Our location

In the heart of the cool
surf town of Cabarete

The Location

Walk to restaurants, bars & the beach

Swell Surf Camp was designed and built by us to be a perfect, water-sports-oriented place to stay. We used our extensive local knowledge as long-term residents of Cabarete to hand-pick our location very deliberately.

We are not directly on the beach (there are no real surf camps on the beach on our Caribbean island) but we are a short, level walk to the huge, sandy bay of Cabarete.

Swell Surf Camp
cabarete sunrise
cabarete restaurants
Cabarete beach
Cabarete from the air
swell dinner in cabarete
la Boca cabarete
kitesurfing cabarete
cabarete restaurants

Location of Swell

We chose a location where we knew our guests would have the best access to everything Cabarete has to offer + some peace and quiet when needed.

The surf spots are less than 10 minute’s drive away in our own transport (Swell guests are normally first in the water!) and we provide the surf transport to get you there and back, twice each day.
For the rest of the day and evening you can reach everything you need from Swell by foot.

Some people ask us why Swell is not at the surf beach? That is honestly answered; there’s absolutely nothing to do there other than surf and we wanted to make sure you were next to all the other great stuff the town has to offer, the huge and beautiful, calm sandy bay which is ideal for bathing (contrary to the surf beach, where you cannot swim), restaurants, bars and shops every time you wanted to walk out to explore and have fun.  

Cabarete Bay, the beach for kite-surfing, wing-foiling and windsurfing, is less than a 5 minute level walk, the restaurants are close (one is our immediate neighbour) and at least four more of Cabarete`s most popular eateries are within 200 meters.  

In fact, within a 10 minute walk you will have the choice of all Cabarete's restaurants and bars, many of which are right on the beach.

Swell sits at the base of the Parque National El Choco and you can enjoy some beautiful sunsets over this range of hills.

If you fancy a shopping trip, just walk from Swell into town to explore the many clothing, jewellery and souvenir shops on offer.

Swell Surf Camp Easy Travel

Cabarete

Dominican Republic

The more travelling we did to other countries in pursuit of surf, the more we realised what a special place Cabarete is. This vibrant town also has a beach dining scene we’ve not managed to find anywhere else.

For kitesurfers, and wingfoilers Cabarete is an absolute Mecca.

Cabarete

At night, the many restaurants on the beach light up the palm trees with lanterns and place their tables and chairs directly in the sand. Many different cuisines are on offer and we will gladly help you choose where to eat on the evenings that dinner is not prepared in the camp.  We promise never to send you anywhere we would not be happy to dine ourselves.   Haudy, Swell's lovely manager who has been a resident of Cabarete for more than two decades, will be acting as your personal concierge whilst at Swell; there is nothing she doesn't know about the local area and what's going on. 

By the way, if it's your thing, some of those restaurants turn into clubs where you can dance the night away, all in a unique & friendly atmosphere.  Dominicans really know their music and dancing! If clubbing is not your scene, you can wander back to Swell where we enjoy a more peaceful location, just far enough away from the action to enjoy your night’s sleep.

Swell Surf Camp Easy Travel

Why we love Cabarete


SOME QUICK QUESTIONS

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  • WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF SWELL'S LOCATION?

    We lived in Cabarete for many years before we decided on the location of our place. We wanted to be within walking distance of  Cabarete's main beach (for sunset drinks and great swimming), also Cabarete's main street with restaurants, bars, Spa's and shops, it's all within a short, flat walk. We serve breakfast and 3 dinners at Swell, but for lunch and the other dinners, we are surrounded by restaurants that serve delicious foods in all price ranges. The surf beach is a short drive, but that's easily offset by the benefits (and safety aspects) that our location offers.  It would have been far cheaper for us to buy land at the surf beach, but we knew it was not the best place for our guests to stay. 

    If you are directly comparing staying at the surf beach versus our location, it's important to bear in mind the following:

    • There is nothing at the surf beach but waves and storage huts.  There are no restaurants, shops or anything else to do. 
    • But you think you can go for another surf session if you stay there?  Honestly, the majority of people can't manage to surf for more than 2 or 3 hours per day (if that) before their arms just won't be able to paddle any more.  With surfing, unless you are a very good surfer already, less is more and exhausting yourself over the first couple of days WILL result in not being able to surf at all by day 3.
    • You can't swim in the ocean at the surf beach, but our place is opposite the huge beautiful sandy bay of Cabarete which has perfect swimming conditions
    • Our local bay also has a ton of restaurants right on the beach, and places where you can rent a sunbed for complete relaxation (even ordering food to be delivered to you whilst you lie down!). 
    • If you do stay at the surf beach, you will need your own transportation and have a 10 minute drive to reach any place to eat or shop.

  • WHAT'S AROUND SWELL?

    We are right in the heart of town so you will find the beach, restaurants, shops, banks and other useful places within a couple of minutes' walk from our place. 

  • ARE YOU ON THE BEACH?

    No, we are not directly on the beach (no genuine surf camp or surf retreat is on the beach in the Dominican Republic, although that doesn't seem to stop some folks renting a random place and calling it one).  Swell was planned as a surf retreat right from the start and we also chose our location very deliberately to be close to everything that matters.  

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  • “Think of Swell as the anti-surf camp. There’s plenty of surfing, of course, but the similarities to other surf camps end there. For starters, the rooms are stylish — more boutique surf retreat than reggae-loving surfer digs. Then there are the legendary breakfasts (omelets, pancakes and crepes, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and fruit bowls). Structured surf lessons take place each morning. An instructor alongside you and the head surf coach watching from shallow water, ready to offer learn to surf tips between riding waves. If you are serious about learning to surf, then Swell should be on top of your destination list. Highly recommended! ”
    Reference Source:
    [Frommer’s Travel Guides]

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    Designed with the discerning surfer in mind, Swell is far from a crash pad. The spare clean lines, plush bedding, modern photographs and funky furniture say ‘boutique surf retreat’. The pool, ping-pong and foosball tables and social vibe suggest otherwise. A huge wood communal table is the center of the hanging-out action, after all the surfing is done. Highly recommended!
    Reference Source:
    [Lonely Planet]

     

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    “Our small retreat size guarantees focused coaching, real community, and the perfect experience!”

     

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