Is Cabarete Safe? What the Official Advice Says

Direct answer: No government advisory names Cabarete as an area to avoid. The U.S. State Department rates the whole Dominican Republic Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution because of crime, the same level it gives Costa Rica and Belize. Treat Cabarete like any busy beach town: keep valuables out of sight, use known transport after dark, and respect the ocean, because wind, waves and rip currents are the risks most specific to this kite and surf beach.

What the governments say (checked October 19, 2026)

Travel advice is written for the whole country, not for one beach town, so read it as a baseline. Here is what the three most-used English-language advisories said on the day we checked:

• United States: Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, due to crime. The advisory, issued June 11, 2025, says that “violent crime is a concern in the Dominican Republic despite more police presence in areas often visited by tourists” and advises travelers not to display wealth and to be wary of meeting people from online in secluded locations. (U.S. State Department; the level also appears on the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo site.) For comparison, the State Department also rates Costa Rica and Belize Level 2.
• Canada: “Exercise a high degree of caution” in the Dominican Republic (Government of Canada, updated May 26, 2026).
• United Kingdom: The FCDO says “the crime rate in the Dominican Republic is high” (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, updated August 7, 2026).

None of the three names Cabarete or Puerto Plata province as a special-risk area. Advisories change, so check the latest version the week you travel.

Everyday precautions that fit Cabarete

Cabarete is a small, walkable town along one main road, with hotels, condos and restaurants on the sand. The precautions the advisories describe translate into a few habits here:

• Keep the beach light. Take only what you need to the sand, and do not leave phones or cash on your towel while you are in the water or at a kite lesson.
• Plan the ride home. After dinner or a night on the beach bars, use a taxi or driver your hotel recommends rather than walking long unlit stretches of the main road.
• Lock up. In condos and guesthouses, use the safe and lock doors and windows, including balconies.
• Watch your drink and your meetups. The U.S. advisory specifically warns about meeting people from online in secluded places.

The ocean: Cabarete’s most specific risk

Cabarete is famous because the trade winds build through the day and the reef breaks hold real surf. That is great for kiters and surfers and a reason for caution for everyone else. Canada’s advice notes that “several drownings occur every year” in the Dominican Republic and that “tidal changes and strong winds can cause dangerous riptides” (travel.gc.ca). The UK adds that “lifeguards may not be present at swimming pools or on beaches” (gov.uk).

• Swim early. Mornings are usually calmer before the afternoon wind fills in; see our best time to visit guide for the wind pattern by season.
• Stay out of the kite zones. On windy afternoons the water off Kite Beach and the main bay is full of kites and lines. Swim where kiters are not launching.
• Learn with a school. If you want to kite or surf, book lessons with an established school; our kitesurfing guide and surfing guide explain how lessons work.
• Know the rip current escape. NOAA’s advice is to stay calm and swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim back at an angle (NOAA Ocean Service).

Emergency numbers to save

• 911 for police, fire and ambulance. Puerto Plata province’s 9-1-1 operations center opened in June 2022, and the government listed Cabarete among the municipalities it covers (Presidencia de la República). The UK notes that “the 911 emergency number does not have full coverage across the country” (gov.uk).
• POLITUR, the tourist police: free 24-hour line 1-809-200-3500 (POLITUR).
• Your embassy: U.S. citizens can enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and find embassy contacts on the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo site.

Health and weather

The U.S. CDC lists dengue and Zika among the diseases spread by mosquitoes in the Dominican Republic, so pack repellent and check its current travel notices before you go (CDC Travelers’ Health). The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the statistical peak around September 10 (NOAA National Hurricane Center). Travel insurance that covers medical care and weather disruption is worth having in any month.

The bottom line

Kiters, surfers and families build whole trips around Cabarete because the town is easy to get around and the water is the main event. Go in with the same habits you would use in any beach town, take the ocean as seriously as the advisories, and save the two numbers above. Planning the rest of the trip? Start with our Cabarete travel guide or compare Cabarete and Punta Cana.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cabarete safe for tourists?

No government advisory singles out Cabarete. The U.S. State Department rates the whole Dominican Republic Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, because of crime, and Canada says to exercise a high degree of caution. In practice that means normal big-city habits: do not show off valuables, use known transport at night, and lock up your room or condo. In Cabarete the ocean deserves as much respect as crime: wind, waves and riptides are the risks most specific to this beach.

What is the U.S. travel advisory level for the Dominican Republic?

Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, due to crime. The State Department issued the current advisory on June 11, 2025, and it was still the current level when we checked on October 19, 2026. It is the same level the State Department gives Costa Rica and Belize.

Is it safe to swim at Cabarete Beach?

Swim with care. Canada’s travel advice notes that several drownings occur in the Dominican Republic every year and that tidal changes and strong winds can cause dangerous riptides, and the UK says lifeguards may not be present on beaches. Cabarete’s afternoon trade winds are what make it a kite town, so swim in the calmer morning, stay out of the kite zones, and if a rip current pulls you, swim parallel to the shore rather than against it.

What number do I call for an emergency in Cabarete?

Dial 911 for police, fire or ambulance. Puerto Plata province has its own 9-1-1 operations center, opened in 2022, and the government listed Cabarete among the municipalities it serves. The tourist police, POLITUR, has a free 24-hour line at 1-809-200-3500. The UK notes that 911 does not have full coverage everywhere in the country, so save both numbers.

When is hurricane season in Cabarete?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, with the statistical peak around September 10. If you travel then, watch the forecasts and buy travel insurance that covers weather disruption.