity of summer.

El Choco National Park sits just a stone’s throw from downtown Cabarete, offering 7 miles of mountain biking trails through subtropical forest and past limestone caves that look like they were designed specifically for Instagram. Guided tours run $25-35 and provide the added benefit of not getting completely lost in a foreign country’s wilderness—generally considered a travel bonus.

Horseback riding along Cabarete Beach transforms from tourist cliché to legitimate highlight when scheduled during March sunsets. The $40-50 two-hour rides offer better value when booked through local stables rather than resorts, saving roughly $15-20 while simultaneously supporting local businesses and avoiding the plodding follow-the-leader processions that characterize most resort offerings.

The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua reach their optimal visiting conditions in March, before the rainy season increases water levels to potentially dangerous heights. The $65-80 guided tours include transportation from Cabarete (about an hour’s drive) and provide the rare opportunity to slide down natural waterslides that don’t require electricity or teenagers operating the controls. The physical requirements—climbing, jumping, and swimming—make this better suited to the moderately fit rather than those whose vacation goal is becoming one with their beach chair.

March Cultural Calendar

Things to do in Cabarete in March extend beyond pure adrenaline into cultural experiences that offer insights into Dominican life without requiring advanced degrees in anthropology.

The March Music Festival (dates vary) brings local and international musicians to beachfront venues throughout Cabarete. Many performances remain free, creating the unusual scenario where quality entertainment costs less than the beer you’ll drink while enjoying it. Ticketed events range from $15-30 and feature a mix of merengue, bachata, reggaeton, and international sounds that prove music truly is the universal language, especially after a few rum cocktails.

The Master of the Ocean competition occasionally extends into early March, offering visitors the rare chance to witness athletes who excel in multiple water sports disciplines. Unlike other sporting events where spectating requires binoculars and overpriced stadium beer, this competition unfolds directly in front of beachside bars where the Presidente flows cold and cheap.

Wednesday night bonfires at Lax Beach Bar have become Cabarete tradition, featuring fire dancers performing feats that would give American insurance adjusters immediate cardiac arrest. There’s no cover charge, though purchasing at least one drink seems the fair price for watching humans twirl flaming objects with apparent disregard for personal safety.

Dominican cooking classes offered at several local restaurants ($35-45) provide the skills to recreate La Bandera Dominicana—the country’s signature rice, beans, and meat dish. Unlike some vacation souvenirs that end up in yard sales, these culinary skills actually improve with age and provide more lasting satisfaction than another refrigerator magnet.

The Gastronomic Olympics

Cabarete’s food scene reaches peak performance in March, when restaurants benefit from fresh seasonal ingredients without the crushing crowds of high season that can transform dining into contact sport.

Beach restaurants offering prime sunset views include Mojito Bar, where seafood entrees run $12-18, and Otra Cosa, whose Mediterranean-Dominican fusion justifies its slightly higher $15-25 range. The unspoken rule: the better the view, the simpler the food should be. Complex culinary achievements and sunset-watching compete for attention, and nature usually wins.

Local Dominican eateries where complete meals cost under $10 hide on side streets away from the beach. Places like Calimete serve the kind of authentic Dominican fare that makes you question why you ever paid $17 for that mediocre burger at the resort. Their chicken asado with rice, beans, and plantains delivers more flavor than dishes costing triple at beachfront establishments.

Cabarete’s “night kitchen” food carts materialize after 9pm along the beach road like a hungry person’s hallucination. Offering $2-4 street food options from empanadas to grilled corn, they provide late-night sustenance for the post-bar crowd and early breakfast for pre-dawn surfers. The unwritten rule: the longer the local line, the better the cart.

The famed Cabarete nightlife peaks in March when perfect weather meets perfect crowd size. Lax Bar features live music on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Onno’s hosts their legendary Thursday night parties, and Millennium maintains its reputation as the place where good decisions go to die and dance on tables until 3am.

Where to Rest Between Adventures

The things to do in Cabarete in March require adequate recovery spaces, and accommodation options span from bare-bones to borderline decadent.

Budget stays include beachfront hostels ($15-25/night) like Kaoba Hostel, where the line between “rustic charm” and “basic necessity” blurs artfully. Guesthouses like Villa Taina ($35-50/night) offer private rooms with the mathematical impossibility of being both affordable and clean.

Mid-range options feature condo rentals with kitchens ($75-120/night) that save money on meals while providing enough space to avoid developing homicidal tendencies toward travel companions. Ocean Dream and Kite Beach condos offer self-catering options within stumbling distance of both the water and nightlife.

Luxury experiences include all-inclusive resorts ($200-350/night) like Millennium Resort and villa rentals ($300-500/night) that provide enough amenities to make leaving property seem optional rather than necessary. March rates typically run 20-30% below peak season prices, creating the rare scenario where luxury accommodations seem almost justified to normally frugal travelers.

The savvy March visitor employs what locals call “the hesitation tactic”—book directly with properties and mention considering a competitor for an instant 10% discount that materializes faster than a beach vendor when you open your wallet.

Day Trips Worth the Detour

While Cabarete could easily consume an entire vacation, March’s perfect weather makes day trips particularly appealing options that expand the things to do in Cabarete in March beyond town limits.

Puerto Plata city tours require just a 30-minute drive and offer a colonial-era fort, cable car to mountain views, and the Brugal rum factory where educational tours conveniently end with sampling opportunities. Self-guided exploration costs only transportation ($35 taxi or $2 public bus requiring connections), while guided tours run $50-70 including transportation and entrance fees.

Sosúa Beach, just 15 minutes east, offers better snorkeling than Cabarete thanks to protected coves with minimal current. Equipment rentals run $10-15, with guided snorkeling tours around $30 that increase your chances of seeing something more interesting than other tourists’ legs and the occasional plastic bag.

Laguna Gri-Gri boat tours explore a mangrove ecosystem where the bird population rivals an Alfred Hitchcock film, minus the homicidal tendencies. Tours cost $20-30 per person with transportation options from Cabarete adding another $30-40 round trip. Unlike many tourist experiences, this one actually resembles the brochure photos.

Practical Matters for March Visitors

Even paradise requires some logistical planning, and March visitors benefit from specific seasonal considerations.

Transportation from Puerto Plata airport (25 minutes) offers the classic developing-world choice between convenience and savings. Taxis charge fixed rates ($35) that eliminate haggling but multiply the actual cost by roughly five. Public transportation costs about $2 but requires connections and a fundamental comfort with uncertainty that many vacationers find challenging.

Getting around Cabarete presents similar options: motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) charge $1-3 per ride and provide moderate adrenaline spikes at no extra charge. Scooter rentals ($25/day) or cars ($50-70/day) offer independence but require navigational skills and comfort with Dominican driving customs, which treat traffic laws more as gentle suggestions than actual rules.

Safety considerations for March include water precautions during stronger wind days—the ocean isn’t malicious, just powerfully indifferent to human swimming abilities. After dark, avoid venturing alone down unlit beach sections or side streets away from the main tourist area, where opportunistic crime occasionally occurs.

Unlike the mathematical gymnastics required at American restaurants, Dominican tipping customs follow a refreshingly straightforward 10% standard. Service workers actually live on their wages rather than tips, creating the novel experience of being served by people who aren’t financially desperate for your approval.