Cabarete
From: sandra gossink
Comment:
We spend 12 days in the Dominican Republic last winter and those 12 days were all good! Our main goal was (wave)surfing and relaxing. We certainly reached that goal, but much more: we discovered what a great country the DR is. Dominicans are very friendly, open people with a great sense of humour. The landscape varies from lush green mountains where a.o. tobacco, bananas and coffee are grown to paradise beaches with white sands and palm trees. But, I say all this without wanting to sound like your guidebook, but with a strong advice: step out of your all-inclusive and stay in a place like Hooked Cabarete.
You will have all the comfort ánd the breakfast, but so much more opportunity to explore and discover all the possibilities the DR offers. Set in the middle of a green environment with lots of space, Hooked Cabarete is an excellent base to set out to your journeys and activities, like surfing, kitesurfing or just walking and sunbathing.
Is everything paradise? Uh, yep! Well, as a wavesurfer you have to get up early to catch some waves without the wind spoiling all the fun. As any other tourist staying there you have to get up early too, because the bread will still be warm.. But, walking with your board, short and slippers along the dirtroad, your head still sleepy, sun rising, passing some wild horses standing under the palmtrees, greeting the friendly locals to check the waves a few minutes later: that’s pure happines!!
Meet Bill and Bob, your devoted guards who will bark to the uninvited and eat your spiders. Meet their keepers, Chantal and Ybo, who will help and tell you everything you need to know or show you nice places. Meet Lucy and Carlos who will keep your rooms and the garden in clean shape.
I guess it’s clear: we had a really good time here. We also rented a car, spend a few days in Samana and drove around parts of the island, wich I can recommend stronly! We will definetely be back and stay at Hooked again. There’s a relaxed atmosphere, room for your equipment, it’s clean and friendly. You can reach lively Cabarete easily every day for dinner, drinks or whatever, but you return to the nice and quiet Encuentro..
Sandra Gossink en Geert-Jan Middelkoop, Februari 2006.