Dominical Beach, which is known for its great surf spots, sits on an interesting little sandbar with a brackish river flowing back from the mouth of the sea.

This oasis of surf pioneers is in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The large waves that attract riders from near and far occur year round, so it doesn’t matter when you plan your trip. Nestled between the city of Quepos to the North and the smaller beach communities of Uvita and Ojochal to the south, Dominical is reached from San Jose by two routes of travel. The inland route is a little slower than the coastal road which passes Quepos.

The little town of Dominical, Costa Rica is interlinked by dirt roads giving it that kind of rustic and untouched feel that some of the more traversed locations in Costa Rica lack. Walking to and fro the beach with a board and a wetsuit give visitors a feeling of authenticity that wouldn’t be solicited elsewhere. A certain nostalgia is provided in that kind of ambience.

A packing list for Dominical should include a swimsuit, a surfboard, sun screen, wax and an ENO hammock. In Dominical, you can station yourself on the beach, or find places to stay like Hotel Villas Rio Mar, Diuwak, Hostel Del Rio and Posada del Sol. The lodgings range from the extravagant to the budget friendly, and many of the hostels and hotels will also offer surf lessons and board rentals.

The route to Dominical can be divided in two, but the means for which achieving this tropical paradise is more varied. You could take a taxi from Quepos, hire a private mini-bus, contact one of the international rental car companies or try your thumb (not recommended). Nature Air also serves the city of Quepos, and it would be easy to find a taxi from there.

Dominical is four hours and twenty three minutes from the international airport in Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. From Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica, Dominical is two hours and forty three minutes on the coastal road and four hours and one minute on the coastal road. San Jose is one hour and fifty eight minutes from Dominical. Most domestic flights in Costa Rica are only fifteen to thirty minutes.

Location: Dominical Beach
Items to bring: a swimsuit, a surfboard, sun screen, wax, an ENO hammock
Distance from San Jose: 1 hr 50 mins
Distance from Liberia: 4 hrs 23 mins
Hotels nearby: Hotel Villas Rio Mar, Diuwak, Hostel Del Rio, Posada del Sol
Ways to get here: rental car, taxi, private shuttle, bus, plane