One of Costa Rica’s few classic surfing towns, Playa Dominical offers big waves and a secluded beach about halfway between San Jose and Panama. Lodging is basic, with only a few resorts

Also not many non surfing tourist.

Getting here is tough. There is no airfield. The last section of road is only about 25 miles from Manuel Antonio, but is such extremely bad condition that the drive can take nearly two hours. And it is an even worse ride during rainy season.

Playa Dominical is a two-mile stretch of beach that virtually disappears from view once you get offshore to catch a wave.

In addition to the beach breaks, you will find several excellent point breaks farther out.

Because this part of Costa Rica is so hard to reach, it is far less developed than other parts of the Central Pacific.

This also means not as many people visit Playa Dominical, making it among the top Costa Rica surfing beaches for those who want to get away from the crowds.

This does not necessarily imply getting away from excellent lodging, for there are one or two top notch villas and resorts here.

About four miles north of Dominical, Guapile is even more secluded and has similar waves. It also has strong currents and rips, like Dominical, and neither is recommended for learning.

With fewer people than in most parts of the country, Dominical is home to an immense variety of exotic animals and birds. The forests are more like jungle than a typical rain forest, offering plenty of sights for the nature lover or eco tourist

Places to Stay In Dominical

Though several boutique resorts and villas have sprung up recently, this remains your basic surf town. There are countless cabinas and other cheap places to stay, and lots of places to hang out and party when not in the water.

This town attracts an international crowd, so count on meeting other surfers from France, Australia and Norway as well as the United States.