Dominical - Activities and Dining
Domincal
Dominical appeals to visitors interested in surfing, eco-tourism, and the town’s excellent access to the Corcovado Peninsula and the southernmost regions of the country. The town is not built-up like some of the coastal cities to the north, and has fewer than 1,000 residents. There are only about four roads in town, and two of them have recently been paved which makes the town seem cleaner, especially in the “green season”. It has the feeling of Kauai or some of the South Pacific island chains, with a laid-back tempo and friendly people. Choose from a dozen restaurants, half a dozen surf shops, and miles of gorgeous beach.
From our villas, it’s about a 20 minute walk to the start of the town by beach, and it’s accessible during all but high tide when the surf at Roca Verde makes it a little sketchy. You can also walk along the highway which takes about 30 minutes, but it’s not nearly as nice. By car, it’s not more than five minutes.
The businesses in town are constantly changing, frequently for the better, and due to COVID, a number of our favorites have gone away. The following is by no means a comprehensive list of businesses, but it’s a good start. Feel free to suggest you favorites, or if you have a business, let us know.
Surfing in Dominical
Many, perhaps most, people visit Dominical for the surf. Depending on the tide and swell, you can have surf that is great for anyone from beginners to experts, and it is extremely accessible by just paddling out from the beach. It can also be a little overwhelming, so know the conditions and consider taking lessons from one of the many excellent surf schools and surf camps in town. We like Costa Rica Surf Camp, but others are very good as well.
It is possible to surf immediately in front of the villas. However, and this is true for most of Costa Rica, you have to be careful of the rip currents. These away-from-the-beach localized currents will take you away from shore, and they have been responsible for many drownings. The key is twofold: swim parallel to the beach, and know that the current dissipates with distance from the shore.
Eco-Tourism
In Costa Rica, the word "tourism" is inevitably preceded by "eco-" The Costa Ricans are justifiable proud of their gorgeous country, and offer hundreds of excursions and activities that allow visitors to see the jungle, rain forest, waterfalls, and biodiversity.
Dominical is ideally suited as an eco-tourism mini-hub of sorts because of the gorgeous ocean and beach, the coastal mountains that rise immediately behind it, and the generous rainfall. The area gets about 150" (400 cm) of rain per year, so it is lush and gorgeous.
Mama Toucan’s
Wonderful Organic Food Store
Mama Toucan’s is a wonderful organic food store near the entrance to Dominical. Fresh produce, Kombucha in a dozen varieties, prepared frozen meals, spices, and everything else you’ll need to prepare healthy meals.
This is one of the reasons that so many young adults come to Dominical. Sure, there’s surfing, but there’s also a healthy lifestyle with yoga, good food, good exercise, and the sounds and oxygen of the rainforest.
GOOD STUFF TO EAT
Dining
Dining in Dominical
Don’t let the $$$ designations throw you off: virtually every restaurant on this list is a great value, but some are a little pricier than others. You won’t better food for the money than at Exotica. About $30 per person with wine.
La Junta
This is a reasonably recent addition to our list and we LOVE IT. When we first came to Dominical, there was a Spanish language school at this site, which is right along the river, and slightly beyond Mama Toucan’s and Mono Congo. The menu is full of yummy choices including three burgers, and so we all ended up ordering their Basic Burger. It is anything but basic. The grass-fed beef burger is large and flavorful, but the condiments are what make it. Yes, tomato and onion, but the pickles are terrific, and homemade aioli. Get it with the side salad and order the Asian salad (I know, it’s an odd choice with a burger.) Then get a side of fries. Best burger you’ll ever have, and there are two others to experiment with. There’s a full bar, which was rocking, and it’s a quick walk to the riverbank if you want to stroll. $$
Mono Congo
Excellent food along the river. Our favorite place for healthy breakfasts and smoothies. $$
Rum Bar
Good pizza and drinks. $$
Tortilla Flats
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Surfer hangout, and the food is good and cheap. Try their Mahi either way, or Casado, which is the Costa Rican National meal. $
Crocodile Cafe
Up the Rio Baru about 1km, part of the resort (Villas Rio Mar) at which we stayed whn we bought and built Caballitos del Mar. The rooms, meals, and service are very nice, and we enjoy going there for an afternoon swim in their pool with a swim-up bar. Full bar and good menu. $$$
Mariscos Amancio
This completely was off our radar for a few years, and we are so bummed we didn’t know about it! The driveway/entrance off of La Costanera is not very easy to find, but you can drive down and park on the driveway that leads to Porque No? (now closed.) Wonderful seafood, lovely drinks, cute location. From the Caballitos driveway, it’s less an one km. Look for the Porque No? sign on the side of the highway. The next driveway is Amancio Seafood, or Seafood Amancio. +506 8374 2855
La Parcela
Fantastic location, especially at sunset or for lunch. One of the best reasons to visit La Parcela is that they have a local troop of monkeys who visit every evening around 5:00. Great for the kids! Recently, the restaurant has been upgraded and the food and service are excellent. Their Margaritas are superbe. South of our villas by about 1.5 km, just south of Dominicalito. Seafood and other entrees. $$$
Jolly Roger
a bit of a chore to get there, 4WD recommended, but a fun place for wings and burgers. Drive south, turn left just prior to Cuna de Angel, and drive up, up, up for a couple of km. It will be on the left, and probably you’ll hear it before you get there. $$
La Scala:
Elegant dining and great cocktails. About 5km south of the villas, on the same road as the Jolly Roger. La Scala is an open-air delight, at $$$ prices.
Cuna de Angel
Gorgeous open air restaurant with an extensive cocktail selection and lovely service. Part of a boutique hotel on a cliff over the Pacific. Can get pricey with a full dinner, but worth it. $$$$
Citrus
0 minutes S of Dominical, Citrus seems to always be popular based on the parking. Lovely open air interior, with a wide variety of salads, appetizers, mains, and deserts. Fun, somewhat noisy atmosphere. I used to rate this with four dollar signs but there are very few entrees over $30. The cuisine has Asian, beef and other meats, and seafood. $$$
Del Mar Taco Shop
Very close to the beach, this taco shop has yummy tacos and burritos, nice service, and good prices.
This is Exotica’s famous avocado citric salad, with a touch of sweetness from pineapple. Perfection!
Exotica
Our Favorite Place No Question About It
Formerly run by Lucy and Robert, transplanted French-Canadians, and now run by their granddaughter Maité and her husband. Excellent food, full bar, reasonable prices. Although it’s 30-35 minutes south of the villas, it’s absolutely worth the drive. Drive south, past Uvita, and look for Playa Ventanas (small beach sign on right.) Continue to Ojochal, turn left off the highway. Continue straight across a small concrete bridge. Turn left after the bridge and drive about 1km on a dirt road. Continue until you see the restaurant sign. Reservations recommended. You will not be disappointed. +(506) 2786-5050 $$$
Explore
EXPLORE
Adventures in and Around Domincal
Lounging around your private pool, walking on the beach at low tide to Dominical, trying out one of the wonderful restaurants in the area: you could easily spend a week and never go more than a few kilometers from Caballitos del Mar. Our approach is a little more exploratory. We like a calendar of alternating days around the villas, with excursions on the opposite days.
While we haven’t exhausted all of the exciting tours and activities in the area, we have been visiting and sharing the South Pacific Coast area with family and friends for 15+ years. Kayaking, nature tours, waterfalls, ATV tours, ziplines, surfing, shopping in Dominical, beachcombing, scuba diving, river boat rides with naturalists, whitewater rafting and horseback riding are all available, and are reasonably priced.
Excursions are generally half day or full day, and can be booked at many places in Dominical, including through YouGetHere, our property management team. Many are free if you are willing to do some driving or hiking on your own. Check out some of our favorites below and let us know what you think are the best excursions.
Nayuca Waterfalls and Horseback Ride
A wonderful family will take you on a gorgeous horseback ride to the family home for a delicious breakfast, followed by a trip to a waterfall and swimming hole. On the return you’ll have lunch at the same home. Takes about 5 hours, cost is about $80 per person including meals, excluding tips. We've taken eight year old kids with no horseback riding experience on the trip, and they have loved it. If you've ever wanted an exotic place for your family Christmas card photograph, this is it. Here's a link for more information.
Corcovado Ranger Station and Boat Ride
Corcovado Ranger Station is the closest point on the Osa Peninsula to our villas. The tour takes an entire day and consists of a drive to Sierpe, about an hour south, and then a boat ride out the Rio Sierpe, through the surf, and down the coast to the Corcovado Ranger Station. This is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, and is a must for birders, monkey seekers, and naturalists of all types. Breakfast and lunch are provided, plus transportation and the boat ride. About $160 per adult, $100 per child, inclusive, for a 10 hour activity.
Surfing in Dominical
Many, perhaps most, people visit Dominical for the surf. Depending on the tide and swell, you can have surf that is great for anyone from beginners to experts, and it is extremely accessible by just paddling out from the beach. It can also be a little overwhelming, so know the conditions and consider taking lessons from one of the many excellent surf schools and surf camps in town. We like Costa Rica Surf Camp, but others are very good as well.
River Rafting
We’ve now done this on two rivers in the area: Rio Guabo is narrow and in a nearby canyon while Rio Savegre is quite large and about half way between Dominical and Quepos. Either is loads of fun. The guides provide the requisite helmets, paddles, and safety instruction. A fresh fruit lunch is served along the way. We generally book at Dominical Surf Adventures, on the left as you enter town. Ask for Henry. $80-100 per person.
Ziplining at Hacienda Baru
Flight of the Toucan is the local, wonderful, opportunity to zipline through the jungle. This is north on La Costanera (The Coast Highway) from Dominical about 5km. Fun zip lining in the jungle with naturalists. Safe, exciting, and reasonably priced. $52 per person for 2-3 hours.
Swimming Holes
There is a lovely, quiet swimming hole on the river that passes through Dominicalito, about half a kilometer south of the homes. It is a short hike up the Dominicalito road and off to the right. Ask a local for directions. If you're really into bouldering and exotic locations, we have a secret waterfall hike that we love, and it's virtually unknown to tourists. We will tell you where it is when you book with us.
Nightlife in Dominical
It should be no surprise that COVID put a but damper on the nightlife in Dominical and several of the clubs never reopened. But most nights will have some dancing or music in Dominical, although the location tends to change night to night. Ask around to find out if any restaurants or resorts have something planned in the evening. Sometimes it's salsa dancing, or live music, or other entertainment. Like many Latin nocturnal activities, the party doesn’t really get going until after midnight.
Kayaking
There's both sea kayaking and river/estuary kayaking available in the area. An easy choice is to go just north of Hacienda Baru with a local Dominical outfitter and explore the mangroves. Very reasonably priced and not a lot of driving. We like Pineapple Tours, among others.
If you want a little more open water, try sea kayaking. This is only offered when the seas are calm. You'll depart from a beach about 30km south of the villas, and paddle south to some gorgeous sea caves that are accessible only by boat.
Swimming in Dominical and Local Beaches
Swimming in the Pacific Ocean is one of the best reasons to visit Dominical and the Southern Pacific Coast, but…
The surf can get large, and there can be riptides. It’s worth spending some time discussing water safety before you dive in. Please see this page for more information about safe ocean swimming.