More surfing schools surface as Dominical becomes a new surfing paradise in Costa Rica
There are many reasons to visit Costa Rica, including the beautiful coastlines, pristine beaches, incredible nightlife, and exquisite restaurants. However, for many, surfing is one of the top reasons to visit Costa Rica. With so many incredible locations to choose from, like the Osa Peninsula, the Nicoya Peninsula, and Uvita, tourists are able to pick the spot that caters best to their surfing styles. Recently, tourists have discovered Dominical’s charm as a hot surfing destination, a gem located south of Uvita and north of the Osa Peninsula.
Dominical has proven especially great for beginner surfers. Its beaches are loaded with surf schools that have lower prices than those in Playa Hermosa’s in Uvita, or Drake’s Bay on the Osa Peninsula. As tourists catch on, they are beginning to shift their journeys to Dominical. One can get a personalized lesson in Dominical for as little as $40 for an hour-long private lesson, while prices in Uvita and the Osa Peninsula hover around $60.
Conditions in Dominical are similar to the neighboring beach towns, except the atmosphere is more relaxed. The surf is also more relaxed, not as steep as Playa Hermosa’s, offering a great place to jump on a board for the first time, without getting pummeled by monster waves. Business owners aren’t complaining about the influx of tourists to Dominical either, in fact, its great for business. But they have noticed many new surf schools popping up.
Located right off the beach in Dominical is El Tubo, a prime spot for tourists to rent a board or buy a lesson on a whim. Owner Justin Hague has been in the surfing business in Dominical long enough to see the slow increase in attention tourists are giving Dominical, along with the slow progression of new surf shops opening up along the beach.
Hague has seen many surf shops come and go. At the beginning of the surf season many new surf schools pop up all around Dominical, with a range of 10 to 20 schools per season. Many new schools, however optimistic, don’t last the season. A lot of people who open up these surf schools are doing so in an attempt to “live the good life” in Costa Rica for an unforeseen amount of time, others, like Hague, do it as a serious business.
As Dominical becomes a greater surf destination, inevitably the surfing business is going to grow. And more surfing schools means more opportunities to get on that board for the first time and enjoy one of the greatest pastimes Costa Rica has to offer.