The Best Day Trips from Cabarete (That Are Actually Worth Your Time)

Most Cabarete visitors fall into one of two camps: they either never leave the beach (fair), or they book one of those all-day bus tours that hits six “attractions” in eight hours and somehow includes a rum factory. Neither is ideal. The north coast of the DR has genuinely cool stuff within 20 minutes to two hours of Cabarete, and you don’t need a tour company to see it.

Here’s what’s actually worth your time — with real logistics, real prices, and the honest take on each one.

27 Charcos de Damajagua (The 27 Waterfalls)

This is the one everyone talks about, and for once the hype is justified. Twenty-seven natural waterfalls carved into limestone, connected by pools you jump into from heights ranging from “that was fun” to “oh my God why did I agree to this.” You hike up through the jungle, then work your way back down by jumping, sliding, and swimming through each cascade.

The logistics: It’s about 45 minutes west of Cabarete, near Imbert on the road toward Santiago. Entry is around $15 for the 7-waterfall circuit (the most popular), $17 for 12, or $20 for all 27. That includes a guide — you can’t go without one, and honestly you wouldn’t want to. They know exactly where to jump and where not to. Helmets and life jackets are provided.

The honest take: Do the 12-waterfall option. Seven feels rushed, and all 27 is a serious athletic commitment — we’re talking 3+ hours of climbing and jumping. The 12 hits the sweet spot. Go early (gates open at 8:30am) before the cruise ship crowds show up from Puerto Plata. By 11am it gets packed. Bring water shoes — the rocks are slippery and you’ll regret flip-flops.

El Choco National Park

This one’s barely a day trip — it’s a 10-minute drive from central Cabarete, technically within town limits. But it feels like another world. El Choco is a network of underground caves and freshwater lagoons hidden in the hills above town. The main attractions are Cabarete Cave (a proper cave system with stalactites and bats) and Crystal Lagoon, a cenote-style swimming hole inside a partially collapsed cave.

Entry is about $5-7 depending on the guide. Speaking of guides — you’ll find local guys at the entrance offering to take you through. Pick one. The trails aren’t always well-marked and the cave routes definitely aren’t. A good guide will also show you the smaller pools and viewpoints that most visitors miss.

Pro tip: Go in the morning when sunlight hits the lagoons. The way the light filters through the cave openings onto turquoise water is genuinely surreal. Bring a headlamp or phone light for the caves, and don’t wear anything you care about — you’ll get muddy.

Puerto Plata: Cable Car & Fort San Felipe

Puerto Plata is 20 minutes west and most Cabarete people treat it like an errand destination — the big grocery stores, the hardware shops, the airport. But the Teleférico (cable car) up Mount Isabel de Torres is worth a dedicated trip. It’s the only cable car in the Caribbean, and the ride takes you 2,600 feet up to a botanical garden and a Christ the Redeemer statue. On a clear day you can see the entire north coast stretching east toward Cabarete.

Tickets are about $10 round trip. The cable car runs from 8:30am to 5pm, but go before noon — clouds roll in most afternoons and you’ll see nothing but white from the top. While you’re in Puerto Plata, Fort San Felipe is worth a quick stop. It’s a 16th-century Spanish fort right on the waterfront, entry is like $2, and it takes maybe 30 minutes. Not life-changing, but decent for history buffs.

Combine it with lunch on the Malecón (the oceanfront boardwalk) and you’ve got a solid half-day trip. Skip the Brugal rum factory tour unless you really love rum marketing. It’s mostly a gift shop.

Sosúa: Snorkeling and the Weird History

Sosúa is literally 10 minutes east of Cabarete, and the snorkeling at Sosúa Bay is the best you’ll find on the north coast without a boat. The bay is a natural horseshoe with calm, clear water, coral formations, and a surprising amount of fish. You can rent gear right on the beach for $10-15, or bring your own.

Here’s the part most guides skip: Sosúa has a fascinating WWII history. In 1938, the Dominican Republic was one of the only countries to offer refuge to Jewish refugees fleeing Europe. About 600 Jewish settlers established a community in Sosúa, started a dairy co-op (Productos Sosúa — you’ll still see their cheese and butter in every colmado), and built a synagogue that’s still standing. The Jewish Museum of Sosúa tells the whole story. It’s small and unassuming, but genuinely moving.

Fair warning: the beach area in Sosúa has gotten more touristy and “hustly” over the years. You’ll get approached by vendors constantly. It’s not dangerous, just annoying. Go for the snorkeling and the museum, grab lunch at one of the restaurants above the bay, and head back.

Río San Juan & Playa Grande

About an hour east of Cabarete, Río San Juan is a small fishing town that most tourists blow right past. Their loss. The main draw is Laguna Gri-Gri, a mangrove lagoon where you take a boat through narrow channels out to the open ocean. The boat ride costs about $10-15 per person and takes around an hour. It’s calm, beautiful, and completely different from anything else on the north coast.

But the real reason to make this drive is Playa Grande. It’s regularly named one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic, and it delivers. A long, wide stretch of golden sand backed by cliffs, with waves big enough for body surfing but not so big you’ll get destroyed. There’s a beach shack selling fried fish and cold Presidentes. That’s all you need.

The drive itself is beautiful too — winding coastal road through small towns. Stop in Gaspar Hernández for empanadas at one of the roadside stands. They’re absurdly good and cost about 50 cents each.

Jarabacoa: Mountains and Waterfalls

This is the furthest trip on this list — about 2-2.5 hours south through the Cordillera Central — but it’s a completely different Dominican Republic. Jarabacoa sits at 1,700 feet in the mountains, and the temperature drops noticeably. Dominicans call it “the city of eternal spring.” It genuinely feels like you’ve left the Caribbean and landed somewhere in Central America.

The main attraction is Salto de Jimenoa, a 130-foot waterfall reached by a short hike through the jungle. There’s also world-class white water rafting on the Río Yaque del Norte (about $50-65 per person with a guide company like Rancho Baiguate). And the coffee. Jarabacoa is DR coffee country. You can visit small farms, see the whole process from cherry to cup, and buy beans for a fraction of what you’d pay back home.

Is it worth the drive? If you’re in Cabarete for a week or more, absolutely. Make it a full day — leave early, do a waterfall hike in the morning, raft in the afternoon, buy coffee, and drive back as the sun sets over the mountains. It’s a side of the DR that most beach tourists never see.

Practical Tips for All Day Trips

• Renting a car vs. hiring a driver: For 27 Charcos and Jarabacoa, hire a driver. The roads are fine but Dominican driving takes some getting used to, and you won’t want to drive back exhausted. A local driver runs $60-80 for a full day. For Puerto Plata and Sosúa, you can easily take a guagua (local minibus) for $1-2 — they run constantly along the main highway.
• Cash is king: Most of these spots don’t take cards. Bring Dominican pesos. ATMs in Cabarete are easy to find (there’s a Banco Popular right on the main strip).
• Start early: Every single trip on this list is better in the morning. Less crowds, less heat, better light for photos. Be out the door by 8am.
• Sunscreen and water: Obvious, but people forget. The UV here is no joke, especially at elevation in Jarabacoa where it doesn’t feel as hot.

Make Cabarete Your Base Camp

One of the best things about staying in Cabarete is the location. You’re central enough on the north coast to reach all of these spots without brutal drives, and you come home to the beach every evening. It’s why we always recommend at least a week — enough time to mix beach days with adventure days without feeling rushed.

If you’re traveling with a group or family, a private villa makes the logistics way easier. You’ve got space to spread out, a kitchen for early breakfasts before day trips, and a pool to collapse into when you get back. Villa Azura and Villa Solara both sleep six comfortably and sit right on the beach at The Residences at Millennium — about as central as you can get.

For more on what to do without leaving Cabarete, check our 27 Things to Do in Cabarete guide. And if you’re still figuring out when to come, the month-by-month guide breaks down weather, crowds, and events for every season.