Dominicalito Beach, Costa Rica – Everything You Need to Know

Dominicalito Beach in Costa Rica retains its raw beauty and tranquility. With no human driven development of any sort, only natural elements adorn this beach.

The white waves crash on the grey sands before receding into the ocean again. On their way, they often make a splash on the rocks sitting on the shore. Lush green vegetation fringes the shoreline of the bay.

As you lay on the sand, you notice the calm equilibrium created by the crashing waves, the busy surfers and the silent rocks, the tall trees. Your gaze into the distant horizon is interrupted by the rise of a small island, adding more character to your already pretty frame.

Do you want to plan a visit to this playa (beach in Spanish)? In this post, you will find everything you need to know about Domicalito Beach, a lesser known beach in Costa Rica.

How to reach Dominicalito Beach

Dominicalito Beach lies about 3 km south of the Dominical town and 15 km north of Uvita town. While driving south on the Costanera Sur highway, look for the board Playa Domincalito on your right.

Take right from here and drive on the dirt road for a minute. You will soon see the palm infringed sands lining the sea shore. You will find other cars parked here. Find an empty spot, park your vehicle and enjoy your day at Playa Dominicalito.

The distances from important locations to Playa Dominicalito are as follows.

Airports

• Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO): 196 km / 122 miles
• Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIB): 304 km / 189 miles
• Quepos La Managua Airport: 41 km / 25 miles

Cities/Towns

• Quepos: 46 km / 29 miles
• Dominical: 3.4 km / 2.1 miles
• Uvita: 15 km / 9 miles
• Ojochal: 31 km / 19 miles

You can also find Playa Dominicalito on Google Maps.

Important information about entrance

There may be a few things to do in Dominicalito Beach in Costa Rica. But before getting into that, let us talk about the logistics first.

Entrance fees

All beaches in Costa Rica are open to public. Unless the beach is part of a national park, you need not pay any entrance fee to access the beaches in Costa Rica.

The same applies to Dominicalito Beach as well. Anyone can visit this beach for free.

Parking

There is no designated parking at Playa Dominicalito. However, you can park your vehicle right next to the beach. Please note, this is not a guarded parking area. So remember not to leave any valuables in the car.

Best time to visit Dominicalito Beach

Costa Rica has primarily two seasons, rainy season and dry season. Dry season is comparatively shorter, running from November-December to April. The weather does vary from one region to another though.

Dominicalito Beach lies on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This region receives the highest rainfall in September and October, compared to the other rainy season months.

So you need to plan your visit to Playa Dominicalito depending on what you want to do at the beach. If you are looking for more sunshine than rain, it is better to choose the dry season.

However, even if you are visiting Dominicalito Beach during the rainy season, you can still have sunny mornings before the afternoons turn rainy.

We personally like Costa Rica even more during the rainy season. The forest foliage is more lush, the waterfalls flow to their full capacity and the beaches look poetic. Nauyaca Waterfalls, not too far from Dominicalito, are a sight to behold in the rainy season.

Things to do at Dominicalito Beach

You will find less people at Playa Domicalito than at Playa Dominical. When at Dominicalito Beach, grab a spot and spend the day as you like. You can get lost in thoughts watching the waves crash on the shore. Or you can get active and play with the waves.

Surf

Playa Dominicalito is popular among surfers. The waves are good for beginner and intermediate level surfers.

If you are not into surfing yourself, you can watch the surfers hone their skills at Dominicalito. The way the surfers tackle the waves and respond to the changing conditions, we could watch this activity all day long.

Swim

If you do not surf, but still want to burn some calories, take a dip in the ocean. Swim in the warm Pacific waters. Notice how the green jungle frames the crescent bay at Domicalito. But be careful to stay away from the rocks when you swim.

Swing

There is a wooden swing in the area where vehicles are parked at Dominicalito Beach. The ropes hanging from the tree and the swing facing the ocean form a pretty picture frame.

I do not know if this is something that excites you. But when Indranil and I saw this swing, the inner child in us seemed to wake up. We sat on the swing for a while whispering little nothings about life.

Relax

The setting of Domicalito Beach is very calming. It is a perfect spot for relaxing and reflecting on life. Sit on a tree log or on the rock or lie on the sand. Take a walk or run on the beach. Get your feet dirty with sand. Let the sea breeze sweep over your face. Relish the Pura Vida bliss.

Dominicalito Beach – Make it happen

Where to eat

Like most beaches in Costa Rica, there are no restaurants on the beach itself. So, you will need to pack your snacks and drinks if you plan to spend the whole day at Dominicalito Beach.

However, if you rather prefer to dine in at a restaurant for a relaxed meal, ¿Por Que No? is a good option close by. It lies about 2 km south of Playa Domicalito.

For a more exhaustive list of restaurants, check out our guide to the best restaurants in Dominical and Uvita.

Where to stay

If you want to include Playa Dominicalito in your South Pacific Costa Rica itinerary, it is best to base yourself in Dominical. Dominical is a small beach town with a laid back vibe.

Dominical does not have any luxury stay options. But you will have some hostels and budget to mid-range hotels to choose from.

• Cool Vibes Beach Hostel is a hostel on the beach, Playa Dominical. Although a hostel, all rooms here come with a private bathroom. You will have a communal kitchen where you can cook your own meals. The hostel has a swimming pool and offers free WiFi throughout the property. Check prices and book your stay here.

• Hotel Villas Rio Mar is a mid-range hotel, located about 800 meters away from Playa Dominical. With air-conditioning, WiFi, restaurant and swimming pool, it has all the amenities for a comfortable stay. The hotel is located next to the River Baru. Click here to check prices and availability.

• Tribe Boutique Hotel is a comparatively new hotel with budget price points. All rooms have their own patios and private bathrooms. The property has a swimming pool, a bar and free WiFi. Click here to book your stay.

• Hacienda Baru is a good option if you want to stay closer to nature. Apart from lodging, they have many trails within the property and offer guided birding tours as well. Facilities include bar, swimming pool and free WiFi.

If you rather prefer to stay in some luxury accommodation, you can head down a bit south and choose among the many options in Uvita or Ojochal. We can recommend the Oxygen Jungle Villas in Uvita, as we have stayed there.

Is it worth visiting Dominicalito Beach, Costa Rica?

Dominicalito Beach may not have clear turquoise water like that of some Caribbean island. If you are looking for a white sand beach in Costa Rica on the Pacific side, may be you should choose Manuel Antonio or Flamingo or Conchal. Playa Domicalito is very different from the beaches on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica too.

However, even with its grey sand and white waves, Dominicalito Beach has its own charm. It is a little place, tucked safely from the gaze of the rest of the world. But spending a few minutes or hours at this beach, you may actually get drawn to its carefree vibe. To find that out, Playa Domicalito in Costa Rica is definitely worth a visit.

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