Dominical Travel Guide
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29km (18 miles) SW of San Isidro; 42km (26 miles) S of Quepos; 160km (99 miles) S of San José
This area might not be the best-kept secret in Costa Rica any longer, but Dominical and the coastline just south of it remain excellent places to find isolated beaches, spectacular views, remote jungle waterfalls, and abundant budget lodgings. The beach at Dominical itself has both right and left beach breaks, which means there are usually plenty of surfers in town. In fact, the beach in Dominical really has appeal only to surfers; it's generally too rough and rocky for regular folks. However, you will find excellent swimming, sunbathing, and strolling beaches just a little farther south at Dominicalito, Playa Hermosa, and Ballena Marine National Park.
Leaving Manuel Antonio, the road south to Dominical runs by mile after mile of oil-palm plantations. However, just before Dominical, the mountains again meet the sea. From Dominical south, the coastline is dotted with tide pools, tiny coves, and cliff-side vistas. Dominical is the largest village in the area and has several small lodges both in town and along the beach to the south. The village enjoys an enviable location on the banks of Río Barú, right where it widens considerably before emptying into the ocean. There's good bird-watching along the banks of the river and throughout the surrounding forests.
