bird watching dominical

`Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge offers “The Flight of the Toucan” which imitates the zigzagging motion of the chestnut-mandibled toucan as it swoops through the rainforest. A series of eight cables carries guests from one platform to another, providing a momentary sensation of flying through dense jungle. The tour includes a fair amount of hiking and lots of opportunities to spot wildlife.

Ultralight Tours
Take wing aboard a super-light aircraft and fly over mountains and miles of unspoiled shoreline. Located near the beach in Uvita, trips range from a 20-minute introductory flight to a 45-minute exploration of Marino Ballena National Park and its adjacent mangrove forests.


Land Activities:

Basilisk LizardATV Tours
Explore the rugged mountains surrounding Dominical and Uvita on all-terrain vehicles. Half or full-day trips are available.

Bird and Wildlife Watching
Wildlife enthusiasts will love nearby Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge, where sloths, monkeys, toucans and giant iguanas are frequently spotted in the rainforest. Ecotourism is the primary source of income for the refuge, which attracts travelers with a variety of nature and adventure tours including a tree-climbing adventure, rainforest hike, overnight camping trip and several bird-watching excursions.

Visitors to Marino Ballena National Park can observe humpback whales from August – October and December – April as they migrate through the park’s warm waters.

Canyoning (Waterfall Rappelling)
A couple of tour operators specialize in this adrenaline-fueled adventure sport. Guests hike into a rainforest canyon where they rappel a series of picturesque waterfalls using climbing gear and techniques.

Day Spas
Relax and unwind with a Turkish bath, chocolate body wrap, or foot reflexology session. These are just a few of the wellness treatments available in Cuna del Angel’s European Day Spa. Treatments include facials, pedicures, body scrubs and pampering packages.Horseback Riding

Hiking
The self-guided nature trails at Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge offer excellent hiking and wildlife watching opportunities. The refuge includes 4.5 miles of moderate trails, a bird-watching tower, orchid gallery and butterfly garden.

Horseback Riding
Discover backcountry roads and hidden waterfalls on a guided horseback trip. Six miles outside of Dominical, Don Lulo’s Horseback Tours is a family-run affair with over 80 horses. After a traditional breakfast, guests continue on to the 130-foot high Nauyaca Waterfall for an hour of swimming and relaxation. Tour includes guides, Tico-style breakfast and lunch, and horses suited to all riding levels.

Shopping
Dominical has a nice collection of shops and galleries where travelers can browse for souvenirs, sunglasses, beachwear and unique handicrafts. Beachside vendors sell inexpensive jewelry, colorful sarongs, pottery and charms made from local shells and seeds.


Water Activities:

Sea KayakingCanoeing & Sea Kayaking
The Waves and Caves sea-kayak tour explores the rocky caves around Marino Ballena National Park. Paddlers depart at low tide and often see bottlenose dolphins and whales.

Another option is to kayak through the Hatillo mangrove swamps next to Guapil Beach. On this three-hour tour, guests paddle along winding canals, spotting lowland birds as well as sloths and monkeys. Departure time depends upon the tide.

Day Trip to Cano Island
Visitors can arrange a day trip to visit Cano Island Biological Reserve, famous for its coral reefs and marine life. A full-day tour includes roundtrip boat transportation from Dominical, bilingual guide, snorkeling and /or scuba diving, beverages and lunch on the beach. Humpback and pilot whales, dolphins and manta rays are frequently spotted. Fish

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Explore a dazzling variety of coral and marine life on a snorkeling or dive trip to Marino Ballena National Park or Cano Island Biological Reserve. Equipment can be rented in town, and day trips are available with several tour operators.

Sport Fishing
The waters off Dominical abound with hard-fighting sailfish, wahoo, mahi mahi and marlin. Inshore, anglers can fish for mackerel, jacks, roosterfish and large snapper. December-April is peak season, though there is good fishing year-round. Cuna del Angel features fully-equipped 26 and 31-foot boats and experienced captains. Single and multi-day packages are available and include captain, crew, bait, equipment, beer and gourmet sandwiches.
Surfer
Surfing
Dominical and its neighboring beaches have long been visited by experienced surfers. On the north end of the beach, a large rivermouth has a good left break with hollow waves on the incoming low tide. The Point (Km 154, ten minutes south of Dominical) is known as an intermediate-level point break, surfed best at mid to incoming tide.

Playa Dominicalito has more forgiving waves than Dominical and is a nice place for the novice. Beginners should check out one of the local surf shops where lessons and extended surf camps are offered at reasonable prices. Board rentals and ding repair are widely available. Read more about surfing in Costa Rica.

Check out all of the South Pacific Surf Breaks

Whitewater River Rafting
Rafting trips to the Savegre River can be arranged in Dominical. River runners can paddle Class II-IV rapids on trips ranging from half to multi-day adventures.


Culture and Nightlife:Roca Verde

Learn Spanish
Adventure Education Center, located in the heart of Dominical, offers a range of intensive immersion courses ranging from one week to several months. The center combines small group Spanish instruction with cooking classes and Latin dance, as well as lots of adventure activities.

Theater & Nightlife
Hotel Roca Verde, a half mile south of Dominical, occasionally converts into a community playhouse featuring local theater groups. The hotel also doubles as the happening dancing spot every Saturday night.

Rio Lindo Resort in the center of town hosts live concerts every Thursday. On Fridays, the San Clement Bar & Restaurant holds a popular disco. Local jams and ladies nights are held regularly at Maracatu, a funky restaurant serving world cuisine.