Dominical
A small piece of paradise in the South of Costa Rica
After Envision festival Charlie still spent a few days in the area. First she was in Uvita to greet some new and old friends from her Yoga Teacher Training the year before, then she spent two days in Dominical.
How to get to Dominical
You can get there either by local bus or Tracopa. Charlie was already in Uvita and took the local bus. It only took 15 minutes and the price was 1200 Colones (approximately 2 Dollars). The road goes along the coast and you get to enjoy some magnificent views!
The town of Dominical
It is a very small town where you can walk from one end to the other in 15 minutes. There are two supermarkets, a small one in town and a bigger one on the main road towards Uvita, a school and a church. You also find several options to dine, from food halls to restaurants. It seems as if this town has been build around surf tourism, but it still has some original Tico charm. There a multiple options for surf lessons and board hire and no matter where you stay in town, the beach is never more than 10 minutes by foot away.
There is a farmers market every Friday morning in the heart of Dominical next to the football court and you find street vendors on the road that goes along the beach. Souvenir shopping is easy to do in Dominical!
You also have different options for accommodation from cheap surf hostels to fancier boutique hotels. Don’t expect any big resorts though! Charlie stayed at Cool Vibes Beach Hostel which was only 2 minutes from the beach, offers surf hire, has a pool, plenty of hammocks and sofas, a kitchen and rooms with or without A/C.
Surfing in Dominical
Dominical is a popular surf spot in Costa Rica and they even do national competitions there. It is a beach break that works best at high tide. It stretches all along the town all the way to the river mouth. Depending on the size of the swell and the period, it can get quite harsh and is mostly enjoyed by experienced surfers. It never felt crowded though and everybody was friendly and chatty, in the water and on the beach.
If you are looking for an easier wave, the beach of Dominicalito is only a 5-minute drive away. You can hire a board there too.
Yoga in Dominical
As any surf town in Costa Rica, there is no shortage of Yoga offers in Dominical either. Charlie enjoyed the classes she took at Rockstar Yoga. The quality of the teaching was high and Charlie had the feeling that there are lots of regulars. Other than the classes in Santa Teresa where participants changed every week, Dominical seems to have some regular, local Yogis that attend class and enjoy a good pun together.
Apart from the high-quality yoga class, the deck of Rockstar Yoga is elevated with a view towards the river. It feels as if you’re in a tree house.
There is another Yoga studio in town, Danyasa, which Charlie hasn’t tried.
