Dominical de Osa
Costa Rica's laid-back surf capital of the south
What is Playa Dominical?
Dominical is a surf town twenty minutes north of Uvita on Costa Rica's Costa Ballena. Its powerful beach break draws surf schools, casual restaurants and relaxed nightlife, with easy access to Nauyaca Waterfalls, the Barú River and nearby wildlife reserves.
Dominical, at the northern end of Costa Ballena, is a beach village famous for its consistent surf, long grey-sand beach and bohemian atmosphere. It is the meeting point between the Pacific and the mountains of the Fila Costeña, with waterfalls, rivers and wildlife refuges only minutes inland.
What to know before you go
Dominical beach has strong currents and rip tides; swim only where lifeguards and flags indicate, and prefer the calmer pools of nearby Dominicalito and Playa Hermosa.
The village is compact and walkable, and it is the natural stop for travellers arriving from San Isidro de El General, Manuel Antonio or San José along the Costanera Sur.