SURFING DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

SURFING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

THE ULTIMATE SURF TRAVEL GUIDE

Name: República Dominicana (Dominican Republic)

Capital: Santo Domingo

Location: Caribbean region

Lat / Lon: 19°00′N 70°40′W

Currency: Dominican peso

Language: Spanish

Coastline: 800 Miles / 1288 KM

GETTING TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Easy, quick flights from New York, Boston, Miami, Toronto and major cities in Europe bring you to Puerto Plata (POP) or Santiago (STI) international airport.

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Year-round surf varies from waist high in the summer months to well overhead in the winter months. It’s always warm, with no need for a wetsuit, and the north coast has no pronounced rainy season: showers tend to be short and can happen any time of year.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

LOCATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Dominican Republic borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

Hispaniola is home to two independent nations: Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic, which occupies the eastern two-thirds. The Dominican Republic covers about 48,670 km², making it slightly smaller than Slovakia, or about the size of the U.S. states of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.

WHY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS A SURF DESTINATION?

• Year-round surf destination
• No need for wetsuits / warm clothes
• Fun waves for all different levels
• Plenty of non-surfing activities
• Easy travel
• Friendly Caribbean vibes
• Great food
• Good choice of accommodation

BEST TIME TO GO ON A SURF TRIP

The great thing about choosing a surf holiday in the Dominican Republic is that there are approximately 350 surfable days each year, with very few flat days to spoil the fun.

Another big plus of surfing in the Caribbean is that there’s no distinct rainy season (unlike Costa Rica and Nicaragua, where June to September can be a wash-out).

WAVE SEASON

• Winter (JAN–MAR) & Fall (OCT–DEC): Larger waves, best for intermediate and advanced surfers (beginners stay on the mellow inside)
• Spring (APR–JUN) & Summer (JUL–SEP): Smaller waves, ideal for beginners and intermediates

THE BEST SURF SPOTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The best surfing in the Dominican Republic is on the north coast, between Puerto Plata and Cabarete, where the Atlantic delivers swell almost every day of the year. Surfing in or around Punta Cana (on the east coast) is limited. If you are looking for a surf camp in Punta Cana, or to take surf lessons there, you may be disappointed. Most of the Punta Cana resort coast faces the Caribbean Sea and is protected by reefs, so it rarely gets decent waves. Waves need open ocean to build (they often travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles before they reach the shore). Punta Cana does get some waves in hurricane season, as it is one of the most exposed points to storms approaching from the east.

It’s not that Punta Cana has no waves at all: Macao Beach, about 30 minutes north of the main resort area, has a few surf schools and small, beginner-friendly waves on many days, but don’t expect consistent waves or anything over waist high most of the time. Further east along the north coast, Playa Grande near Rio San Juan and Playa Coson near Las Terrenas on the Samaná Peninsula pick up Atlantic swell too, but they are less consistent than the Cabarete area.

Cabarete, on the north coast, faces the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea, and the waves that reach the north shore are often generated many miles away by storms passing over the North Atlantic. Having travelled so far, these waves arrive more organised and more consistent.

Encuentro, Puerto Plata, El Canal, La Preciosa and El Barco on the north coast all face the Atlantic and are recognised surf spots. Here is a guide to the best spot for you, depending on your level, the time of year and the swell direction. For a deeper dive into the local breaks, see our guide to surfing in Cabarete.

SURF SPOTS OF THE NORTH COAST OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

DETAILED SURF MAP OF PLAYA ENCUENTRO

DESTROYERS

Shallow, fast and hollow. For bodyboarders and expert surfers only.

THE LEFT (LA IZQUIERDA)

A great left-hander, best in the winter months on a north swell. For advanced surfers — and respect the locals.

MAIN PEAK OF ENCUENTRO (LA DERECHA)

The ultra-consistent main peak, breaking both right and left. Mellow waves for intermediate and advanced surfers.

BOBO’S POINT

The inside at Bobo’s is a perfect, mellow learning wave where the surf schools of Encuentro teach beginners.

COCO PIPE

A quality left (short) and right (longer). For advanced surfers only: a fast, barrelling wave over a shallow reef.

OFFSHORE REEFS

A few miles of offshore reef run all the way to Cabarete. They’re ideal for SUP (SUP is banned at Encuentro for safety reasons), and a few peaks have quality, uncrowded waves for surfers on north swells.

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The offshore reefs at Cabarete Bay and Kite Beach are also ideal spots for prone foil surfing or using a foil drive (foil surfing is not permitted at Playa Encuentro).

LEARNING TO SURF IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

It’s not just intermediate and expert surfers who benefit from a surf holiday in the DR.

For people who have never surfed before, the DR provides ideal learning-to-surf conditions pretty much year-round.

Playa Encuentro is one of the most consistent surf spots in the Caribbean, rivalling Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

What makes Cabarete such an ideal place to learn to surf? There are several reasons:

• Mellow waves
• Hardly any rips or strong currents
• Shallow waters (beginners surf in water that is generally chest-deep)
• No dangerous sea creatures (no sharks or crocodiles, unlike Costa Rica)
• A large designated area for beginners (so people learning to surf stay out of the way of more advanced surfers)

WHEN TO GO TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR A LEARN-TO-SURF HOLIDAY

Playa Encuentro gets waves year-round for surfers of all levels, but wave heights change through the year.

Generally speaking, from April to October, the waves are at their smallest (around waist to chest high) so this is an ideal time for complete beginners and improvers to go.

Between November and March, the waves are a bit bigger (between chest high and overhead), which makes it a good time for surfers who want to practise turning and riding down the line. Beginners can still learn in these months on the smaller inside waves.

Want to be prepared before your learn-to-surf holiday? Start with our guide to the surf pop-up, see how our surf coaching works through the seasons, and compare the region in learning to surf in the Caribbean.

HURRICANE SEASON

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the peak from mid-August to October. That’s when sea temperatures are warm enough for storms forming off the coast of Africa to make their way across the Atlantic towards the Caribbean. Some stay as tropical depressions, while others become tropical storms or hurricanes if conditions are right.

Whilst Puerto Rico and other smaller islands suffered huge, even catastrophic damage in 2017 from Hurricanes Maria and Irma, the north coast of the Dominican Republic was largely spared. Direct hits are rare, although they do happen (Hurricane Fiona made landfall in the far east of the country in 2022). One reason the island tends to weaken storms is Pico Duarte, the highest mountain peak in the entire Caribbean region.

Hurricanes are strongest over warm open water, where nothing disrupts their circulation. Pico Duarte and the Cordillera Central, the mountain range that runs across the Dominican Republic, form a physical barrier that disrupts the circulation a hurricane or tropical storm needs to stay strong.

As a result, storms that cross or brush the Dominican Republic usually lose strength over the mountains, and many are pushed off track before reaching the north coast.

Whilst on the subject of hurricanes, the Dominican Republic is NOT the same place as Dominica (which was devastated by Hurricane Maria); Dominica is a different island, more than 700 km away. Storms that pass well north of the DR often bring some of the best waves of the year, so when one tracks past offshore, Dominican surfers start waxing their big-wave boards.

For the surf and wind forecast on the north coast, check Surfline, Windguru or Windy before and during your trip.

HOW TO GET TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Dominican Republic has several international airports. It’s located on Hispaniola, which is a BIG island, made up of roughly 1/3 Haiti and 2/3 Dominican Republic. It’s more than 400 km from Punta Cana in the far east to the Haitian border in the west (a 7-hour+ drive).

While Costa Rica and Nicaragua often take a day or more of travel to reach, the Dominican Republic is much more accessible, with direct flights from New York, Boston, Miami, Toronto, and Montreal, all taking around 4 hours to POP, from where you can reach Cabarete in 25 minutes.

If you are planning on surfing the north coast, try to fly into Puerto Plata (airport code POP). The 2nd best option is Santiago Los Caballeros (STI), and the 3rd best is Santo Domingo (SDQ). Flying to Punta Cana might be cheap (lots of cheap charter flights go there to ferry people to the many all-inclusive hotels lining the coast), but it’s not a viable entry point if you want to surf. Punta Cana is all about white-sand beaches and all-inclusives, and it’s a 5-hour+ drive from the north-coast surf.

American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, United, Air Canada and WestJet are just some of the airlines flying into POP, STI and SDQ, and there are seasonal charter flights from Europe. For more flight suggestions, see getting to Swell.

GENERAL TRAVEL INFO

GETTING AROUND THE DR

Getting from the airport to your accommodation is pretty easy in the DR, especially by private taxi. Airport taxis are licensed and charge set fares, and you’ll find an official taxi desk on arrival. Uber operates in the country, but an Uber pickup at the airport is unlikely, as the airport taxis don’t allow it. Swell’s weekly packages include airport transfers, so you can skip the taxi desk altogether.

Your other options are to take a ‘carrito’ or a gua-gua if you are going somewhere fairly local. Both are forms of public transportation. A gua-gua is a minibus, and a carrito is usually a well-worn shared car.

Both will stop at the side of a main road if you put your hand out, but be prepared for a crowded journey: they’re super-cheap (a fraction of a taxi fare), and they make up for the low prices by seriously squeezing bodies in.

Neither is a realistic option with a surfboard or a suitcase of any size.

There are also moto-taxis (motoconchos): small motorbikes that are cheap for short hops of a few kilometres. You’ll often hear a ‘ssssst’ from a passing driver offering you a ride. Be careful: they’re not the safest way to travel, and watch out for serious burns to your calf from the exhaust pipe (known locally as ‘the Dominican tattoo’). It’s a terrible way to start your surf holiday and takes weeks to heal.

Car rental is cheap, but driving in the Dominican Republic is not for the faint-hearted. Dominicans have a rather laissez-faire attitude towards driving, so always expect the unexpected (people coming out of junctions without looking, or driving on the wrong side of the road), don’t drive fast, never drive under the influence, and you should stay safe.

Keep your eyes open and check your mirrors constantly, especially for motos, which approach at speed from all directions.

A sat nav (or Google Maps offline) is a good idea for longer journeys, as signposting is rare. If you are involved in an accident, stay in your vehicle if it is safe to do so and call your insurance company.

Dominicans can tend to flock to an accident, especially if a local person is injured, and it can be intimidating. If you rent a motorbike, wear a helmet: it’s not only the law, but in a country with a poor road-safety record, it may just save your life.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND VISA

Generally speaking, the Dominican Republic is easy to visit: most nationalities, including Americans, Canadians, Brits and Europeans, don’t need a visa for a holiday. For most air travellers the Tourist Card fee is now included in the airline ticket, and every traveller must complete the free electronic E-Ticket form online before arrival and departure. Entry rules change, so check the official Dominican government pages or your airline before you fly.

MEDICAL INFORMATION BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Health sites such as the CDC give country-wide advice, but the risks vary a lot from region to region, so check the latest CDC or NHS travel advice and talk to your doctor or travel clinic before you go. The daytime mosquito (Aedes) carries the main risk, dengue, so it’s better to avoid being bitten at all: wear a good repellent containing DEET. Windy coastal areas like Cabarete have far fewer mosquitoes than inland areas. Hepatitis A and B vaccines are commonly recommended for travellers.

LOST LUGGAGE

In our experience, airlines are good at reuniting you with your baggage as long as you give them a forwarding address. Keep the address and phone number of where you’re staying handy for the airline desk.

DAMAGED SURFBOARDS

If you’ve paid to bring your surfboard (or your quiver) to the Dominican Republic, you might, God forbid, end up with a ding to repair. Luckily, at the surf beach and in Cabarete town there are some really good repairers doing first-class work. If you are a Swell client, we will help get your board to the repair shop so you can be back riding your favourite surfboard in no time. Board fees vary a lot between airlines, so check your airline’s current sports-equipment policy before you book. There are many shops and shacks at the beach that will rent you a surfboard if you don’t want to pay to bring your own.

MONEY

Don’t change your money at the airport. Airport currency exchanges are notorious for poor rates. Exchange offices and banks in Cabarete give far better rates for Dominican pesos (DOP).

Cabarete has plenty of banks to choose from; take your passport, as they won’t change money without ID. Avoid money changers on the street: even with an attractive rate, sleight of hand and dubious counting usually mean you don’t get the right amount of DOP for your dollars.

ATMs are widely available. But, as in other countries, card skimmers are sometimes fitted, so use ATMs inside banks and cover your PIN. ATMs only give out DOP and can run out of cash by Friday evening as people head from the cities to Cabarete for the weekend.

WHERE TO STAY?

There’s a huge amount of accommodation in and around Cabarete, from all-inclusive hotels to guesthouses and Airbnbs.

Just outside Puerto Plata is Playa Dorada, developed in the 1980s as one of the Caribbean’s first all-inclusive resort areas. It’s showing its age, and the cheap packages are reflected in the rooms, food and drink.

If price matters more than quality, it’s still an option for sun and beach, but Playa Dorada is a 40-minute drive from Cabarete, so getting to and from the surf every day won’t be easy or cheap.

Sosua is a 15-minute taxi ride from Cabarete (Encuentro, the surf beach, is just outside Cabarete on the way to Sosua). Sosua itself has a stunning bay and beautiful water for snorkelling, but its nightlife has an adult-oriented reputation.

Cabarete is Sosua’s sporty neighbour. Set in a panoramic bay, it has a safe area for swimming with calm water and an area of the beach reserved for windsurfers and kiteboarders. SUP is very popular in the bay: you can paddle out to the reef to catch some waves, or stay on the flat water inside and paddle up and down the bay.

The light-sand beach is lined with palm trees and charming restaurants, many with their own sun loungers where you can spend the day with food and drinks brought to you while you watch the watersports.

Cabarete has a ban on motorised watersports, so you won’t be disturbed by motorboats or jet skis. Beachfront complexes such as Ocean One, Harmony and Ocean Dream have apartment rentals aplenty.

You’ll find these on Airbnb or through local agencies like L’Agence in Cabarete. Luxury places like Ultra-Violeta offer high-end, relatively expensive apartments on the beach. Kite Beach and Cabarete East have cheaper options that suit keen kiteboarders, but you’ll have a 20–30 minute walk back to town for dinner and nightlife.

SURFBOARD RENTALS AND SURF SHOPS

Naturally, in a surf town, surf shops are everywhere. You’ll find genuine shops like Liquid Blue and Surfea in the centre of Cabarete, as well as cheaper shops selling fake branded goods.

Some surf shops rent boards by the week, and at the surf beach itself numerous surf schools rent boards too. You can turn up and take a lesson at Encuentro with schools like Bobo’s, Pauhana and Chino’s; Pauhana specialises in teaching kids. Swell only coaches its own guests.

SHOPPING

Cabarete is full of boutique shops, with independent stores selling locally made and imported clothes and beachwear for men, women and kids. Artisan jewellers work with local stones such as amber and larimar (the north coast is known as the Amber Coast because of its many amber deposits).

Grocery shopping has improved hugely and is now pretty international, with plenty of excellent local fruit and vegetables. There’s not much you can’t buy, but specialist products such as gluten-free foods are scarcer and pricey.

You can buy sunscreen and mosquito repellent in Cabarete, but imported products cost more, so bring your favourite reef-safe sunscreen from home.

COMMUNICATIONS

Mobile coverage on the north coast is good, with 4G from Claro and Altice. A local SIM or an eSIM will save you a fortune in roaming charges; Claro and Altice have offices in Cabarete, and you’ll need your passport to buy a SIM.

PHARMACIES

There are several good pharmacies in Cabarete, and the staff can give decent advice for minor ailments.

Hospitals and medical emergencies

Between Cabarete and Sosua there are well-equipped private hospitals and clinics. Seriously, don’t travel to the Dominican Republic without comprehensive travel insurance and make sure your insurance does not have exclusions for watersports.

Private medical care isn’t cheap, and clinics usually ask for your insurance details or a payment guarantee before treatment, so keep your policy details with you.

EATING OUT

I’ll start with the best: Dominican food. Recipes are handed down through generations — rich stews of fish, chicken, beef or pork, marinated for hours with herbs and spices. If you’re not a meat lover, you’ll love dishes like yuca frita, arroz con guandules and platanos; the list is endless.

There are several traditional Dominican restaurants in and around Cabarete; they’re often the simplest-looking places, but the food is delicious. Try the famous ‘chicken man’ on Cabarete’s main street: marinated chicken, barbecued to perfection and served with rice and salad.

RESTAURANTS IN CABARETE

There are a ton of places to eat, but these are our top tips:

Le Bistro // French cuisine // Highly recommended // Price range: $$

Otra Cosa // International cuisine // Romantic setting // Price range: $$$

Pomodoro // Italian cuisine // Great fresh pasta // Price range: $$

Gordito’s // Mexican // Cheap, tasty & quick // Price range: $

Yamazato // Sushi // Fresh & tasty // Price range: $$

Fresh Fresh Café // Healthy lunches // Price range: $$

Wilson, La Boca // Top Dominican experience // Price range: $$

NIGHTLIFE IN CABARETE

Cabarete has a vibrant party scene: not so much that it spoils the place for those of us (myself included) who no longer dance the night away, but enough that you’ll find a party on the beach most nights of the week. Once dinner is over and the tables are stacked, the music is cranked up at two or three venues in the bay.

Some of the kite schools in Cabarete will host bonfire parties and pig roasts, especially in high season.

Presidente is the classic local beer, and Dominican rum is famous and cheap. A Cuba libre (rum and coke) is probably the island’s most popular drink, but you’ll find every type of cocktail at the bars.

Lots of people start the night at the cheaper street-side bars in town before heading to the beach to dance. Measures there are generous, so pace yourself.

Dominican cigars are world-famous, and there are specialist cigar shops in town.

SAFETY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The biggest danger in and around Cabarete is the roads. I don’t recommend renting a car or a motorbike, as the driving really is nuts. It’s tempting to ride to the surf beach with no helmet, but we’ve seen too many horrible accidents over the years. Take a taxi and share rides to keep costs down. Better still, if you’re coming to surf, stay at a surf camp like Swell, a short, safe walk from the bars and restaurants, with transport to and from the surf beach included.

Tourist police (POLITUR) patrol Cabarete day and night, but don’t leave your things unattended on the beach; your phone is a valuable item here.

It’s generally safe to be out late, but be sensible. Pickpockets work the nightclubs and look for easy targets, mostly drunk tourists. Top tip: if a stranger gets unusually friendly on the dance floor, it might be a distraction while someone else lifts your wallet or phone. Don’t walk home alone along dark stretches of beach in the early hours; stick with friends, stay on lit streets, or take a taxi.

If something is stolen, you’ll need a police report for your insurance company; there’s a police station in Cabarete. Drug penalties in the Dominican Republic are very severe, so don’t risk it. Cabarete is a relaxed, welcoming place for LGBTQ+ travellers, with an active gay community.

TOP THINGS TO DO

The Amber Coast is famous for its amber mines (the opening scene of Jurassic Park is set in one), and the mountains and rivers behind the coast are spectacular. Several tour companies will help you explore them.

Kayak River Adventures and Iguana Mama are two of the most respected operators, with high safety standards and exciting canyon and river tours. Ciguapa Falls and the 27 Waterfalls (Charcos) of Damajagua are just some on offer.

You can also go caving, mountain biking, ziplining, river kayaking or SUP, and there’s a big road-cycling community.

Sailing, windsurfing, SUP and kiteboarding lessons are all available right on Cabarete Bay, and at Swell you can learn to wingfoil too.

If you’re into horses, beach rides and mountain treks through rivers and villages are easy to book locally.

Snorkelling in Sosua Bay is lovely (a 15-minute taxi ride from Cabarete), and there’s deep-sea fishing from Puerto Plata harbour.

Visit the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe in Puerto Plata, built for King Philip II of Spain, then walk into the restored old town with its colourful colonial buildings, shops and restaurants.

Take the cable car up Mount Isabel de Torres, also in Puerto Plata, for breathtaking views of the north coast and a botanical garden at the top. Spend a day at the huge, beautiful beach of Playa Grande, with clear blue water and grilled fish beneath the palm trees, and visit Laguna Dudu and Laguna Gri Gri nearby.

QUESTIONS ABOUT SURFING IN THE DR

Where is the best surfing in the Dominican Republic?

The north coast. Playa Encuentro, a short drive from Cabarete, is the most consistent break in the country and has waves for every level. Sosua, El Canal, La Preciosa and Rio San Juan also work on the right swell.

Can you surf in Punta Cana?

Only a little. Punta Cana faces the mostly flat Caribbean Sea. Macao Beach gets small waves on many days, but for consistent surf, fly into Puerto Plata (POP) and head to Cabarete.

When is the best time to surf in the Dominican Republic?

Any month. November to March brings the biggest swell (shoulder high to overhead), best for intermediate and advanced surfers. April to October has smaller, mellow waves that are ideal for beginners.

Is the Dominican Republic good for beginner surfers?

Yes. Playa Encuentro has a mellow inside section, a designated beginner area, chest-deep water and no sharks or crocodiles, so it’s one of the easiest places in the Caribbean to learn.

Do you need a wetsuit to surf in the Dominican Republic?

No. The water stays around 26–29°C (79–84°F) all year, so boardshorts, a bikini or a rash vest are all you need.

How many surfable days are there in the Dominican Republic?

Around 350 a year on the north coast, with very few flat days.

PLANNING A SURF HOLIDAY TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC?

The Dominican Republic is a great surf destination for surfers of all levels and ages. We hope this surf travel guide is helpful. If you need more info, feel free to contact us, and we’d be very happy to help with any further questions. See you in the water!