Live a Pacific Oceanfront life near fishing villages, physically and psychically far removed from pricy luxury resort hotel rooms, with a money-saving Dominical vacation rental. Surf, dive, snorkel, beach comb, horseback ride, bicycle, or relax in a hammock. Take a stress-relieving yoga class at Bamboo YogaPlay. Enjoy beach restaurants serving up everything from East Indian curries and Italian pastas and pizzas to local gallo pinto and shots of anise-infused sugarcane liquor.

Savor lonely beaches populated by pelicans, frigate birds, brown boobies, and hardy surfers here for the waves and good beachfront food at reasonable prices. The difference between you and Robinson Crusoe is that your money-saving Dominical vacation rental, the nearby restaurants, and local tour guides supply your needs. Even if you are just enjoying the howler monkeys, parrots, iguanas, and toucans and not surfing, Dominical is great for relaxing. Dozing off in a hammock bathed by cool Pacific Ocean breezes and lulled by the sound of the waves is a good antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life. Don’t forget to take a break from relaxing to snap some sunrise and sunset photos to email friends and family using your vacation rental Wi-Fi Internet connection.

When you’ve caught up on your sleep and feel relaxed, take the family on a hike to the double-cascade waterfall at Nauyaca. Perhaps the family would be up for a horseback gallop on the beach, or a trot to a smaller waterfall like Pazo Azul, whose plunge pool is popular with local kids. There is always boogie boarding at Playa Dominicalito. Or beachcombing and dolphin-watching at Playa Dominical. Guided bird-watching, and mangrove estuary and rainforest tours are always educational. Charter a fishing boat. Catch and release big sailfish like marlin in the deep sea, or keep some tasty dinner fish like red snapper, yellowfin tuna, snook, wahoo, and dorado.

Humpback whales migrate south towards Dominical to escape the Arctic cold. December to April is the humpback whale mating season in Ballena (Whale) Marine National Park. May to November is the nesting season, when Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles do their nocturnal egg-laying on the beaches. Low tide beach combing walks can take you out to Punta Uvita Tombolo island. Snorkel, dive, and explore mangrove habitats. Or just sit with the family on the gold and white sands watching green marine iguanas sunbathe between dives into the rocks and corals to feed on marine algae. Memories and relaxation await at your money-saving Dominical vacation rental villa, home, studio, or guest room.