Central America

Dominical

Puntarenas · Costa Rica

Sanctuary Score

77 / 100

#36 in the Americas

“Costa Rica's South Pacific surf-and-jungle hub where Marino Ballena access, waterfall hikes, and a tight family-and-surfer community keep the rustic intact.”

Playa Dominical — jungle meeting the surf beach — Dominical, Costa Rica

Photo: Haakon S. Krohn · CC BY-SA 3.0

The Nauyaca Waterfalls in the hills above town — Dominical, Costa Rica — Photo: Matthias Bethke · CC BY-SA 4.0

Surf and palms along Playa Dominical — Costa Rica — Photo: Jdlrobson · CC BY-SA 3.0

The ten pillars

Each scored 1–10 by hand. Their sum is the Sanctuary Score.

Nature10 / 10

Walkability7 / 10

Food7 / 10

Healthcare7 / 10

Climate stability7 / 10

Air & water8 / 10

Safety8 / 10

Connectivity7 / 10

Community7 / 10

Beauty9 / 10

At a glance

Tracked separately from the score — these describe the place, they don't rank it.

Climate: Tropical
Sensory load: 2/10 · calm
Cost: $$$; ~$900/mo · 1BR
Expat community: Medium

Sources

Scores are set by hand against cited public sources — the curation stays auditable.

Is Dominical your sanctuary?

The Index says life is good here. The assessment tells you whether it fits the way your nervous system actually works.

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