Cabarete

The North Coast's third well-known town is Cabarete. Although the main street is cacophonous, crowded, and smoky with the fumes of motoconchos, it's easy to ignore the annoyances when you're having so much fun. A hot destination, especially for the young—and more and more for retiring baby boomers—one of its main claims to fame is the wind. Nowhere on the island can you find such perfect conditions for windsurfing, kite surfing, and just plain surfing. It's the site for numerous international competitions like the annual Master of the Ocean competition, held on the last weekend in February, which encompasses all three sports. The competition only seems to grow in prominence each year.

Those who are afraid to ride the waves or to soar like an eagle propelled by a piece of lightweight fabric can still watch and enjoy these colorful goings-on across the blue horizon and later chat-up the water adventurers as they bar hop and dance the night away at the many bars and restaurants that line the beachfront. Europeans adopted this town decades ago, followed by Canadians and now Americans, who are now both visiting and buying in; yes, condos have come to Cabarete, and in general the town is movin' on up.