An Unforgettable Christmas at Ali's Surf Camp in Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Our Christmas in the Dominican Republic was filled with new friends, waves, delicious food, and perfect weather!
“Good Afternoon. Are you Christy?”
A voice calls from behind as we gather our luggage from the cab, still groggy from 17 hours of travel and a night on the Miami airport floor.
“Yes, hi. We weren’t sure if we were in the right place. You must be Elena?”
“I am. We spoke on the phone. Welcome to Ali’s Surf Camp.”
She escorts us to a charming pastel-colored bungalow—the camp office—where we pay for six nights at $30/night in US dollars.
After check-in, I head straight to the outdoor Caribbean-style restaurant for a beer. Covered in a palm-thatched roof, it overlooks a lagoon with a colorful dock adorned in Christmas lights.
“Oh, yeah—it’s Christmas Day! Merry Christmas, Scott!”
A truck labeled ‘Cabarete Surf Camp’ pulls into the gravel lot, unloading a lively group of about 15 surfers.
Researching budget stays in Cabarete, we’d found Hostel Cabarete, Ali’s Surf Camp, and Cabarete Surf Camp—all the same spot, as it turns out.
The driver, speaking with a thick European accent (German, I think; French, says Scott), announces: “Great surf session, everyone. Merry Christmas! See you tonight at dinner.”
This is Antonio, the head instructor. The group looks fun—I can’t wait for our first session tomorrow at Playa Encuentro on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast.
Elena mentions communal dinner at 7:30 pm at the long picnic table reserved for guests.
By 5:30 pm, Nacho, a friendly local, serves us Presidente beers. Canadians fresh from surfing join us, and we chat about travel, waves, and brews for two hours as more guests arrive.
We meet a Texas family, Brazilian couple, Spaniard in Santo Domingo, German traveler, young Canadian med students, a Kiwi in Pennsylvania, a French family from Madagascar, a Japanese expat in Boston, and more Canadians.
By 8:00 pm, the table buzzes with laughter from strangers-turned-friends worldwide.
Scott and I enjoy grilled lobster tails, sea bass, calamari, roasted veggies, and plenty of beers—totaling $25 USD including drinks. A steal.
Far from family on Christmas, we savored this holiday with new pals, great food, and Mama Juana shots.
