Following the pattern of many coastal towns, Dominical is a formerly sleepy fishing village turned rustic surfing outpost. The surfers and backpackers that made the town popular have created a development buzz that has resulted in a host of businesses catering to travelers and the construction of numerous luxury villas for those wishing to stay a while.
Still, development is slower than some other towns due in part to the rough roads into town and locals who want to prevent Dominical Costa Rica from turning into just another overdeveloped coastal boomtown full of fast food restaurants and ugly high-rise hotels. The town vibe is very laid back and fun, with an abundance of younger travelers looking to mellow out in the sun.
The surfing at Playa Dominical is still the main draw here. Though quite pebbly, the beach is nonetheless beautiful and stretches 4km south from the mouth of the Rio Baru down to Punta Dominical. Here on the lee facing side of the point you will find the tiny fishing village of Dominicalito.
While the surfing is great along Dominical beach, the rip tides can be ferocious. Swimming is a risky activity. For this reason lifeguards are on duty from 8am-5pm. During high season the lifeguards will often mark off safer swimming zones with flags. The waters off Dominicalito are much calmer and better suited to swimming and bodyboarding.
Dominical Vicinity Attractions
