Costa Rica, Central Pacific, Hotel Domilocos

Central Pacific

With its varied landscape of both wet and dry tropical rain forests and a sun-drenched coastline teeming with big fish and even bigger surf, the central Pacific coast is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica for hikers, anglers, surfers and sun-worshippers alike. National parks hug the coastline providing refuge for rare species of animals such as the squirrel monkey and scarlet macaw, while more commonly sighted creatures like iguanas and white-faced capuchins ensure that every outing is memorable. The region also boasts well-paved roads leading from San Jose and the Central Valley out to the coastline, so it’s no surprise that Ticos flock to the Pacific looking for the perfect weekend escape.

Not surprisingly, this stretch of the Pacific has always been popular with the North American package holiday crowd as it’s easy to squeeze in a one week retreat and be back to work on Monday. In recent years however, North American Baby Boomers nearing retirement began snatching up property, lured to Costa Rica by a combination of good weather, safety and a low cost of living. Beach towns like Jaco that were once the exclusive enclaves of vacationing Tico families are now quickly being colonized by American-style strip malls, gated communities and 4x4 car dealerships. Foreign investment blessed this region with continuous development and solid infrastructure, though Ticos are starting to wonder if they will soon feel like tourists in their own backyard.

Things are indeed changing quickly, and it’s difficult to say which interests will win out in the end. A new marina at Quepos will bring in a larger volume of tourists visiting Costa Rica on cruise ships, though it’s difficult to imagine that the authenticity of the coastal fishing villages and palm-oil plantations could ever be lost.

Costa Ballena

Costa Ballena is a coastline of 40 km that reaches from Dominical to Ojochal. Located on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, it is surrounded by green lush mountains and flora that you can enjoy all year round, both in summer and in winter, a truly privileged climate. The mountains meet the ocean where the sound of the constant pounding of the waves, the deep blue water home of the whales and dolphins, and the astonishing sunsets, will make your vacations a memorable experience. Driving down South from Dominical..
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The OSA Peninsula (...and Corcovado)

It’s not uncommon to use superlatives when describing the Península de Osa and the Golfo Dulce. National Geographic famously described it as ‘the most biologically intense place on earth.’ That’s right, on earth. Residents claim it is the most picturesque, the most pristine, the most perfect spot in Costa Rica. Certainly, indisputably, it is the most remote (which goes a long way toward explaining why the other adjectives also apply). The peninsula protects the Golfo Dulce from the powerful Pacific, attracting grou..

The Nicoya Peninsula, a hook-shaped, beach-fringed and sun-drenched strip of land, has always figured prominently in the history of Costa Rica. Following the independence of Central America from Spain, the peninsula comprised the bulk of Guanacaste, a province of the newly formed country of Nicaragua. However, on July 25, 1824, Guanacastecos voted to secede and join Costa Rica, creating yet another grievance between Nicas and Ticos. Today, the region still holds on to its dream of independence, and it’s not uncommo..

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Central Valley

Although the Central Valley is one of the world’s principal coffee-growing centers, the cultural and political environment of the region has matured greatly in recent years. With the booming capital of San Jose at its core, and the bustling cities of Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago on its perimeter, the Central Valley serves as the main population center of the country as well as embodying the modern-day persona of Costa Rica. The region boasts one of the largest microchip production centers in the world, and the cou..

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Caribbean Coast

The cloud-covered mountains of the Cordillera de Talamanca and the volcanic peaks of the Cordillera Central effectively split Costa Rica down its spine, creating a very real division between the ‘Caribbean side’ and the rest of Costa Rica. Over here, the jungle meets the sea in a smooth arc of sandy beaches that stretch – nearly uninterrupted – from the Nicaraguan border to the Panamanian border. More than a quarter of this coast is protected, including the country’s last living coral reefs. And the lac..

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Beach Hotel in Dominical, Costa Rica. With high-speed WiFi.

TAPAS restaurant featuring: Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch, Vietnamese and Indonesian food.

Central Pacific