Adrenaline-Pumping Sports by Seashore
When viewed from above, the city of Cabarete, Dominican Republic, has gorgeous panoramic views: kite-surfers darting back and forth off the shore, and the lush jungle of El Choco National Park. But getting to this vantage point is the more exciting part: veteran circus performers teach adventurous eXtreme Hotel guests how to fling themselves on trapeze high over the hotel grounds, notch split-second views of the surroundings, and then fall safely onto a net below. High-flying activities and adrenaline come standard at this sports-oriented and eco-conscious haven, which sets up sojourners to surf, skateboard, learn Brazilian jujitsu, and explore the tropical vegetation. And when the rush is over, the beach welcomes long hours of lazing away.
During Iguana Mama’s nearby waterfall tours, adventurers spring from heights of up to 25 feet. After ascending 27 cascading waterfalls, they plunge into swirling pools of cerulean or swim past verdant, lush tropical plants, which reach out their fronds for celebratory high-fives. For further aquatic revelry, surfers can soar above the waves to the astonishment of the water-bound fauna, including sea turtles, manatees, and migratory humpback whales. In the beginners’ sessions at the Kaiceitos Circus School, amateur acrobats take two hours twice a day to master the basics while flipping, flinging, catching circus peanuts between their kneecaps, and swinging to safety on the fully netted equipment.
After a day of sun, sea, and sweat, newly minted extreme athletes can nosh on organic, locally grown produce at Chichigua Restaurant and recharge in theirstandard room’s one double bed or two twin-size beds. Tiled floors lead to a private balcony, which opens up to views of the verdant tropical surroundings. Environmentally friendly cooling vents—part of eXtreme Hotel’s eco-consciousbusiness practices—are strategically placed throughout the room to maintain a comfortable climate without wasting natural resources.
Cabarete: Seaside Recreation and Nightlife
Cabarete’s naturally windy conditions combine with its oceanside locale to create an ideal arena for numerous water sports. Abundant breezes propel windsurfers over clear waters, and a scuba dive reveals vibrant coral reefs swimming with a living rainbow of tropical fish. Back on solid ground, El Choco National Park‘s intricate web of caves and lagoons allows the sea-leg-less to spelunk, swim, and hike just minutes away from eXtreme Hotel.
In town, motoconchos—small motorbikes—shuttle visitors to Cabarete’s various shops and eateries. Come sundown, the town morphs into a bustling center of nightlife, and myriad discos and bars pump dance music until the wee hours. Locals refuel from a night of dancing with a cuba libre or a mama juana, an allegedly healing mixture of rum, wine, honey, bark, and leaves.
