Dominical & Uvita, Costa Rica
Dominical, a small yet vibrant beach town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is a hidden gem known for its stunning natural beauty and laid-back atmosphere. Nestled between lush rainforests and the sparkling ocean, Dominical offers a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.
Despite its growing popularity, Dominical retains a charming, bohemian vibe with its surf culture, local markets, yoga retreats, and cozy beachside cafes, offering a unique escape from the hustle and bustle of more commercialized tourist spots in Costa Rica.
Nature Lovers Paradise
Located between Manuel Antonio and Uvita on the south pacific coast of Costa Rica; this area is known for its stunning natural beauty, gorgeous beaches, and tropical jungle teeming with exotic wildlife. It is truly a nature lovers paradise.
Renowned for its consistent surf breaks, Playa Dominical attracts surfers from around the world who come to ride its impressive waves. Beyond surfing, visitors can explore the nearby Marino Ballena National Park, famous for its whale tail-shaped sandbar and diverse marine life, including dolphins and humpback whales. The area also hosts a variety of eco-tourism activities, such as hiking, waterfall tours, and wildlife watching, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.
Playa Dominical
Villas Rio Mar is located an easy 10 minute walk from the laidback beach village of Playa Dominical. Stroll by the souvenir stands, walk on the beach, enjoy the sunset and have a drink in one of the bars. It is a place that makes you feel relaxed and away from it all; a true holiday. The village has an ATM, grocery stores and several restaurants serving both local and international dishes.
Playa Dominical is famous for its excellent surfing. Good waves almost every day and warm waters 365 days a year (no need for wetsuits). Our tour desk also organizes surf tours to the other good surfing beaches nearby. Not an experienced surfer yet? Go take a surf lesson on Playa Dominicalito.
4 National Parks and a UNESCO world heritage site
Eco Hotel Villas Rio Mar is located nearby 4 national parks: spot monkeys & sloths in Manuel Antonio National Park, see whales & dolphins in Marino Ballena National Park, hike the highest peak of Costa Rica at Chirripo National Park and explore the unique tropical jungle and its wildlife of Corcovado National Park. Visiting the mysterious stone spheres of Costa Rica – a UNESCO world heritage site – is also a great day tour from Hotel Villas Rio Mar.
Plenty of Nature & Adventure activities
Besides the national parks and other nature parks there are many more things to do in the area of Dominical & Uvita. From self-guided day trips to organized tours; the experienced tour desk of Hotel Villas Rio Mar is happy to help you. Go rafting or repelling, visit awesome waterfalls, zip-line through canopy or kayak the famous caves of Cinco Ventanas. Please see our Things to Do page for a complete list of tourist activities in the area of Dominical & Uvita.
Things to Do
The area of Dominical (also known as Costa Ballena or Bahia Ballena) is one of the best place to visit in Costa Rica. Our area offers a wide array of leisure and adventure activities including beautiful beaches, 4 National Parks (Manuel Antonio, Marino Ballena, Corcovado and Chirripo), and many other rainforest reserves like Hacienda Baru or the marine reserve Caño Island. Other things to do are: rafting, kayaking, zip-lining, surf lessons, body boarding, ATV tours or visit one of the many awesome waterfalls of Dominical.
Travel Blogs & Tips
We’ve put together a selection of tips and recommendations from area experts and other travelers on how to make the most of your Costa Rica adventure.