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Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast is blossoming, led by Dominical's harmonious combination of pristine tropical forest, abundant sand beaches, diverse community and convenient infrastructure. Once a humble and isolated fishing village, its legendary waves transformed it into a surfing mecca and a thriving hub for active travelers and nature lovers. Now, it is equally renowned for its diverse wealth of activities, ranging from bird-watching, swimming and movie nights to ultralight flights, sport fishing and live Community Theater. Through infrastructure improvements and thoughtful management Dominical has matured into a hotspot for luxury real estate. Evenly paced and holistically minded, real estate in Dominical achieves an exemplary balance of nature and convenience.
The town's geography is essentially defined by its dramatic landscape: verdant mountains to the east that lushly descend 3,000 feet to the sandy ribbons of beach and sparkling blue Pacific ocean. Until the paving of the Pacific highway a few years ago, the area was relatively isolated. Dominical's surroundings, while still sparsely populated, are dotted with settlements such as Matapalo, Uvita, Ojochal, which are keeping pace with Dominical's growth.
Matapalo, 15 km (1/2 hour) north of Dominical, towards Quepos, retains its agricultural village ambiance, enhanced by a multicultural community largely dedicated to small-scale tourism services. The beach itself stretches 45 km -- bordered to the North by Manuel Antonio National Park. Uvita is a traditional fishing village, 25 km (20 minutes) south of Dominical. Set on the northern edge of Ballena National Marine Park, Playa Uvita - a Blue Flag beach - is famed for its open expanse of sand, great swimming and crowd-free space. The town is a loosely linked network of residences, exemplifying one of the area's greatest draws - privacy without isolation. Ojochal, 7 km (5 min) south of Uvita is an eclectic community favored by Americans, French Canadians and Europeans. Lush rainforest and private beaches meet rustic sophistication, in this eclectic town that climbs up the mountain, combining authentic Costa Rican living with delightful international flavors.
Electricity service now covers formerly blacked-out areas south of Uvita, and phone and internet service is available almost everywhere. New internet cafés, banks, businesses, hardware stores and commercial office suites are springing up.
At the same time, the low-density population, and the respect for nature of those who have settled here have helped preserve the original environment. Wildlife flourishes alongside stunning ocean-view villas and beach-front properties. Costa Rica's famed biodiversity is center stage in the Dominical area, where hundreds of exotic species, including three types of toucans, giant green and red iguanas, all four types of native monkeys, multi-colored parrots, sloths and various small cats such as jaguarundis and montegordos (found almost nowhere else in Central America). In short, the area affords secluded tropical-immersion living within a stone's throw of convenient services.
While still a compact hub that can be crossed easily on foot, Dominical the town has grown to more than 700 permanent residents with a number of small beach-front restaurants, bars and cabinas and an active international community.
As part of this community, Coldwell Banker is proud to note that the Ecological Blue Flag waves at Dominical Beach. The distinction is awarded to beaches that meet strict standards of safety, cleanliness and environmental protection, and is a reflection of the town's significant efforts to maintain and improve its surroundings.
Public Services
Infrastructure has increased significantly in Dominical.
Health: Dominical boasts a doctor's office, a dentist office and pharmacy, ensuring qualified, immediate first-aid attention. Two private clinics, just 40 minutes away in San Isidro, provide comprehensive health services, including blood testing, CAT scans and more. A major hospital is scheduled to be completed in Cortés (30 minutes from Dominical) in the next few years.
Beach Safety: Dominical's active community have built up an excellent team of full and part-time, nationally certified lifeguards.The service is sustained by monthly contributions from local businesses, personal donations and fundraising events, ensuring a safe beach for swimming.
Banking: The Bank of Costa Rica has opened a full service branch in Dominical, also equipped with an ATM machine that accepts VISA cards.
Internet: Broadband internet using microwave signals is available throughout the Dominical region; areas along the Pacific Coast highway also have access to high-speed (ISDN) internet. Two Internet cafés offer drop-in service.
Security: A small but vigilant police force provides security in Dominical, including a 24-hour checkpoint at the main entrance to town. A permanent police station serves as a base for the 5-to-6 officers.
Arts and Culture: Dominical's energetic population has considerably expanded the town's arts and culture offerings, including art galleries, movie nights, live music shows and even an English-language theater group.
National Parks: To the south is the stunning Ballena National Marine Park. Playa Dominical is near Manuel Antonio National Park, and is a gateway to Corcovado National Park and Caño Island National Preserve. North of town, on the other side of Río Barú is Hacienda Barú, a private 1000-acre ecological preserve. In the hills directly east of Playa Dominical are areas of primary forest with numerous waterfalls throughout, including Diamante the county's tallest - a three-level, 800-foot-high mountain of cascading water.
Recycling: Conscientious residents in Dominical have launched a growing recycling program.
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VESTA GROUP DOMINICAL