Here are 10 super cool things to do in Dominical Costa Rica. Listed in completely random order (i.e., they all rank similarly in terms of coolness)…
Also, these are cool things in the “general area” of Dominical, which according to my definition would include Dominicalito, Uvita, even Perez Zeledon (which is just 30 minutes up the mountain, or vice versa). But, most tourists actually stay in Dominical, hence the title.
Of course, everyone knows Dominical is a great surfer beach. So, I didn’t include that admittedly very cool thing, since the attempt here is to divulge information of the more secret variety…
Cool Thing #1: Nauyaca Falls by Horseback
Nauyaca is only about 15 minutes up the mountain from Dominical, on the road that leads to Perez Zeledon. You can do a pre-arranged horseback tour, or just go there and pay a small entrance fee and hike to the falls. The tour is around 5 hours total and includes breakfast and lunch. The falls are gorgeous and really a must see in this area. The pool is large and deep, with clean and cool water that is great for swimming. You can even climb up on the rocks about 3 to 4 meters and jump, if you dare.
Cool Thing #2: Diamante Waterfall Hike
This tour fits the bill for the more adventurous. There are no horses involved here, since the hike up is practically vertical. You are climbing the famous Tinamastes Ridge that rises some 1,000 feet vertically to form a breathtaking panorama at the highest point on the beach road from Dominical to Perez Zeledon. The 600 foot Diamante Fall is said to be the highest waterfall in the country. Above the main fall are twin smaller falls. Behind them is a cave where lunch will be served. I said cool, didn’t I? You can even do an overnight tour and spend the night in the cave (with all meals cooked right there for you)!
Cool Thing #3: Beach Day at Playa Hermosa
Dominical is a happening little beach community. It is a surfer town because the waves are the most powerful in the area. However, it is also where the Baru River dumps into the ocean and that causes the beach to be quite littered with debris, such as river rocks and driftwood. Also, the waves and currents of the ocean can be very dangerous. So, if you want a more pleasant beach experience, for swimming and soaking up the rays, I highly suggest my favorite beach. That is Playa Hermosa and it is a 15 minute drive further south towards Uvita. The beach at Playa Hermosa is, well, hermosa (beautiful). It is wide and long and great for walking. The waves can still get pretty big and powerful and there are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk. But it is safer than Dominical.
Cool Thing #4: Lunch and Waterfall Hike at El Pavon
El Pavon is a typical Costa Rican family restaurant about 30 minutes south of Dominical. Their specialty is home grown Tilapia entero, which means the fish is fried and served whole, head on. After lunch make sure to hike over to the waterfall by the same name. It is really unique in that a large rock the shape of an egg became lodged right at the top of the fall. Makes for one heck of a photo opportunity.
El Pavon Restaurant Facebook page
Cool Thing #5: Cultural Tour to Boruca Indigenous Reserve
Getting to the Boruca Reserve is a bit of a challenge, but well worth it. The best way is take the Costanera all the way south until it connects with the Pan American Highway. Then go back in the direction of Buenos Aires until you see the sign that says Boruca Reserve. You will then take a dirt road for 45 minutes or so into the reserve. The indigenous of this area are known for their intricately carved ceremonial masks and hand-made cloth items. I actually offer these for my sale on my Costa Rica Artisans Selz page (I used to have a small store in San Jose as well). You will probably want to buy some things, so bring cash. A typical mask will run you anywhere from $100 to $200 dollars, depending on size and artistry. You can also hike to the waterfall. The reserve has a museum and normally there are tribe members demonstrating how they make their arts and crafts. Really cool stuff! Make sure to learn how to say “how are you” in Brunka, the language of the indigenous in this area.
Boruca Indigenous Reserve Video link
Boruca Indigenous Reserve web site link
Cool Thing #6: Snorkel or Dive Tour off Isla del Caño
Isla del Caño offers the best diving and snorkeling in the area and some of the best in the country. Getting there is quite the adventure. There are tours that offer this and here is how they work. You will take a van from Dominical down to Sierpe. From there you will board a power boat that will take you down the Sierpe River, out into the Pacific and on to the island. All in all, the transportation portion will take approximately 2.5 hours each way. But like I said, it will be an adventure with many worthwhile sites and experiences along the way. And the snorkeling (or diving) is really good.
Snorkel and Dive Isla del Caño link
Cool Thing #7: Sierpe River and Mangroves
You can also just go to Sierpe for the fun of it. It you do there are a few things to see and do. Make sure one of them is to stop and marvel at the ancient stone spheres that no one really knows how or why they happen to be there. It is assumed the indigenous carved them for some purpose, but no one knows for sure. Maybe aliens? While in Sierpe have a great lunch and then take a boat ride over to the mangrove estuary, where you can see some interesting flora and fauna. The river ride is fun in itself and you will be sure to see some crocs or caimans resting on the river banks.
Cool Thing #8: Day Hike of Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo Station)
This is done via a tour that is much like what was described above with respect to Isla del Caño. On this one, rather than keep steaming out to sea in the direction of the island, you will hug the coast until you arrive to the San Pedrillo Ranger Station. There you will take a 2 hour guided hike into the jungle of Corcovado National Park (the most biologically diverse place on earth). To be honest, this part of the park gets more human traffic, so the wildlife is not as prevalent as it is deeper inside the park. But it is still a cool tour.
Cool Thing #9: Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge
This is within walking distance of Dominical, just down the Costanera Highway a couple kilometers (in the direction of Quepos). Hacienda Barú’s 330 hectares (815 acres) have a fantastic variety of habitats, from wetlands and secondary rainforests in the lowlands to primary rain-forest on the highland coastal ridge. Seven kilometers of walking trails and three kilometers of pristine beach are there to be explored as well as orchid and butterfly gardens.
Cool Thing #10: Beach Day at Marina Ballena National Park
The Marina Ballena National Park is where the famous whale’s tail formation is located. This is a rocky sand bar just off the coast that fans out and forms what appears from above to be a whale’s tail. That is extremely coincidental as this coastal area also happens to be an important migratory route for the humpback whale. The park is a great place to go and spend the day at the beach. But my strong recommendation is to look at a tide chart and make sure you arrive on a falling tide. Only at low tide can you walk all the way out to the whale’s tail and that is really a cool thing to do. The ocean water on each side of the bar is calm and crystal clear, great for swimming, or snorkeling.
Marina Ballena National Park photos link
There you have it, my 10 Cool Things to Do in Dominical Costa Rica. Stay tuned for my next 10 Cool Things Post that will feature San Jose.
Comments