Encuentro beach
Playa Encuentro is located a little East of Cabarete, the surfing capital of the Dominican Republic. If you take 30min drive to one side, you'll get to Puerto Plata, 15min drive to another side will bring you to Sosua Bay. Wide beach and surrounding cliffs of Encuentro are not yet fully developed, but this place is perfect for surfer of any level. Every year this place is opened for competitions, there are several surfing schools.
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Beach description
The best time for wave catching is early morning. At dawn, experienced and novice athletes are pulled up to the shore. Groups don't bother each other, because there are different conditions on different parts of the beach. Beginners and pros are divided on separate sides. Some catch a 3-meter wave, others master more modest waves. Afternoon is a time for kitesurfers.
The beach is protected from sea predators so it's no use to worry about safety. Even kids from 5 years stand on board (of course if they already can swim). Fallen into the water sportsman will be able to touch the bottom in the middle of Encuentro. The depth here is to the waist or maximum at the shoulders. Shore is partly sandy, partly covered with stones.
Most dangerous things here are urchins, sharp volcanic remains and large fragments of coral. Swimming shoes is the main protection.
What to expect from Playa Encuentro:
- Close parking.
- Sport equipment for surfing and kites rental.
- 8 surfing schools. Russian speaking coaches. Transfer in most cases is included in the price.
- Beach cafe with snacks, fruit and cocktails opens at 8.00. Hammocks and chairs are included.
- Pets are allowed.
When is it better to go?
In summer, tropical rains and typhoons – are frequent guests in the Dominican Republic. Therefore, it is better to go there in winter, from November to March, when the air warms up to a comfortable 24-30 degrees, and the weather is dried up.
Video: Beach Encuentro
Infrastructure
The natural continuation of the beach is the rest in Ocean Manor Resort Cabarete Hotel. This is a hotel with a very backstage atmosphere. There are no noisy events, every guest may have the image of living on a private villa. Stuff care about comfort and quickly solve all the problems.
Tourists live in spacious rooms, living rooms of which are able to fit big number of people. There are 2 pools, 2 bars and a restaurant, all inclusive from 7.00 to 22.30. One of the bars is on the beach. Every guest of 33 rooms is a VIP-client.
Right in the hotel tourists are offered various tours, jeep safari, travelling to surfing places near cliffs.
Except for the paradise beaches and warm Atlantic waters, the Puerto Plata resort area, to which Playa Encuentro belongs, is full of shops and cafes, casinos and nightclubs. There are many 4 and 5 star hotels in the center of noisy life and in the area for those who prefer quite leisure and beautiful views.
Activities and cuisine are on different taste. Restaurants offer good choice of meat and poultry, seafood meals. Food for tourists isn't divided by cultural line. Pastry might not be the most lush and delicious, but ice-cream and cocktails with tropical fruit are always popular, especially among children.
As for the fruit, here is a real Paradise: pineapples and carambola, mini bananas of a very special taste, passion fruit, papaya. All shops and tents sell fresh guanabana, which smells like strawberry. Tourists prefer taking home coffee, alcohol, spices, some fruit, souvenir bottles with Mamajuana.
Weather in Encuentro
Best hotels of Encuentro
All hotels of EncuentroUseful information
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First, a flight to Punta Cana or Puerto Plata, possibly with a stop in one of the airports in Europe. Second, taxi or bus. Buses run frequently to Cabarete. It takes 20 min to get there from Puerto Plata, from Punta Cana it takes 6-7 hours.
- From May to August on Playa Encuentro prevail perfect weather for water sports, so many tourists arrive at this time. From November to April rains happen, however tropical cyclones pass by and don't interfere with enjoying a holiday.
- As in many other tropical resorts, mosquitoes are a very unpleasant problem for holidaymaker, especially in the evenings. So it's recommended to change shorts and shirts on clothes with sleeves and trousers. Repellents will be useful.
Where to go and what to see outside the beach and hotel:
- Ocean World Adventure Park. Amusement park, including sea park with the dolphin lagoon, zoo, where guests can feed tigers and birds.
- National Park with botanical garden on the top of Isabel de Torres.
- Diving lovers will love Paradise Island.
- Amber museum.
- 27 cascading waterfalls.
- Brugal factory and shop, where tourists can buy high quality rum.