While Cabarete, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) is known as a kitesurfing and beach destination, there are several truly incredible hikes within driving distance that are A MUST before you leave our slice of paradise.
Best way to see the parks:
With tour operators like Iguana Mama offering guided hikes ranging from 3 hours to 3 days (with 2 nights of camping included), it’s easy to find a hike and expert guide that will meet the needs of solo, family and group travelers.
Pricing:
3-hour hikes start at $35 USD/adult: $28 USD/12yrs-17yrs: $18 USD/child under 12 (must be accompanied by an adult)
1-day hikes normally run around $70 USD/person
3 day/2-night hikes are around $450 USD/person + tax
Before setting out on a hike there are a few essentials you should never leave home without:
What to leave at home:
Most tour operators will include the following in their pricing. Depending on the length of your hike, some services may not be available. Always call or email the operator before leaving your home country to ensure you aren’t over or under packing:
Here are a few of our favorite hikes:
El Choco National Park – 3-hour hike
Difficulty level: All levels
Why we love this hike:
Mount Isabel de Torres – Approx. 8-hour hike (lunch included)
Difficulty level: Intermediate/advance hikers
Why we love this hike:
Pico Duarte (3 days/2 nights) – 4.5 hour drive from Cabarete
Difficulty level: Athletic beginners, intermediate and advanced hikers
Why we love this hike:
There are loads of hikes you can take without a guide. When you go for a hike on your own or with a group of friends, we highly suggest checking the weather forecast before departing Embocca. Additionally, having someone in your group that speaks Spanish is a major advantage – Dominican Republic is an international travel destination with many visitors coming from other Spanish speaking countries. A 2-way satellite communicator is extremely important if you’re hiking on your own. Most importantly, always make sure to bring more purified water than you think you’ll need – Once you enter the forest there will be no access to clean water. Lastly, don’t forget to ask our chef the night before your hike to pack snacks and sandwiches to keep you fueled and energized.
The Dominican Republic was formerly a Spanish colony. Similar to Spain, the most important meal of the day is lunch. Dominican Republic’s local cuisine is influenced by indigenous Taino, Spanish, French and African gastronomy. Some of the most popular dishes can be found in cities across the world as many Dominicans brought family recipes for Arepitas, Chimichurris, Soups, Chicharróns (and much much more) out of their home country and into the stomachs of hungry consumers. With that in mind, when you dine at a local restaurant COME HUNGRY. You can spend as much or as little time as you want at various restaurants – which make sense since Cabarete is one of the most laid back beachside towns on the island of Domincan Republic.
You will find different dishes feature at local restaurants depending on where your villa or hotel is located. Seaside towns tend to offer a great variety of seafood, with the most common being shrimp, mahi-mahi and lobster (available from July 1st until February 28th). The interior mountains tend to have dishes involving pork, stews and rice. The nice part about Dominican cuisine is that it uses milder spices than other countries in the West Indies without compromising taste.
When dining at Embocca, expect to be fed like a king. Embocca’s chef’s cater to a variety of dietary restrictions and preferences. Whether you follow a gluten-free diet, have seafood allergies or maybe you have a picky eater in the group, we have you covered. With that said, our chefs are obsessed with using fresh local produce and proteins.
If you decide to depart Embocca for lunch or dinner, a few of our favorite restaurants are: