Things to do in Dominical, Province of Puntarenas: The Best Nature & Wildlife Tours

October 17, 2021 Carley Gatson

Surf, dive, snorkel, beach comb, horseback ride, bicycle, or relax in a hammock in Dominical. Take a stress-relieving yoga class at Bamboo YogaPlay. Enjoy beach restaurants serving up everything from East Indian curries and Italian pastas and pizzas to local gallo pinto and shots of anise-infused sugarcane liquor. Savor lonely beaches populated by pelicans, frigate birds, brown boobies, and hardy surfers here for the waves and good beachfront food at reasonable prices. When you’ve caught up on your sleep and feel relaxed, take the family on a hike to the double-cascade waterfall at Nauyaca. Perhaps the family would be up for a horseback gallop on the beach, or a trot to a smaller waterfall like Pazo Azul, whose plunge pool is popular with local kids. There is always boogie boarding at Playa Dominicalito. Or beachcombing and dolphin-watching at Playa Dominical. Guided bird-watching, and mangrove estuary and rainforest tours are always educational. Charter a fishing boat. Catch and release big sailfish like marlin in the deep sea, or keep some tasty dinner fish like red snapper, yellowfin tuna, snook, wahoo, and dorado. In Marino Bellena National Park, humpback whales migrate south towards Dominical to escape the Arctic cold. December to April is the humpback whale mating season in Ballena (Whale) Marine National Park. May to November is the nesting season, when Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles do their nocturnal egg-laying on the beaches. Low tide beach combing walks can take you out to Punta Uvita Tombolo island. Snorkel, dive, and explore mangrove habitats. Or just sit with the family on the gold and white sands watching green marine iguanas sunbathe between dives into the rocks and corals to feed on marine algae.
Restaurants in Dominical

1. Costa Rica Surf Camp

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5.0 based on 467 reviews

Costa Rica Surf Camp

Costa Rica Surf Camp is a family run business has been offering surf lesson and surf guides since 2004 in Dominical. If you are looking for a unique adventure, our team of professionals will show you the best time out in the surf! Stop by the surf shop has everything you need for surfing and enjoying the beach.

2. Costa Rica Dive and Surf

Excellent
86%
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10%
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5.0 based on 293 reviews

Costa Rica Dive and Surf

Diving Center with 13 years of experience Diving and Snorkeling at Caño Island and Marino Ballena State Park. Padi Diving Courses from Open Water to Divemaster. Surf School and Surf Board Rentals.

3. Pineapple Tours

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93%
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5.0 based on 774 reviews

Pineapple Tours

We offer Kayak & Stand Up Paddleboard tours for all levels and ages in Dominical, Costa Rica. Tours to Mangroves in Matapalo, Ventanas Caves, Whale's Tail at Marino Ballena National Park, Rio Baru, and other locations. It's an amazing way to discover the beauty, nature and adventure of this tropical paradise. Whether you are kayaking through enchanting mangrove estuaries, searching for exotic birds and animals, paddling through adrenaline-filled ocean caves, snorkeling and exploring at the Whale's Tail at Marino Ballena National Park, or just a lazy paddle up the rio Baru, our 12+ years experience and knowledgeable, local guides will leave you with memories and a HUGE smile. Rentals available too.

4. Paraglide Dominical with Hawk Adventures

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5.0 based on 102 reviews

Paraglide Dominical with Hawk Adventures

Fly with the birds on one of Costa Ricas premier flying sites. Launch, then thermal up in rising air with the native birds flying next to you. Enjoy the spectacular views from high above. Eventually landing gently on a beautiful Costa Rican beach.

5. Rainforest Rides & Rappelling

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5.0 based on 21 reviews

Rainforest Rides & Rappelling

Experience - Explore - Educate On this guided experience, you will touch the jungle, dip in a waterfall pool, ride a horse, rappel a waterfall, climb boulders, smear your body with clay, see historical artifacts, invigorate your senses with tropical fruits and fresh cane juice. This is a PRIVATE TOUR TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED (from Dominical) You will see INDIGENOUS ARTIFACTS

6. Jungle Tours Dominical

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5.0 based on 8 reviews

Jungle Tours Dominical

I am a graduate in business administration and a passionate traveler. Currently, I spend summer in Montreal and during the winter months migrate south to Costa Rica, where I was born. I've been a certified PADI Dive Master since 2015, graduated in Byron Bay, Australia. I also worked in the Gili islands, in Indonesia, where I lived for roughly one year. In Costa Rica I am privileged to dive in the magnificent Caño Island and guide tours in lush forests of the South Pacific. <<< Pura Vida >>>

7. Nauyaca Waterfalls / Cataratas Nauyaca

Excellent
80%
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4.5 based on 482 reviews

Nauyaca Waterfalls / Cataratas Nauyaca

Nauyaca Waterfalls is a totally Costa Rican owned family tourism company, dedicated for several years to tour operations. These are horseback riding tours, traveling through the farm that border with two impressive waterfalls from Rio Barucito. These majestic waterfalls are one of the main attractions of the southern region in Costa Rica, not only for their natural scenic beauty, which offers the tourist moments of recreation and fun, but also to participate in different activities such as horseback ridign tours, swimming, climbing, jumping and to observe much of the beauty of the tropical rainforest, among others. Nauyaca Waterfalls is the ideal place, not only for those in search of tranquility and nature, but also for adventure and excitement lovers. They are a reference point for adventure ecotourism as they are recognized worldwide for their beauty and the excellent services they provide.

8. Hacienda Baru Lodge

Excellent
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4.5 based on 436 reviews

Hacienda Baru Lodge

Hacienda Baru Ecotours offer customers guided tours in the National Wildlife Refuge Hacienda Baru. To discover the nature of the topical forest Hacienda Baru offers different tours such as a fantastic zip-line tour called "The flight of the toucan," mangrove walk, rainforest experience, nocturnal hike and night in the jungle. Also available are different birdwatching tours. Seven kilometers of walking trails and three kilometers of pristine beach are here to be explored as well as our orchid garden and medicinal herb garden.

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