13 Workshops & Classes in the Dominican Republic We Would Book Again

1.Macao Beach Private Surf Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · from $114Our pick

Spend about two hours learning to surf at Macao Beach with Punta Cana Surf Adventure. After a short beach briefing, you receive one-on-one help in the water, use provided gear and rashguard, and ride beginner-friendly waves with pickup available.

“Super fun day !! Though I was terrible at surfing they tried to help me alot. It is really hard, and you must have little strength in your body to keep the energy up. The waves was super big. Both for beginners and more experiencet surfers.”

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2.Group Surf Lessons Punta Cana – Fun, Easy & Beginner-Friendly

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · from $115

Meet instructors including Samuel, Rafael, and Kendro at Macao Surf Camp for a two-hour beginner lesson. Your small party shares close coaching, boards, rash guards, hotel transfers, and a beach break with fruit or coconut water. Morning and afternoon departures are available.

“This was the best experience I’ve had on a vacation. Everyone was so kind, professional and helpful. We all had our own instructor which made it very easy for all of us to get up on almost all of our waves. We went into very nervous as we have never surfed and were so pleased that we were able to catch so many waves. Transportation too and from was also incredible! Picked us up at our door and the van was so clean. Definitely a must!!”

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3.Chocolate Tour + Optional Workshops

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 25 - 50 minutes · from $21Best value

At KahKow Experience in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, you’ll follow cacao from pod to finished chocolate through a holographic theater, plantation setting, sensory room, and working factory. Add a chocolate or cacao-butter soap workshop for a hands-on finish.

“Tour starts on time. We were taken through the process of cocoa growing and production. It was very informative. We made our chocolate and also bought some of the products.”

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4.Bachata or Salsa Dance Classes

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 41 reviews · 1 hour · from $40

Meet Ari at Parque Iberoamérica for a private one-hour Salsa or Bachata class in English. Beginners and experienced dancers get personal coaching on rhythm, basic steps, partner connection, and styling. Classes may also take place at your hotel, Airbnb, or home, depending on location.

“It was a pleasure to meet Ari(Happy feet) and spend a lovely hour with him. He is a wonderful instructor( rhythm guru)as I called him, that will teach you how to connect your mind,body and soul with the rhythm of the music and release yourself to the beat. Unique experience !”

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5.Saona Island VIP 4 first-class beach and sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 30 reviews · 10 hours · from $125

Spend 10 hours exploring Saona Island by motorboat, with stops at the Natural Pool, Canto de la Playa, Mano Juan, and Playa Toro. Expect a Dominican lunch, swimming, drinks, music, and sunset views. Guide Shalomy has led some departures. Cap Cana pickup costs extra.

“Nous avons passé une journée exceptionnelle. Les lieux visités étaient superbes ( plages de sable fin, eaux turquoises des Caraïbes, tortues, étoiles de mer, raie,..). Un petit apéro improvisé sur la première plage visitée. Lors de notre excursion nous avons rencontré un petit problème avec le moteur du bateau en repartant d'une plage. Bilan, un peu plus de temps sur la plage, et donc en bonus final... un vrai coucher de soleil aux alentours de 18h. Un grand merci à notre guide Shalomy (Haïtienne) qui nous a accompagnée toute la journée. Une visite "privée" pour nous... quoi de mieux. Excursion que nous recommandons!!! (ps: impératif de prevoir la crème solaire...…”

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6.Private Surf Lesson Punta Cana – 1-on-1 Coaching for All Levels

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $140

Spend two hours at Macao Surf Camp with one instructor per student, starting with surf theory and dry-land practice before heading into the water. Lessons suit beginners through experienced surfers and include transport, board, rashguard, water, fruit, and coconut water. Instructors speak five languages.

“Had an absolutely amazing time at Macao Surf Camp! The instructors were so good they actually convinced me I could surf — and honestly, they weren’t wrong (most of the time).”

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7.One-on-One Surf Lesson on Macao Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 26 reviews · 2 hours · from $115

Spend two hours learning or refining your surf skills at Macao Beach with a personal coach from Punta Cana Surf Adventure. Hotel pickup, board, rash guard, water, and instruction in English, Spanish, or Russian are included. Expect dry-land practice, water safety, and hands-on coaching.

“This was great! Really easy instructions that made it the perfect first time experience.”

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8.Professional surf lessons Dominican Republic, Cabarete, Encuentro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $49

Meet Victor Bobo Peralta at Bobos Point in Encuentro for a two-hour surf lesson built around safety, wave theory, and hands-on coaching. Beginners learn to paddle, stand, and catch a wave, while stronger surfers work on footwork, turning, and technique. Boards and surf gear are provided.

“Huge appreciation to Bobo and the instructors for a watershed day learning to surf! They were able to teach us beginners; to our wonderful surprise, my husband and I were catching waves within an hour of practice- it was so fun that we came back again to get even better”

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9.Surfing lesson at beautiful beach Playa Encuentro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $75

Spend about 90 minutes learning to surf at Playa Encuentro with Cabarete Surf Company. Orlando and Daniel teach beginners in groups of no more than four, with warm water, steady waves, almond-tree shade, and a beach setting that invites you to stay longer.

“Elizabeth was very responsive and helped set up our taxi from the cruise port. Orlando and Daniel were our surf instructors. They were patient and had us surfing quickly. We were able to hang out on the beach and surf by ourselves for the rest of the day after the lesson. Safety was no concern. 10/10 experience! Highly recommend!”

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10.Private Kitesurfing Lessons @ Playa Salinas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $190

Spend about three hours learning kitesurfing at Punta Salinas with Humberto and the Salinas Kitesurf team. Your private session includes the kite, board, bar, harness, vest, and helmet. Bring a rashguard, water shoes, and sunglasses with a strap.

“Excellent instruction and great conditions, plus the proximity to Santo Domingo, make this the best option to learn kitesurfing in DR!”

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11.Latin dance classes: Salsa and more

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 13 reviews · 1 hour · from $35

Learn salsa, bachata, and merengue in a Santo Domingo studio with Alexa or another Saoko Experience instructor. Classes suit beginners and intermediate dancers, with English, Spanish, or French instruction. Choose a daytime or evening lesson, then join social dancing from 10 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday.

“La actividad fue muy divertida. Alexa fue muy amable y paciente. Gracias a ella hemos podido aprender los pasos básicos de la bachata dominicana. ¡Ahora solo nos queda seguir practicando! Sin duda, lo recomendamos.”

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12.Chocolate Master Class & Taino concept Store

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 12 reviews · 2 - 90 minutes · from $57

You’ll learn how cocoa becomes chocolate, taste several varieties, and make decorated bars in a modern chocolate lab. Guides such as Rudi and Santiago explain each step in English, Spanish, or French. Round-trip transport from the Bavaro and Punta Cana area is included.

“Rudi was an excellent host. He really made the experience. Very different to any other excursion we’ve done elsewhere. All really enjoyed it. Suitable for all ages. Our party ranged from 30-88 and all found it enjoyable. Transportation was excellent. Arrived a couple of minutes late but nice air conditioned van and very kind to our grandmother who is hard of walking. Nothing was rushed. Really good communication ahead of time via WhatsApp and email. If you’re in Punta Cana, would highly recommend. Had about 20 mins to shop as the chocolate cooled, which was a nice touch. But nothing pushy. The chocolate is delicious, too!!”

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13.‘Chillo al Coco’ Cooking Class & Taino Concept store

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 10 reviews · 1 day · from $98

From Punta Cana or Bavaro, you’ll ride by air-conditioned minivan to the Taino Gourmet Cooking Lab, where an English- or French-speaking instructor such as Ruth, Roody, or Randy guides you through red snapper in coconut sauce, cassava, plantain, and rice. A Taino concept-store visit may extend the day.

“We had an amazing cooking teacher Roody he was patient funny and kind also we were all very happy with the service we received from him would defo recommend”

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