Dominical

One of Costa Rica's best kept secrets is Dominical. A sleepy yet lively beach town on the Pacific Coast, Dominical strikes the ideal balance between convenience and the natural world. It exudes a wild, untamed vibe. Beginners to advanced surfers can enjoy the beach's waves. There are also several other beginner-friendly beaches nearby if the waves get too big.

Dominical is in a great location because it is close to numerous natural attractions, including Diamante Falls, Marino Ballena National Park, and Nauyaca Waterfalls. There are many undiscovered and undiscovered places to visit in this area because it is less developed than other beach towns in Costa Rica. Dominical is also a popular destination for foodies because of its delectable regional fare and genuine craft brewery, Fuego. If you enjoy yoga, check out Danyasa Yoga Retreat, a fantastic studio that offers classes on the beach.

What to Know About Dominica

• A car is the best to get around this area, especially if you want to explore. There is only a local bus that goes up and down the Costanera Sur highway (Route 34) and not directly to attractions. You can visit without a car, but you’d be stuck in the town.
• There are many very nice vacation rentals in Dominical, more than hotels. You can find fully furnished apartments, studios and houses, perfect for those looking for a long term stay in Dominical. Check the Costa Rica Southern Zone Long Term Rentals FB group for listings.
• Weather: Dominical is in the South Pacific in proper tropical rainforest. It’s humid and hot, with year round average temperatures of mid to high 80s F (28-31 C). And since it’s in the South Pacific, it tends to rain more in this area.
• Thanks to the more constant rains and humid weather, Dominical is surrounded by year round lush mountains and rainforest.

By bus

• There is a direct bus from San Jose to Dominical everyday at 6 AM and 3 PM with Empresa Tracopa. There are also direct buses from Quepos, San Isidro del General, Ciudad Cortes and Ciudad Nelly.

By shuttle

• There are a couple shared shuttle companies like Ride CR that go to Dominical. Private transfers are also available and cost around $240 USD for 1-8 passengers.

Google rating: 4.0/5.0

Location: Bahía Ballena District, in the state of Osa, province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica