Cabarete in the Dominican Republic has long been known for its fantastic kitesurfing beaches that attract crowds of college travelers from around the world. Cabarete is a popular destination where young people come to surf, drink, tan and have fun.

Most people don’t realize that the Puerto Plata towns of Sosúa and Cabarete offer much more than just a few all-inclusive resorts. This is particularly true if you are younger and looking for a place to spend a few nights of romance.

During the day, Cabarete is a sleepy little beach town, only a few miles long. At night it turns into a lively strip of beach. Unlike its neighbor Sosúa, Cabarete is known more for its European travelers than for the local workers.

There is a strip of restaurants along that beach with outdoor seating. These restaurants are a great place to dine and watch the sunset. Once the sun goes down, the restaurants turn into nightclubs. There are Casanovas, Ohm, Blue, and a handful of others that offer late-night drinks and dancing.

However, the party does not stop at these clubs. Once these clubs close their truly vibrant head, head over to the Casino, where the action continues well into the morning. The Casino is the after hours place that offers a trendy nightclub and games of chance. What else do you need?

Cabarete is a small town and if you feel like venturing out, you are just a short taxi ride from Sosua, where the streets are lined with “beach bars”. Chiringuitos are small open bars, frequented mostly by working Dominican girls. Even if that doesn’t sound like your scene, it’s worth it just for the experience.

My recommendation for those of you going to Cabarete is to rent a condo or villa instead of booking a week in a hotel. While a hotel may offer some nice luxuries, chances are you’ll end up missing out on Cabarete’s fantastic nightlife.