Dominical is a small town on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The somewhat isolated position of Dominical has preserved the town so far from major development and for people who want to enjoy a laid back holiday it’s a perfect destination in the Province of Puntarenas, Dominical is certainly worth visiting. There are two ways to reach Dominical by road. The first is driving some 30 kilometers south from Quepos, past the National Park of Manuel Antonio. The other route is driving south from San Jose through the Central Valley to San Isidro del General. From there its only a short drive towards the coast to find Dominical. Leaving the Central Valley you have to cross the Cerro Chirripo, which offers magnificent views of Costa Rica’s highest mountain range. The drive from San Jose to Dominical can take up to six hours. Unfortunately it’s not possible to fly directly to Dominical. The closest domestic airports are Quepos and Palmar Sur where you can fly in from Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela or Tobias Bolanos Airport in San Jose. That means that ground transportation is needed for the last stretch to Dominical. Dominical has more than four kilometers of beach and since the waves can build up over three meters it is a major attraction for surfers from all over the world. Since the climate of Dominical is excellent almost all year round, many of them pass the night on the lovely beach. The beach is lined with exuberant tropical vegetation and offers good opportunities for bird watching. The sea in front of Dominical is kind of rough and offers better conditions for surfing than for swimming. But there are many other ways to enjoy the ocean. Local tour operators organize boat tours for scuba diving and snorkeling, canopy tours, or you can rent a kayak to challenge the waves. Other favorite activities are horseback riding, night tours in the jungle and excursions to the close by Nauyaca waterfalls. The charm of Dominical is that the small village with a population of no more 700 people is embedded in the surrounding vegetation and can hardly been seen from the sea. South of Dominical lies the town of Uvita, located in one of the world’s most beautiful marine parks; Marina Ballena National Park. Named after the Humpback whales that migrate to the warm water of this part of Costa Rica to mate and give birth to their offspring. From Dominical tours are offered to visit the park and spot the whales in their natural habitat. As expected, being a preferred surfers destination, plenty low-budget lodges, bars and local restaurants can be found in Dominical. But also for the more luxurious traveler there are some distinct options. Excellent fresh seafood options are found on the menus of the local sodas and more sophisticated restaurants. Dominical is a perfect stop for travelers on their way to the Osa Peninsula in the south, who want to get away from the more crowded area’s of Jaco and Quepos.