Visitors can now travel to the South Pacific resort town of Dominical Costa Rica in around three hours from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), on some of the best roads in the country due to the recent completion of both the coastal highway linking Dominical to the more populated resort towns to the north and the highway to the coast from San Jose.

Once here, travelers will find many small Dominical hotels situated along the coastal highway, ranging from low budget cabinas to apartment suites to 4-star hotels with fine-dining restaurants. On the other hand the majority of the Dominical vacation rentals are spread out over the hills that tower over the beaches, all offer full or partial ocean views, some with sweeping panoramas of the coastline, ranging from large luxury villas with pools to 2-bedroom ocean view villas close to the beach. For those who prefer easy road access and walking distance from a local beach, the oceanfront community of Canto del Mar offers the best options; modern and comfortable 2 and 3 bedroom villas provide spectacular white water views of Playa Dominicalito and the picturesque bay, some even come with a plunge pool. Compared to its counterparts in central and north Pacific coast, Dominical is still a relatively new destination and renters are still able to get tremendous value for their money in renting private villas.

One of the greatest attractions about Dominical is that it is just two hours away from what the National Geographic Society defines as the most biologically diverse area on the planet - the Corcovado National Park. Spectacular coastline, towering mountains, deserted beaches and emerald rainforests make up the scenery along Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast, and Dominical is uniquely situated at the crossroad between the central and the southern Pacific where such dramatic scenery begins to unfold. Within an hour’s drive to the north and south, more than a dozen beaches and coves, mostly deserted, all pristine, can be accessed.

Attractions Around Dominical

Visitors to Dominical gush about the variety of birds and wildlife in Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge, their excitement of swimming with dolphins at the Ballena Marine National Park, the breathtaking sight of the 600-foot Diamante twin waterfalls, the discovery of unspoiled coves and beaches, and the lushness of the jungles that dominate every landscape. Visitors and residents alike never seem to tire of the fabled sunsets and the view of the coastline from their hillside hideaways. Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge and Ballena Marine National Park are just two of seven ecological destinations in the Southern Pacific that can be visited within a day from Dominical. 

In Dominical town, you can find Language school, Dance school, Yoga classes and Massage therapists. There are more than a dozen restaurants to choose from; and if you decide to cook but have not stocked up on groceries on the way through in San Isidro or Quepos, you will find two major supermarkets 15 km away in Uvita. There are a couple of seafood vendors on the roadside with local fresh catch. During your morning walks on the beaches around Dominical you will often see fishermen returning with the day’s catch.

Take a virtual tour of Dominical downtown
 

Dominical Main Beach, Costa Rica
Playa Dominical, the first beach after you have come off the mountain road from San Isidro onto the Costanera, is long well known as a surfing beach, with good waves year-round and several surf schools. Surfing lessons, wear and gear are all readily available. The southern end of the mile-long beach offers a peaceful ambiance for those seeking solitude and reflections. Towards the middle and north parts, you are like to encounter surfers from around the world, as well as Ticos who call Dominical home. This area has a quaint mix of hostels, shops, restaurants, bars, water sports kiosks and internet cafes. The atmosphere here gets animated during surfing tournaments; for visitors these occasions offer a social experience and an opportunity to mingle. Also, the larger Dominical area has a sizable population of North American homeowners, and their presence give the small community an international feel.

Other beaches around Dominical

Things to do around Dominical
* Swimming, Snorkeling, Diving, Whale and Dolphin Watching, Explore Caves on a Kayak – at the Ballena Marine National Park – 15 minutes from Dominical
* Kayaking through Hatillo Mangrove Swamps – 15 minutes from Dominical
* Night Safari Boat Tours at Sierpe and Terraba Mangrove Swamps – 50 minutes from Dominical
* Sportfishing organized by Hotel Cuna del Angel – 10 minutes from Dominical
* Horseback Riding and Waterfalls organized by Don Lulo – 15 minutes from Dominical
* Canopy Tours, Bird Watching, Wildlife Tours, Guided Walks or Self-Guided Walks in Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge – 10 minutes from Dominical
* Visit Manual Antonio National Park – 45 minutes from Dominical
* Visit Corcovado National Park – 2 hours from Dominical
* Hiking in Chirripo National Park – 2 hours from Dominical to the base of Chirripo Mountain
* Snorkeling or Scuba Diving around Cano Island Reserve – Full Day Tour
* Horseback Ride at the Rancho La Merced Wildlife Refuge to beaches, mangrove swamps and around the ranch – 15 minutes from Dominical

Recommended day tours and excursions                

Travel to Dominical Costa Rica

If you decide to rent a car and travel the inland road via Cartago and San Isidro to Dominical, you will experience lush scenery of rainforests, mountain villages, and a stop in San Isidro, the gateway town to the country’s southern zone, where you can go shopping and stock up on groceries. From San Isidro to Dominical, you will drive pass two mountain towns, restaurants, fruit stands and souvenir stores. If you go by way of Jaco and Quepos, you will see coffee plantations, ranches, palm groves and, near Carara National Park, glimpse crocodiles lazing in the river; after a lunch stop in Jaco, carry on to Quepos and even take a quick detour to a beach just outside Manuel Antonio National Park. Either way, the drive from San Jose to Dominical takes approximately 4 hours.

If you decide to hop on a local 40-minute flight from San Jose to either Quepos or Palmar Sur via either SANSA (from San Jose International Airport) or Nature Air (from Tobias Bolaños Municipal Airport), you can have a rental car arranged for your arrival, or have a taxi arranged to take you on the 40 minute scenic ride to Dominical.

For first time travelers to Costa Rica, the best way to get to Dominical is by private airport shuttles which are small air-conditioned minivans that usually accommodate up to 8 people, and have your pre-booked rental car delivered to your vacation rental on arrival. This way, you avoid the stress of finding your way around and out of San Jose and ensure a relaxing journey.

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Vacation Rentals Highlights

Pacific Breeze Villa     Pacific Sunset Villa     Pacific Rainforest Villa     Pacific View Villa 

For an overview on all lodging options in addition to vacation rentals go to the main Costa Rica Accommodation Directory on CostaRicaBedfinder.com to see the various categories and their definitions.

Vacation Rentals in Dominical

Hotels and Resorts in Dominical