Dominical is a wild and beautiful region situated in the remote south - western Pacific coast of Costa Rica that receives far fewer visitors than Manuel Antonio, which is just 40 kilometres north.
The impressive jungle covered foothills of the Talamanca Mountains are home to a wide variety of birdlife, sloth and monkeys flanked by vast black sand beaches popular with surfers. Punta Uvita is a jagged reef which has formed just off the coast, creating a sand bar which looks like a giant whale's tail from the air.
The area is well known for its whale and dolphin watching and humpbacks gather in the Marino Ballena National Park from December to March and August to October.
The park also has mangroves teeming with wildlife, rocky islets, coral reefs and pristine dark sand beaches which are important nesting sites for turtles.