Yangyang boat experience café: Cafe Dunchi

I stopped by Cafe Dunchi (카페 둔치) while traveling from Gangneung to Sokcho. At first, I thought it was simply a place to drink coffee while looking at the river, but I could also drive a boat myself. During this trip, the time I spent cruising along the Namdaecheon Stream with my child was especially memorable.

Where is Cafe Dunchi, and is parking convenient?

The address is 295 Ilchul-ro, Yangyang-eup, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon State, South Korea. The dedicated parking lot was spacious, so it was easy to use. According to the original post, hours are 10:00–21:00, with last orders at 20:30, and it is open year-round.

As I drove along the quiet road beside the Namdaecheon Stream, I could see the café in the distance. The area was peaceful, and it was nice to take my time looking around at the scenery.

From the walking path lined with reeds and silver grass, I could see both the river and the sea. There were photo spots throughout, and the café building had an exotic feel that made it good for taking photos.

What are the café atmosphere and drink prices like?

The interior was clean and comfortable. The décor itself was fairly ordinary rather than distinctive, but the windows looked out onto the river, reed fields, mountains, and even the distant sea. I found myself looking at the scenery outside longer than the interior decorations.

Drinks were in the ₩6,000–₩7,000 range, which did not feel overly expensive to me. They had Americano, latte, lemonade, and brown sugar bubble tea, as well as croffles. After getting my drink, I headed down to take the boat I had been looking forward to.

How much is the boat, and is it hard to drive?

Each boat could hold up to four people, and the fare was ₩28,000 or ₩35,000 depending on its size. The experience I had lasted 30 minutes.

Before boarding, a staff member explained how to drive, the safety precautions, and how to connect Bluetooth. You press a button to go straight and adjust the steering wheel, so it was easier to operate than I had initially worried.

We had to wear life jackets before boarding. My child was excited to try driving too, and even after getting off, said they wanted to ride again.

What scenery can you see from the boat?

As the boat moved slowly along, I could see the Namdaecheon Stream, reed groves, and the sea in the distance. It felt different from looking out from the café window; it felt as though I had entered nature itself.

I saw large fish jumping beside the boat and birds swooping down to catch fish. The 30 minutes passed quickly while I looked around, and I wished I could have ridden a little longer.

Can you bring drinks onto the boat?

I could bring my drink on board, and the boat had cup holders, which made it easy to set down my coffee. I also connected music I liked through Bluetooth. Cruising slowly while listening to music made it even more relaxing to enjoy the scenery.

Was the café a good place to rest after the boat ride?

After getting off the boat, I took my remaining drink back up to the café. Sitting by the window and looking at the Namdaecheon Stream made me feel at ease.

The window seats overlooking the reeds and stream were good for quietly resting while looking at the water. Even after the boat experience, I did not rush and spent time drinking my beverage.

For me, it remained more as a place where I drove a boat with my child and saw the Namdaecheon Stream up close than as a place where I simply had coffee. The boat experience and the view outside the windows were more impressive than the fairly ordinary interior.

If I visit Yangyang again, I would like to stop by once more. I think I will remember both the boat experience my child enjoyed and the time we spent resting by the window afterward.