Costa Rica's 'Hippie Surf Town' Is Surrounded By Lush Jungle And Stunning Waterfalls

If you live in one of the cooler parts of the northern hemisphere, the winter months can be a time best suited to hibernating at home and binge-watching TV shows in your sweatpants. No wonder around 5% of Americans experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) each year. So what better place to escape the winter blues than heading to one of the happiest places on earth? While Scandinavian countries tend to dominate the charts in this respect, the tropical Central American country of Costa Rica ranks very highly (#12 in 2024), and makes the ideal escape for burned-out travelers. Exploring the nation's capital, San José, is one of the best things to do in Costa Rica, but the country's laid-back vibe is best savored in a hippie surf town like Dominical.

Situated on the Pacific Coast three hours from the capital, this small beach community of around 700 people is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of place. Indeed, if you were flying overhead, you might assume it is simply a large private estate nestled on a wedge of land where the Rio Baru meets the sea. Once you're on the ground, don't expect luxury resorts or pulsating nightlife –- Dominical is a place where people come to unwind. Strolling from one end of town to the other will only take around 15 minutes, and the atmosphere is like a low-key holiday village for eco-conscious visitors who love wildlife, nature, surfing, and the "pura vida" ("pure life") attitude. Let's take a look at some of the highlights.

In many ways, the major appeal of Dominical is that there isn't much to do. Some visitors are happy to just pull up in their campervans and claim a spot on the beach where they can while away the hours watching the powerful rollers coming in off the Pacific Ocean. It's not the prettiest stretch of seashore as it is quite dark and rocky, but the general lack of tourists contributes to a peaceful environment, and the large waves make Dominical Beach popular with surfers. Surrounded by jungle, it can get quite hot and humid in Dominical and a short 15-minute drive to Nauyaca Waterfalls is the perfect place to cool off. It's a beautiful location where you can swim in the freshwater pool beneath the twin cascades and keep an eye out for monkeys, toucans, and sloths.

Also nearby, Marino Bellena National Park in Uvita is a great spot for a romantic getaway with its spectacular beaches, coral reefs, and distinctive Whale's Tail headland that emerges from the ocean at low tide. Fittingly, the park is one of the best places to see humpback whales in Costa Rica. If you want to get up close to some local marine life, take a boat ride out to Caño Island Biological Reserve. The trip takes around 90 minutes from the dock in Uvita and the clear blue waters are home to a diverse range of sea life including turtles, sharks, rays, and glimmering shoals of fish, making for an unforgettable subaquatic adventure.

Dominical may not have an over-abundance of places to eat, but what it does offer is enough to keep you pleasantly sated during your stay. Start your day well with a breakfast burrito or a healthy bowl on the riverside terrace at Cafe Mono Congo, a lively spot that attracts a diverse range of expats and locals. As with many of Dominical's dining options, people seeking a vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free bite are just as well catered for as carnivores. Elsewhere, check out the delicious Israeli breakfast at Lori Restaurant which specializes in 100% vegan fare.

For lunch or dinner, Phat Noodle is a great destination for Asian-inspired favorites such as pad Thai, curry dishes, and banh mi sandwiches, perhaps enjoyed best with a colorful cocktail in its convivial outdoor dining area. Taco fiends have a few good options: Del Mar Taco Shop is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Dominical, while El Pescado Loco serves up some of the tastiest fish and shrimp tacos in town. For a more upscale take on Central American cuisine with stunning views, take a drive up to NFUSION by the swanky Villas Alturas resort for a treat you won't forget in a hurry. If you prefer to wash down your meal with a crisp and cold beer, Fuego Brew Co. is the place to go. Regarded as one of the best breweries in Costa Rica, you can choose from an impressive roster of craft beers from IPAs to pilsners.