The undisputed windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of the Caribbean, this pleasant and vibrant north coast resort is also the nation's liveliest resort by night. Dozens of laid-back bars and restaurants spill shoulder to shoulder onto the main beach, which is one of four. Many hotels are dedicated to the extreme sports trade, and there is only one all-inclusive resort. The town is famous for its nightlife, but suffered greatly in late 2006 following passage of an executive order forcing bars to close at midnight. Parque El Charco, immediately inland of Cabarete, is centered on Laguna Cabarete and offers nature hikes, fabulous birding and caverns with pre-Columbian pictographs. The Cordillera Septentrional mountains, inland, offer opportunities for mountain biking and other active adventures.
