September has been full of great news for Cabarete’s tourism industry. There is a lot to celebrate and we wanted to share our excitement with you. The latest decisions by the Dominican Republic’s new administration will positively affect travel in 2020 and beyond. If you’ve been needing to hear (or read) some good news lately, grab a cup of coffee and let’s get started!
No Mass COVID-19 Testing at the Airports
You won’t have to spend hours in a long line to get tested upon arrival. You also won’t need a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country. Instead, there will be quick check-ups performed on randomly selected passengers. This decision will make it incredibly easy to get out of the airport fast and officially start your vacation. Next thing you know, you’re sipping on a drink in one of Cabarete’s best beachfront bars.
At the same time, travelers’ safety is the priority. All airports strictly follow necessary safety protocols and social distancing guidelines. Moreover, as a part of The Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan, all travelers who stay at appropriate accommodations will receive free travel insurance that includes COVID-19 tests and emergency room visits. It also covers the cost of long-term stay and airline fees if you need to stay longer than expected to isolate. The insurance is offered until December 31st, 2020. And even if you arrive on December 31st, you’re still covered for the duration of your stay!*
Curfew Extended to 9 PM
We know you love to eat out for dinner. So do we! And there are lots of unique places in Cabarete that can suit any taste, from Gordito Fresh Mex to Ali’s Surf Camp.
For a few months now, we have been unable to enjoy our favorite activity: stuffing our faces with a late-night pica pollo. Blame the country-wide 7 PM curfew. It is all about to change on Monday, September 28th! Luis Abinader, the new president of the Dominican Republic, has approved the motion to adjust the curfew to 9 PM-5 AM on weekdays and 7 PM-5 AM on weekends in all parts of the country. You can now finish your happy hour cocktail while watching the sunset and go on to grab a delicious Mongolian Grill Buffet at Villa Taína.
Luxurious. You bet we will be doing the same.
P.S. If you’re still craving that late-night pica pollo, most restaurants in the Cabarete area are doing delivery straight to your door after curfew. Enjoy!
New Possibilities: Amber Highway to Impact All Sectors
Let’s finish off by looking to the future. And the future is Amber Highway, a 30-kilometer panoramic road that will connect Puerto Plata – and as a result, Cabarete – with Dominican Republic’s two biggest cities, Santiago and Santo Domingo. Amber Highway will reduce travel time between Puerto Plata and Santiago to 30 minutes and between Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo to 2 hours. It is also going to be a beautiful drive!
Amber Highway does not only make it convenient to get to Cabarete if you’re flying into Santiago or Santo Domingo. It will impact all industry sectors, directly or indirectly, bringing new businesses and venues to Cabarete. There is already so much to do in our vibrant town, from kiteboarding to exploring an intricate system of caves, and we can’t wait for this list to grow even longer. The future is bright. And we can’t wait to share it with you soon!
What are you looking forward to? Share in the comments!
*To be clear, staying at Cabarete Palm Beach Condos does not qualify you for the free travel insurance. We are not a hotel! Fear not: there are lots of travel insurance companies that offer COVID-19 coverage, such as World Nomads.