Do You Need a Car in Cabarete?
Probably Not.
One of the questions we often hear from people planning a trip to Cabarete is whether they should rent a car.
For most visitors, the answer is no — especially if you're staying around Kite Beach.
Cabarete is small, with most places you'll regularly visit spread along one main road. For one or two people, getting around by scooter, moto or mototaxi is usually cheaper, easier to park and more practical than having a car.
And depending on how you spend your days, you may not even need to rent a moto.
Can You Walk from Kite Beach into Cabarete?
Technically, yes — and plenty of people do. But we wouldn't describe the walk along the main road as particularly pleasant.
From Kite Beach, it's roughly a 15-minute walk to the Vagamundo/Viva area and around 25 minutes into central Cabarete. The main issue isn't really the distance; it's the road. Traffic can be busy and loud, it gets hot, and there isn't currently a continuous sidewalk all the way from Kite Beach into town.
That's gradually improving. Sidewalks have already been built along the stretch from around Vagamundo, Viva and the gas station toward central Cabarete, and additional sections are being added over time. For now, though, the first part of the walk from Kite Beach is still less comfortable.
Can You Walk Along the Beach Instead?
Sometimes — but don't count on it.
The beach around Kite Beach and Cabarete changes constantly. Depending on the time of year, recent weather and whether it's high or low tide, some stretches may be easy to walk while others aren't passable at all.
On the right day, walking along the beach toward Cabarete can be much nicer than walking along the road. At other times, you'll get part of the way and find that the water comes too far up to continue comfortably.
So while walking is certainly an option, we wouldn't plan a Kite Beach stay around being able to walk into town along the beach every day.
How Easy Is It to Get a Mototaxi?
Very easy. Mototaxis are one of the most common ways to get around Cabarete, and you generally don't have to look very hard for one.
In fact, if you're walking along the main road, don't be surprised if passing mototaxi drivers slow down or stop to ask whether you need a ride. Walking longer distances isn't nearly as common here as it is in many European cities, so someone walking along the road is often assumed to be looking for transportation.
For short, occasional trips, mototaxis can be much more economical than renting your own scooter.
When I lived on Kite Beach, I didn't have my own moto for much of the time. My typical day was pretty simple: I'd work from home in the morning and kite at Kite Beach in the afternoon. A couple of times a week, I might go somewhere else, but I didn't need transportation every day.
For a weekly trip to the larger supermarket or a coffee at Vagamundo, I'd simply take a mototaxi. A short ride like that was around RD$100 each way at the time.
If you're only taking a handful of rides each week, that can work out cheaper than renting a scooter that spends most of the day parked outside.
As a rough guide, scooter and moto rentals in Cabarete are often around US$20 per day, US$100 per week or US$300 per month, depending on the bike and length of the rental. The longer you rent, the better the daily rate tends to be.
This is also why renting one doesn't always make sense if you're only planning to use it occasionally. If you're taking a RD$100 mototaxi a few times a week, paying per ride can easily be cheaper than keeping your own moto parked for most of the day.
Should You Rent a Moto or Scooter?
If you want your own transportation, a moto or scooter is usually the most practical option for one or two people.
Motos are everywhere in Cabarete, and for good reason. The whole area is well suited to getting around on two wheels.
Parking is limited around both Kite Beach and central Cabarete, while a moto can be parked much more easily. You also avoid dealing with a car every time you make a quick stop somewhere.
If you're going out several times a day, visiting different beaches or restaurants, or simply like having complete independence, renting your own scooter or moto can make sense.
If you're mostly spending your days at Kite Beach and only going elsewhere occasionally, you may be better off using mototaxis as needed.
What About Guaguas and Carritos?
If you want to travel like a local, there are also guaguas and carritos running along the main road.
Guaguas are shared minibuses that travel along the main route through Cabarete and continue well beyond town. The minimum fare is around RD$50, so they're an extremely inexpensive way to get around. You can flag one down along the road and tell the driver where you want to get off.
Then there are the infamous carritos: shared taxis that are usually filled to the brim and tend to move rather enthusiastically through Cabarete traffic.
They're cheap and a very normal part of everyday transportation here, although they may take a little getting used to if it's your first time in the Dominican Republic.
For a first-time visitor, a mototaxi or regular taxi is generally the simplest option. But if you're staying longer and get comfortable with how local transportation works, guaguas and carritos are another very inexpensive way to move around the area.
What About Regular Taxis?
Regular taxis are another easy option when you don't want to take a moto.
They're more expensive than mototaxis, guaguas or carritos, but can still make more sense than keeping a rental car for an entire vacation — particularly if you only need one occasionally for dinner, groceries or a trip somewhere farther away.
You also don't have to choose just one form of transportation for your whole trip. Walk when somewhere is nearby, take a mototaxi for a quick trip and use a regular taxi when that's more comfortable.
When Does Renting a Car Make Sense?
There are definitely situations where we'd choose a car instead.
A rental car starts to make more sense if you're three or four people or more, particularly when everyone would otherwise need separate motos.
It's also a much more practical choice for families with small children who don't want to use motos.
And if you're planning to spend much of your vacation exploring beyond Cabarete, having a car gives you considerably more flexibility.
What About Day Trips?
You don't necessarily need to rent a car for your entire vacation just because you want to explore beyond Cabarete.
If you're planning a day horseback riding in the mountains, visiting Monkey Jungle, or heading farther away to somewhere like Las Terrenas or Buen Hombre, you can rent a car specifically for that day.
Depending on where you're going, arranging a taxi or driver can also be an easier option.
That way, you have a car when it's actually useful without dealing with the cost and parking for the rest of your stay.
So, Do You Need a Car in Cabarete?
For one or two adults staying around Kite Beach, we generally wouldn't consider a rental car necessary.
If you want complete independence and expect to move around frequently, rent a moto or scooter.
If most of your days will be spent at Kite Beach and you're only going elsewhere occasionally, walking and using mototaxis or taxis may be all you need.
If you're traveling with several people, small children, lots of equipment, or plan to explore extensively, a car starts to make much more sense.
The nice thing about Cabarete is that you don't really have to decide in advance. Start with what you actually need — and if you decide you want a moto or a car later, you can always rent one locally.
Staying at Kite House?
Kite House is close to Kite Beach, so it's easy to structure your stay without a rental car. If you're not sure what transportation makes the most sense for your trip, send us a message and we'll be happy to help.
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