01 · Surf spots in the Dominican Republic – Sixteen breaks, west to east
From the big-wave right off Puerto Plata to the long rights of El Barco: every break we have surfed on the north coast, rated and placed on the map.
Ninety kilometres of coast, one coast road, and a line-up for every level. The north coast works like this: north swells arrive with the winter fronts from November to March and light up everything on this page; from April the swell drops, the trade wind strengthens, and the year-round peaks at Encuentro carry the surfing until autumn.
Below the map, every break is listed with the two numbers we care about most — how good the wave is on its day, and how often that day comes round. Read both before you plan a trip around a single spot.
Ninety kilometres of reef, rivermouth and beach
Every surf spot, west to east
West of Sosúa
Puerto Plata to Sea Horse RanchLa Puntilla
Big-wave right-hander off Puerto Plata. Bring a big board.
WhenOnly good in solid winter swells or hurricane season.Sosúa Bay
Right-handers over shallow, sharp reef with urchins. Paddle out from Sosúa beach.
WhenOnly on a sizeable north swell in winter or hurricane season.Canal
Left-hander next to Sea Horse Ranch. A difficult, lengthy walk in.
WhenBest on north swells in winter.Playa Encuentro
Six peaks along one bay, ten minutes west of townDestroyers
Heavy left; bodyboarders and kamikaze surfers only. Park at Encuentro and walk west.
WhenWinter north swell.La Izquierda
The Left: barrels and fun rippable walls.
WhenBest in winter with a northerly swell.El Derecho
The Right: Encuentro’s point break.
WhenBreaks year round.Encuentro beginners
Mellow white water, ideal for a first wave. 5/5 for beginners, 1/5 for good surfers.
WhenWorks year round, every morning.Bobo’s Point
Fun, rippable lefts and rights.
WhenYear round.Coco Pipe
Fast and hollow rights with some short lefts.
WhenNeeds a north swell.Cabarete bay
The breaks you can walk toKite Beach
Rights and lefts over sharp, shallow reef. Easily blown out, so get there early.
WhenWinter north swell.Cabarete Reef
Offshore reef, long paddle. Better for foiling or SUP.
WhenNeeds a very glassy day to work.Mañanero
Punchy, at times barreling beach break. Use caution leaving things on the beach.
WhenEarly morning only, before the wind.Río San Juan and the east
An hour along the coast roadRío San Juan
Mediocre right-handers and questionable water quality.
WhenOn a north swell.Playa Grande
Short, punchy and at times barreling lefts and rights on a long golden beach.
WhenWinter north swell.Preciosa
Lefts and rights in a stunning setting. The left is better than the right.
WhenWinter north swell.El Barco
Long right-hander; the headland blocks some of the trade wind.
WhenNeeds a solid, straight north swell.
How we rate a surf spot
How good is it on its day?
Five means a wave we would fly for. Three is a wave you will enjoy if you are already here. One or two is a wave we list so you know it exists.
How often does that day come?
Five breaks almost every day of the year. One or two needs a particular swell, a particular wind and a bit of luck — Sosúa Bay and La Puntilla are winter-only, hurricane-season waves.
Who is it for?
Badges are the lowest level we would put in the water there. "Beginner" means a school will take you; "Advanced" means shallow reef, size, or both.
There's a lot of coastline on the north coast of the Dominican Republic to explore, if you want to surf by yourself, there's still plenty of spots and beaches out there.
Surf spots: questions we get asked
What surfers ask us most about the breaks between Puerto Plata and Playa Grande.
How many surf spots are there on the north coast of the Dominican Republic?
We list sixteen breaks along about ninety kilometres of coast, from La Puntilla off Puerto Plata in the west to El Barco past Preciosa in the east. Six of them are at Playa Encuentro, ten minutes west of Cabarete.
Which surf spot is best for beginners?
The inside at Playa Encuentro. It is mellow whitewater over reef onto a sandy run-out and works every morning, all year. We rate it 5/5 for beginners and 1/5 for good surfers; the surf schools teach there from seven in the morning.
Which surf spots work all year round?
El Derecho, the beginner inside at Encuentro and Bobo’s Point break year round. Most other breaks, including La Izquierda, Coco Pipe, Playa Grande, Preciosa and El Barco, need a winter north swell between November and March.
Where are the best waves for experienced surfers?
On a solid winter north swell: La Puntilla, the big-wave right off Puerto Plata, and Preciosa and El Barco in the east, which we rate 5/5 for quality. Near Encuentro, La Izquierda and Canal are the ones to watch.
Do I need reef booties?
For several breaks, yes. Most of the west-side spots break over sharp, shallow coral: wear booties at Sosúa Bay, which also has urchins, and at Kite Beach.
How far are the surf spots from Cabarete?
Encuentro and its peaks are about ten minutes west by car, Sosúa Bay fifteen minutes and La Puntilla forty. To the east, Río San Juan is about fifty minutes, Playa Grande an hour and El Barco an hour and a quarter. Kite Beach and Cabarete Reef are in town.
How do you rate the surf spots?
With two numbers out of five: how good the wave is on its day, and how often that day comes round. The level badge is the lowest level we would put in the water there; “Advanced” means shallow reef, size, or both.