When you think of Cabarete, you may immediately think of the ocean, eclectic beachfront bars, and all kinds of water sports, from kitesurfing to Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP).
You wouldn’t be wrong — these things are the heart and soul of this small town on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. However, there is always an adventure off the beaten path waiting for you and your loved ones somewhere in Cabarete…
…and today we’re talking about one of our favorite hidden Cabarete spots: La Boca River.
Ready for an adventure? Let’s dive in!
La Boca River, Cabarete: The Basics
“La Boca” means “the mouth” in Spanish, and this name has a purpose behind it.
La Boca River is where the Yasica River — a popular spot for river floating in Cabarete — meets the Atlantic Ocean. This arrangement creates pretty much the coolest conditions ever: you can swim in the fresh waters of La Boca River while looking over — or even touching! — the Atlantic Ocean.
Another interesting thing about La Boca is that it will look slightly — or a lot — different every time you visit this off the beaten track Cabarete spot. Depending on the currents, the rain, the time of the year, the swell, and just Mother Nature’s mood, La Boca overflows or gets smaller, forming little islands here and there.
The fact that it’s constantly changing makes La Boca a super fun spot to visit because you’ll never see it looking the same twice.
So, grab your phone (or camera, if you’re old school!), say bye to your beachfront condo for a little bit, and go explore!
3 Fun Things to Do at La Boca, Cabarete
Wondering what are some awesome activities you can do while visiting La Boca? Find a few ideas below!
1.Relax at the Beach
Even though La Boca River changes often, there will always be a beach that you can camp out on to enjoy the sun, the sand, the water, and everything that the Dominican Republic has to offer!
Relaxing at the beach at La Boca can be a nice change of scenery and pace after exploring Cabarete beaches since it is a freshwater spot. The waters are not super deep — although there are certainly deeper spots if you’re into that — and the strength of the current depends on the weather and the time of the year, but it’s typically very enjoyable to swim in.
Grab a blanket, a couple of snacks (we love these Dominican ones!), a speaker to play some music, beach toys for the kiddos, your favorite beach read, or whatever else that’s essential for you to have an amazing beach day, and pick a spot that matches your mood.
You have a choice of staying closer to the parking spots, where you’ll find larger groups and families cooking sancocho (Dominican stew) on an open fire and playing lots of bachata and reggaeton OR venturing out to more remote spots for some peace, quiet, and privacy.
Sometimes, depending on the weather, there are small islands that form at La Boca, which can be super fun for your kids!
2. Eat Lunch at the Wilson’s Restaurant
Wilson’s Restaurant at La Boca, Cabarete is one of the best restaurants in town, so you should definitely try it out while you’re exploring the river!
It is located on the other side of the river mouth and you can take a boat to get there, which makes for an unforgettable experience. They serve authentic Dominican food with an emphasis on all things fish and seafood.
You can try their catch-of-the-day paired with a typically Dominican side of tostones (fried plantains), rice, or salad for the ultimate cultural experience.
The food is cooked over driftwood fire and Wilson’s is a fantastic spot to hang out with your family or friends over a plate of delicious food and a cold beer while watching the river meet the ocean.
If you’re not into fish and seafood, Wilson's also serve chicken — it wouldn’t be a Dominican restaurant if they didn’t!
3. Enjoy the Water Sports
La Boca River wouldn’t be a Cabarete spot if you couldn’t do something related to water sports there.
The two most popular water sports to do at La Boca are kitesurfing and paddle boarding. We’re breaking down both of these below!
Kitesurfing at La Boca
La Boca is a unique kitesurfing spot in Cabarete because it’s the only one that has flat water.
It’s great for practicing tricks and jumps or simply for when you’re tired of the waves that other kiteboarding spots in Cabarete are famous for and want to switch it up.
La Boca is also a popular spot to start a downwinder back to Cabarete or even Encuentro Beach. You start in the fresh water of the river and kite out into the Atlantic Ocean, passing through choppy waves.
It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to get back to Cabarete and you’re guaranteed to have the time of your life!
Paddleboarding at La Boca
Flat waters of the La Boca River make for a fantastic paddleboarding spot.
It’s a great way to explore Dominican nature and see a side of Cabarete that you would never get to experience if you just stuck to staying in the center of the town and on the beach.
One of the reasons Cabarete is different from an all-inclusive vacation spot like Punta Cana is that there is a LOT of untouched, protected nature (a huge National Park is actually located right behind Cabarete!).
Paddleboarding is also a family-friendly activity that even the little ones can enjoy.
So, grab your paddle and explore the beauty of La Boca/Yasica River!
How Do I Get to La Boca from Cabarete Palm Beach Condos?
Getting to La Boca from Cabarete Palm Beach Condos is super simple and only takes about 10 minutes.
You’re going to drive in the direction of Sabaneta and enter the Camino del Sol neighborhood on your left. From there, you’ll take a beautiful beach road that’ll take you straight to La Boca.
Be prepared to stop while you’re driving and take a couple of pictures because it’s simply gorgeous over there!
Ready to explore the coolest Cabarete spots? Book your ocean-view condo now!