Dominical travel guide
Dominical Tourism | Dominical Guide
You're Going to Love Dominical
Dominical is a small enchanting village sitting on the sandy beaches of the Puntarenas Province. Resting along Costa Rica's Central Pacific coastline, Dominical is one of the most attractive locations for surfers worldwide.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Dominical
1. Whale and Dolphin Watching
Go on cruise excursions and get up close and personal with dolphins and humpback whales.
2. Hiking
Surround yourself with Dominical's green majestic forests as you hike around the flowing waterfalls.
3. Surfing
Learn to surf or enhance your surfing skills in Dominical's colossal waves. The Gato Surf Camp and Costa Rica Surf Camp both a variety of surf lessons starting at ₡43,760.83 per person.
4. Snorkeling
Explore Dominical's clear, blue waters and get a glimpse of Costa Rica's fish, corals, rocks, and natural habitats.
5. Canopy Tours
Launch yourself on a zip-line and get a breathtaking view of the sky, majestic forests, and waterfalls.
Top activities & attractions in Dominical
Where to Eat in Dominical
Dominical's foods are a mixture of South and Central American cuisines. The Aracari Restaurant in La Cusinga Eco Lodge hotel serves organically grown food from the hotel's property and local markets. If a late night dinner is on your schedule, Que Nivel is the hip spot serving food and drinks until 2 am.
When to visit Dominical
Mid-December to April is dry and sunny, which makes it the ideal time to visit Dominical. However, it's the peak season for tourists so it will also be more expensive.
How to Get to Dominical
Plane
Most tourists fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), in Costa Rica's capital, and rent a car from there. Or you can fly from SJO to Palmar Sur via Sansa Airlines and then rent a car. You can also fly into Quepos La Managua Airport and then drive one hour to Dominical.
Car
From SJO, it's a four-hour car ride south towards San Isidro, San Jose's southern province, which takes you straight to Dominical. This route is the most stable and safest.
Bus
Most people prefer direct bus services because they are faster, safer, and cost ₡8,752.17. From downtown San Jose, La Terminal buses leave the San Carlos Atlantic Station and arrive in Dominical in six hours.
Airlines serving Dominical
Where to stay in Dominical
El Coco has rooms with shared bathrooms but no hot water. Villas Rio Mar is located half a mile upstream the Baru River, and its amenities include hot water, a fan, and a restaurant. Located in Puntarenas, the Danyasa Eco-Retreat-Bamboo Yoga Play Studio offers accommodation and retreat classes amidst the tranquility of Costa Rica's forest; purchase a yoga class for ₡7,001.73 and a therapeutic massage for ₡35,008.67.
Popular neighborhoods in Dominical
Platanillo - Platanillo is a small town between San Isidro and Dominical and offers horseback tours in the Nauyaca Waterfall.
Mal Pais - this beach is mostly sand and large rock fragments four miles north of Cabo Blanco National Park.
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve - the San Miguel Biological Station located in the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve promotes, supports, teaches, and conducts environmental research for Costa Rica.
Where to stay in popular areas of Dominical
Most booked hotels in Dominical
How to Get Around Dominical
Public Transportation
Walking is the best means of getting around. Transportes Blanco takes you from Dominical to San Isidro every 2-3 hours and costs less than ₡583.478.
Taxi
There are only two local taxis but you will need to negotiate the price because both taxi drivers set their own price.
Car
Alamo has a variety of rental cars starting from ₡4,667.82 a day.
The Cost of Living in Dominical
Shopping Streets
The Boruca Gallery Gift Shop sells carved and painted wooden masks made by Borucan artisans starting at ₡5,834.78. Located next to Restaurante El Coco, Ruth's Clothing is the most popular store in Dominical. Her clothing line includes handmade apparel for men and women, jewelry, and souvenir t-shirts.
Groceries and Other
Dominical Supermarket, located at the main entrance of Dominical Village, has food and toiletries. One gallon of milk costs ₡2,818.20 and a dozen eggs ₡1,639.57. Mama Toucan's Natural and Organic Foods is a whole-foods store that sells fresh organic vegetables, a wide selection of gluten-free foods, bagels, bread, ice cream, and chocolate.