Dominical Beach Surf

Located on Costa Rica’s amazingly beautiful Central Pacific coastline, the small village of Hatillo is a surfer’s paradise where waves can reach over 10 feet high. An experienced surfer’s beach, Dominical lies some 40 kilometers south of the lovely Playa de Jaco in Puntarenas province. Attracting surfers not only from across the country, but from all over the world, this village is a great place to lie back and enjoy the various activities and water sports found around here.

A tiny coastal town 28 miles south of Quepos and the gorgeous Manuel Antonio National Park, Hatillo is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants in the area. With its stunning backdrop of lush green forests and palm tress, this beach is also a great place to bird watch or take a canopy tour of the surrounding locale. To get to Hatillo you can either drive here from San Jose Metro Area via San Isidro de General over the Talamanca Mountains or you can get here by driving straight down the coastal highway from Quepos past the town of Hacienda Baru.

With near perfect weather all year long, Hatillo has warm temperatures during the day and a cool ocean breeze by night. Many surfers who often come here usually sleep on the beach under the stars. However, there are accommodations here to suit every pocket. Dining is a fabulous experience in Hatillo, especially if you love seafood. There are a number of local restaurants or ‘sodas’ in the area, which serve everything from fresh lobsters and shrimps to delicious crabs and fish.

While swimming here is near impossible with the strong swells and rip tides, one can kayak off the coast or enjoy some diving or snorkeling opportunities in the area. Horseback tours can also be arranged to the nearby Nauyaca Waterfalls, or one can visit the Marino Ballena National Park, which is home to a number of marine mammals like turtles and whales that come here seasonally to mate and nest. If you like, you can take a short day trip to the lovely Caño Island just off the coast. This island is considered one of the best adventure diving spots in the world and is home to an impressive array of underwater marine life.