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FOR YOU, FOR FREE: 17 years' worth of firsthand Costa Rica trip planning and travel advice compiled into hundreds of articles, plus exclusive discounts. Created by a Costa Rican and a four-time published Costa Rica guidebook author. Welcome, amigos, and as we say in Costa Rica, pura vida!

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Photos of Playa Dominical Costa Rica (Central Pacific) From Our Personal Collection

Photos of Playa Dominical Costa Rica (Central Pacific) From Our Personal Collection

Last updated on August 16th, 2023 at 10:29 am GMT-6 (Costa Rica time)


Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

Costa Rica Travel Consulting Nikki Solano


Playa Dominical photos

Playa Dominical fast facts

  • English name: Dominical Beach
  • Distance from San Jose: 215km (approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes)
  • Closest Town: Dominical (small town), Quepos (large town)
  • Beach Status: Public beach

Playa Dominical beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

Playa Dominical is adored for the stellar waves that break offshore, not the beach itself, which is a long, partly rough, partly smooth, brown-sand beach that’s often covered with rocks and debris.

Crowds and noise

Playa Dominical receives a steady number of visitors because it’s the principal beach that fronts the moderately popular town of Dominical. Though Playa Dominical is less busy than other well-known surf beaches in Costa Rica, namely Playa Tamarindo, Playa Guiones (Nosara), Playa Santa Teresa, and Playa Jaco, crowds and noise can sometimes be an issue, especially on weekends, holidays, and when the town hosts surf competitions.

Cleanliness and Ecological Blue Flag rating

Costa Rica’s Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag Program) promotes sustainability and public health. Every year, beaches in Costa Rica strive for top honors, which are bestowed annually according to strict ecological criteria. Beaches that participate in the program and meet 90-100% of the eligibility criteria achieve a 1-star rating. Further efforts invite beaches to earn additional stars (5 stars is the highest rating), including special colored stars. (To learn more about the program and discover what each blue flag rating means, see our related blog post: Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica: Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners.)

Currently, Playa Dominical is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 1-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Dominical on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).

Development at Playa Dominical

Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.

The town of Dominical provides a small assortment of establishments, including hotels, restaurants, surf schools, yoga centers, and shops. Most line the town’s main drag (aptly named Main Street) and are within walking distance of the beach.

Playa Dominical safety

Swimming and water safety

Swimming is allowed at Playa Dominical. However, as a well-known surf destination, the water can be wavy and rough. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.

General safety

Never bring items of value with you to the beach and always keep an eye on your belongings. Remember to lock your rental car if you have one. Do not visit the beach before sunrise or after sunset.

Playa Dominical location and road conditions

Access to Playa Dominical and 4×4 requirement

Playa Dominical is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It fronts of the beach town of Dominical, which sits south of Quepos/Manuel Antonio and north of Uvita/Bahia.

Main Street, the town’s principal road, provides a direct route to the beach from Highway 34. A 4×4 vehicle is not required to reach Playa Dominical.

Map of Playa Dominical Costa Rica

Parking at Playa Dominical

There is no official parking at Playa Dominical. Locals park randomly among the trees at the back of the beach.

Best reason(s) to visit Playa Dominical

Playa Dominical isn’t worth traveling to purely to experience the beach. However, if you plan to station yourself in the Dominical area for a different reason, such as to surf, Playa Dominical provides decent waves. Go for the surf, the inexpensive opportunities to practice yoga, or Dominical’s small-town surf vibe, not the beach itself.

Beach-hopping from Playa Dominical (or alternative beach options in the region)

Recommended day trips from Playa Dominical include visits to Playa Uvita, Playa Ventanas, and/or beaches in the Manuel Antonio vicinity such as Playa Manuel Antonio, Playa Espadilla Sur, and Playa Espadilla Norte.

Not sure which Costa Rica beaches are the best to visit? Let the beaches in this article inspire you:

80+ Costa Rica Beaches (In Photos) And Where To Find Them

Want to learn about Costa Rica’s ecological blug flag beaches? Don’t miss our related blog post:

Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica (Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners)

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you been to Playa Dominical? What did you think?

Pura vida!



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Photos of Playa Dominical Costa Rica (Central Pacific) From Our Personal Collection
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Photos of Playa Dominical Costa Rica (Central Pacific) From Our Personal Collection
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We provide photos of Playa Dominical Costa Rica (Central Pacific coast), plus info about beach features, safety, location, parking, and more!
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