Not surprisingly, Cabarete is home to one of the Caribbean's best windsurfing schools, Carib Wind Center, Playa Cabarete (tel. 809/571-0640; www.caribwind.com). It's devoted to teaching proper techniques and to renting state-of-the-art equipment. Equipment rental costs US$35 (£18) for 5 hours, and instruction is US$20 (£10) per hour. Clients who book a week or more in advance receive discounts of around 20%. A worthy competitor, located just a few doors away, is the Fanatic Windsurfing Center, Calle Principale (tel. 809/571-0861; www.fanatic-cabarete.com). Fanatic sometimes offers rates a bit less expensive than those at the Carib Wind Center.
Although windsurfing attracts more media attention than any other sport in Cabarete, conventional surfing is also big and getting bigger. Because of the prevailing tides and wind patterns, it's best undertaken at Playa Encuentro, a 2km (1 1/4-mile) stretch of beachfront that's 4km (2 1/2 miles) west of Cabarete and 5km (3 miles) east of Sosúa. Here, surfboards are rented from a crowd of active aficionados at the Club M-Endy, Playa El Encuentro, Carretera Sosúa-Cabarete (tel. 809/571-1625). Renting a surfboard costs US$20 (£10) per day and lessons can be arranged for around US$35 (£18) an hour.
Iguana Mama at Cabarete (tel. 800/849-4720 in the U.S., or 809/571-0908; www.iguanamama.com) offers the best mountain biking and hiking. Going strong since 1993, it features a trek to Mount Isabel de Torres with experienced guides that lasts a full day and costs US$65 (£33) per person. If enough people book, this tour is offered daily. Another trek involves a 900m (2,952-ft.) downhill cruise, costing US$40 (£20) per person and held only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Finally, Gipsy Ranch (tel. 809/571-1373) is the most complete riding stable in the Dominican Republic; they'll take you horseback riding at a cost of US$16 (£8) per person for an hour or US$52 (£26) for a 4-hour ride.
Serious Windsurfing -- Cabarete hosts an annual weeklong windsurfing tournament every June. Only amateurs are allowed to participate. For more information, contact the Happy Surf School, Hotel Villa Taina, Calle Principal (tel. 809/571-0784), or any staff member at the Azurro Club (tel. 809/571-0808).
