Dominical is a serious surf beach. The tourism board describes its big waves as ideal for surfing, and the beach break produces fast, pitching lefts and barreling rights — a wave for intermediate and advanced surfers, biggest on the south and southwest swells that run May through September.

Beginners have a better option one cove south. Playa Dominicalito breaks three to four feet smaller than the town beach on the same swell, and its moderate surf also makes it the safer of the two for swimming.

Nauyaca is a two-tier waterfall on private land ten kilometers from Playa Dominical on the road toward San Isidro de El General — the upper fall drops 45 meters and the lower is a 20-meter stepped cascade with a natural pool you can swim in. The falls are also known locally as the Santo Cristo or Don Lulo waterfalls.

The self-guided hike in requires no reservation, and the property also runs vehicle tours that carry you most of the way to the falls.