Travel Guide to Dominical, Costa Rica: Surf, waterfalls & jungle vibes

Dominical isn’t your polished resort town. It’s a laid-back surfer’s haven on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast. Picture unpaved roads, a wide beach, and some of the most consistent waves in the country, this little town you will feel time slowing down and the ocean takes center stage. You will find yourself checking the surf forecast, tiring yourself out with plenty of surf sessions and just relaxing in between it all. Whether you’re here to chase waves or just soak up the pura vida lifestyle, Dominical is a lovely spot to slow down, surf and relax for a few days. Or if you have the time, stay longer for a full on surf trip.

Surfing with Dominical surf school

If you’re a surfer, this is why you’re here. Dominical is famous for its powerful, year-round beach break, and it doesn’t disappoint. The waves are fast, hollow, and consistent—ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers.

I took lessons with Dominical surf school and they were the best lessons I’ve ever had. They pay attention to detail and debrief after every wave. I still have a long way to go, but I learned how to read the waves better, better positioning and what to do with my arm in turns etc.

Best Season: Surf is good all year, but the bigger swells roll in during the rainy season (May–October).

For Beginners: Don’t worry! There’s a more mellow beach break close by, called Dominicalito. Surf schools like Dominical Surf school are happy to take you to the gentler waves at this beach and can help you progress.

Board Rentals: You’ll find plenty of places right on the main street near the beach to rent boards if you don’t want to travel with yours. I highly recommend Dominical Surf school for lessons and rentals. Their gear is in great shape and the lessons are among the best I’ve ever had. If you’re taking lessons from Dominical surf school, they will also transport your board to Dominicalito if you’re surfing there. If you’re going to Dominicalito on your own, you can rent a board there.

Things to Do Around Dominical

Surfing might be the star of the show, but there’s plenty to do nearby when your arms need a break:

Nauyaca Waterfalls

These insanely beautiful waterfalls are just a 20 minutes drive away. If you rented a car, that’s obviously the easiest way to get there, but there is also a bus that passes by it. You’ll have to ask the bus to stop there. There is no clear schedule, so ask someone local where and when the bus will stop. We actually missed the bus and ended up hitchhiking there.

You can start hiking to the waterfall from the entrance. The hike will take around an hour. Or you can choose to have a pickup truck take you down to the waterfall. The downside of the truck is that you’ll have to be back within 2 hours for the ride down. So if you want to stay for longer, this is not the best option. There are two massive waterfalls with natural swimming pools at the bottom. Perfect for cooling off after the beach. Wear good shoes and bring water! It’s worth coming early to avoid the crowds. We made sure to arrive right when it opened and were one of the first few people there!

Entrance fee: Hiking: $10, 4×4 truck: $32, horse riding tour: $80

Opening times: 07:00 to 15:30. No more tickets sold after 2pm!

Uvita

About a 25 minutes drive south you can find beach town Uvita. This is a more well known, lively town, that’s on the established tourist trail. It’s famous for the Whale’s Tail sandbar at Marino Ballena National Park. Depending on the season, you can even take a boat tour to spot humpback whales. In my full article on Uvita you can find more info on what to do there!

Manuel Antonio National Park

One of Costa Rica’s most iconic parks, with jungle trails, monkeys, sloths, and postcard-perfect beaches. It gets busy in high season, so it’s best to book the earliest possible time slot. If I had to choose between visiting Manuel Antonio and Corcovado, I’d definitely visit Corcovado, but I was pleasantly surprised by this national park. Since I’d heard how busy it can get, I was preparing myself for an extremely touristy experience. However, I visited in low season and it was surprisingly quiet. I’d still recommend booking your ticket in advance to make sure you’ll be able to enter! There are only a limited number of people allowed in every day.

To book tickets or a tour for Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, you can reserve directly through the official government ticketing system or book an all-inclusive guided tour. I would also advise getting a guide at the entrance (I paid $20), because you’ll end up seeing a lot more! There were so many animals I would have had a hard time spotting by myself. If tickets are sold out, you can also consider booking a guided tour to still get your hands on a ticket. This way you will likely spend more money though.

How to get to Dominical

There are several ways to get to this little surf town. I’ve been there twice. The first time I traveled by bus and the second time I rented a car. I always find the best car rental prices on Discover Cars. Do keep in mind that for many roads you’ll need a 4×4, especially in rainy season.

Driving: If you’re coming from San Jose, it’s pretty straight forward. It should take around 3,5 hours.

Bus: There are public buses from San Jose to Dominical with either the bus company Tracopa or Blanco Lobo.

The Tracopa bus leaves from Tracopa terminal at 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 11 AM, 12:15 PM and 3 PM. The drive takes around 4 hours.

The Blanco Lobo bus leaves at 12:00 daily

Cost: Around ₡7,000 (roughly $10 USD).

Tickets: Purchased in person at the terminal

Shuttle bus: You could also book a shared or private shuttle online, but this is usually relatively pricey. It’s a great option if you’re just looking for convenience. Your hotel can likely help you book one.

Where to eat in Dominical

For a small town, Dominical has surprisingly great food options:

Cafe Olas:Affordable and delicious breakfast! My go to spot.
Lori Restaurant: This was easily my favorite dinner spot. The fresh falafel and hummus are to die for.
Phat Noodle – An open-air spot with tasty Asian-inspired noodle dishes and a laid-back atmosphere.
Fuego Brew Co. – Craft beer and live music nights—what more could you ask for after a day in the surf? I thought the food was only average, but it’s a great spot to have a drink.
Moromo Forneria: Great coffee and pastries, but in the evenings you can also get a lovely pizza for dinner!
Little India Dominical: Lovely Indian curries