Is Cabarete Safe? A Female Solo Traveler's Perspective
Last updated: September 2026
If you're thinking about traveling to Cabarete alone as a woman, one of your first questions is probably: Is Cabarete safe?
My short answer is yes. I personally feel very safe here, and Cabarete actually started for me as a solo trip.
I first came to Cabarete in early 2020 by myself, single (not for long 😂), and working remotely. I stayed just around the corner from Kite House and quickly settled into a routine. I worked from my laptop in the mornings, went kitesurfing in the afternoons whenever it was windy, and spent my evenings either going out with people I'd met or just staying in.
I met a lot of people, had a lot of fun and felt comfortable getting around by myself. The trip was originally supposed to last three months. I ended up staying for years.
So while everyone's experience is different, I've spent a lot of time here as a woman, including plenty of time getting around Cabarete on my own. Here's what I would tell another woman thinking about coming here alone.
Do I Feel Safe Walking Alone in Cabarete During the Day?
Yes. I regularly walk around by myself and have never felt unsafe doing it.
Kite Beach is especially relaxed. It's an international community, but it also feels very local. People are used to foreigners not only vacationing here, but actually living here. In my experience, that means there is much less hassling or trying to sell you things than you might encounter in more touristy areas.
Encuentro is similarly relaxed. I've walked and run there alone countless times during the day without giving it much thought.
Cabarete town is busier. You'll probably encounter people trying to sell you things, and as a woman you may get the occasional catcall. A polite "no, thank you" and continuing on your way is normally all it takes.
I've never found it threatening, although if you're not used to that kind of attention, it can initially feel like a lot.
Is Cabarete Safe at Night?
I still feel comfortable in Cabarete at night, but this is where I'd use the same common sense I would anywhere else.
For example, I personally wouldn't walk alone along the beach all the way from Cabarete town to Kite Beach late at night.
I've walked that route at night in a group, and I've never personally heard of anything happening there. I think I'd probably be fine alone too. But it's dark, quiet and unnecessary when you can simply take a moto or taxi, so it's not something I'd choose to do.
That's generally my approach here: feeling safe doesn't mean putting yourself in situations you could easily avoid.
Will I Get Catcalled or Hit On?
Probably.
You're likely to notice more of it in Cabarete town than around Kite Beach or Encuentro. Most of the attention I've experienced has been harmless, and it's perfectly fine to decline, ignore it or keep walking.
Dating is another story.
My personal advice to single women coming here is: enjoy yourself, but don't necessarily believe everything the first smooth talker tells you.
Dominican dating culture can feel very different from what you're used to. Flirting is common, and I've seen enough vacation romances and broken hearts over the years to include a warning here.
Beauty standards can also be different from those in many Western countries. Curvier women, in particular, may find themselves getting considerably more attention here than they're used to at home.
At Kite Beach, we might summarize the dating advice as:
Cuidado con los tigueres!
Have fun. Meet people. Just keep your head switched on.
Are Moto Taxis Safe for Women Traveling Alone?
I've taken moto taxis alone countless times.
Before I had my own car or scooter, they were one of my normal ways of getting around Cabarete. I've generally found the drivers friendly, and I've never personally worried about a moto taxi driver being creepy or making me feel unsafe.
What I do worry about is the driving.
If your driver is going faster than you're comfortable with, tell him to slow down. Don't feel awkward about it.
Which brings me to what I consider the biggest actual safety concern in Cabarete.
What Is the Biggest Safety Risk in Cabarete?
For me, it's traffic. By far.
This isn't just my perception. The World Health Organization estimated the Dominican Republic's road traffic mortality rate at 27.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, compared with a global rate of about 15 per 100,000 that year. Motorized two- and three-wheelers accounted for 71% of reported road fatalities in the country's WHO road-safety profile.
I've seen a lot of accidents during my years here, and I've been involved in one myself. We were in a car, indicating and turning, when a motorcycle crashed into us from behind. We weren't injured, but unfortunately the moto driver was.
Living here has made me much more cautious on the road.
A few things I would particularly keep in mind:
Be extremely careful when making left turns, especially on a scooter or motorcycle.
Don't assume another driver has seen your indicator.
Don't assume someone will yield just because you have the right of way.
Watch for motorcycles overtaking unexpectedly.
Look carefully before crossing the main road, even when you think you've already checked.
If you're on a moto taxi and feel the driver is going too fast, ask him to slow down.
In practice, you quickly learn not to assume everyone around you is going to follow the traffic rules or react the way you'd expect at home.
If a female friend were coming to Cabarete alone, the roads would genuinely concern me more than her walking around Kite Beach by herself.
Should I Worry About Theft in Cabarete?
I've personally never had a significant problem with theft here.
If I'm working at a café such as Vagamundo, for example, I don't worry about leaving my laptop at the table while I walk up to order something or go to the bathroom. I usually take my phone and wallet with me, but that's just normal common sense.
One of my favorite examples actually happened at Kite House.
I once hid $700 in cash so well that I couldn't find it again myself. I didn't tell anyone I'd lost it.
After I'd left, one of our cleaners found the money and messaged me to tell me she'd found it.
Obviously, that's one personal experience and doesn't mean theft never happens. The current U.S. travel advisory for the Dominican Republic recommends increased caution because of crime and specifically advises travelers to be discreet with valuables and phones.
My own rule is much simpler: if you wouldn't leave something lying around in your home country, don't leave it lying around here.
Take reasonable precautions, but personally, petty theft isn't something I spend much time worrying about in my daily life in Cabarete.
What About People Asking You for Money?
This is probably more relevant to my experience than someone trying to secretly steal something from me.
People may ask you for money or tell you about a difficult situation they need help with. Sometimes the story is completely genuine. Sometimes it might not be.
You don't need to become suspicious of everyone, but you also don't have to feel responsible for solving every problem someone tells you about.
If you're staying for a while and getting to know lots of people, just keep that in mind before lending or giving away significant amounts of money. And if you do lend someone money, I would personally treat it as money you may never get back. If it does come back, consider it a nice surprise.
Is Kite Beach Safe for a Woman Traveling Alone?
Personally, Kite Beach is probably where I feel most relaxed.
It's a small community and you quickly start recognizing the same people. There are kite schools, restaurants and bars along the beach, and plenty of foreigners live here rather than simply passing through.
People are very used to non-Dominicans, and I find there is much less selling and hassling than in Cabarete town.
If you're coming alone specifically to kitesurf, it's also quite an easy place to meet people. You start seeing the same kiters, instructors and people around the beach every day.
Your greater danger might be the aforementioned tigueres.
Don't get involved with the first smooth talker on day one and then tell me I didn't warn you.
Would I Recommend Cabarete for a First Solo Trip?
Absolutely.
Coming here alone turned out to be one of the best travel decisions I've made.
For me, Cabarete was the perfect place to work remotely, kite as much as possible and meet people. It was easy to have a social life when I wanted one, while I was equally happy working from my laptop in the morning and spending an evening by myself.
What was supposed to be a three-month trip became years of my life.
That doesn't mean Cabarete is crime-free or that you shouldn't take normal precautions. The Dominican Republic as a whole does have real crime risks, and official travel guidance currently recommends exercising increased caution. My personal experience of Cabarete, however, has been overwhelmingly positive.
If one of my female friends told me she was coming here alone, I wouldn't be worried about her.
I'd tell her to use normal common sense, be skeptical of particularly smooth talkers and be about ten times more careful crossing the road than she thinks she needs to be.
And if you're looking for somewhere to stay, Kite House is just across the street from Kite Beach, with private rooms, studios and apartments for both short trips and longer stays.
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