Well on its way to becoming the Pacific Coast capital of cool, Dominical is synonymous with surfers and a laid-back lifestyle. This former fishing village beside the estuary of the Rio Baru also makes an excellent jumping-off point for hiking and horseback riding in the surrounding mountains.

Dominical’s barefoot, casual dress code appeals to vacationers seeking a refuge that shuns all pretension. The college crowd joins middle-aged misfits with sun-bleached hair and ankle beads, who together make waves by day and party by night at colourful bars and cafes run by transplanted gringos.