Located in Costa Rica´s south pacific coast line to the south of Manuel Antonio, Domical is known not only as a surfer´s paradise in Costa Rica but also for its natural richness.  One of the major highlights while visiting the area of Dominical is the Marino Ballena National Park which is home to a number of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales that arrive every year to mate and nest in these tropical waters.

The fishing town of Dominical offers a wide variety of small restaurants specializing in sea food. Also, there is a variety of accommodations for all likings ranging from small surfer camps up to deluxe and nature oriented hotels. Visitors may partake on a variety of including explorations of the rich marine wildlife in the area, participating on dolphin and whale watching tours up to boat tours to Corcovado National Park or Caño Island Biological Reserve.

Highlights

Marino Ballena National Park
Being a relatively new National Park created on 1989, the Marino Ballena is Costa Rica first Marine Park, covering 5375 marine hectares and 115 land hectares. The park was created in order to protect species with commercial value as well as other important biological specimens associated with the coral reefs in the area, which help to protect the temporary refuge of the humpback whale and the fragile marine ecosystem.

For thousands of years, the humpback whales (named for the way they arch their backs on the surface before diving) visit the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. From August through October, southern hemisphere humpbacks are found in the area, while northern hemisphere whales visit the area from December through April.  Apparently, the reason why they visit this area is due to the warm calm water, shallow protected areas around islands and reefs, where the newly born may safely become strong enough before returning to their cold water feeding grounds.  Other interesting species to be observed in the area are the Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, visiting from May through November, as well as bottled nosed and common dolphins.  Whale and dolphin watch tours can easily be organized for travelers during their stay in the area.