Dominicalito
Dominicalito Beach is not as infinite as Baru Beach and not as hang-ten as Dominical. It doesn’t have roaring caves like Ventenas, and it certainly doesn’t have a sweeping Whale's tail.
Upon my
first visit, I ditched my flip-flops and traversed the sand, walking left until
I reached the rocky end. I looked around. Any thoughts of beach inferiority melted
away. Years later, Dominicalito is still my favorite beach in Costa Rica; it is
the beach I always visit first.
When you
reach the Marina on Dominicalito, a dramatic coast materializes. You can see
jungle hills melting into the ocean and, beyond them, hazy blue mountains.
Weathered fishing boats sit moored to the sand at low tide, but not for long.
There is a flurry of fishing activity on Dominicalito, an ongoing mission to
keep local bellies full of fish.
However,
even with all this activity, vultures still outnumber people. The ominous creatures
are always close, waiting and watching, with a sinister vibe and a stinky, foul
smell. Fish guts are a beach vulture's favorite typical plate. The ocean
cleanses the gunk away. If you walk past the vultures and boats, you'll reach a
tiered rock shelf at the end of the beach. You can navigate the rocks at low tide,
and later, select a secluded tide pool for a mid-day dip. The pools will be
shared with tiny fish. There is a magnificent dead tree lying prone at the end
of the beach, with weathered arms reaching toward the sea. Climb the trunk, and
for a moment in time, you'll be the figurehead of a ship, surveying your
kingdom. Take a breath.
At this
point, you might as well hop down and walk to the other end of the beach. Be
sure to take photos along the way. You may find an old boat abandoned on the
sand, filled with nets and anchors, set against the vast coast, or a weird
bone, leftover coconut, smooth stone, or seashell at your feet. At low tide, big
rocks dot the sand like the surface of a chocolate chip cookie, and overhead,
inaudible trails of pelicans skim the sky. If you time it right, you’ll witness
an orange orb sinking into the sea. Sunsets are beautiful in Costa Rica.
These are
the images that I remember. I live in Minnesota, a land of lakes, farms,
forests, seasons, and snow. The coldest thing on Dominicalito is the refreshing
stream that meanders over countless pebbles until it reaches the ocean. I want
to walk through life barefoot. That's why I always return to Costa Rica.
But back to
you. How many beaches have you explored? Have you walked Dominicalito yet? Take
a break, park close, throw a blanket or chair in the shade, and watch the
fishermen clean fish. Buy some pipas frias from a vendor behind the beach and
drink. Stay long enough to watch the surfers at high tide. Leave only
footprints.
A day on
Dominicalito is Pura Vida to me.
