Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort
A small surf resort on a hilltop above Dominical, where the meals, the coaching and the drives to the breaks all come with the stay
Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort, on a hilltop above Dominical
Lamangata sits 1,200 feet up in the hills behind Dominical, on the southern Pacific coast. It is a small resort built around one idea: you come to learn to surf, or to surf better, and everything else, the meals, the transport, the adventures, is arranged so you never think about it. The name joins the Spanish "la" to the Swedish "mangata", the road the moon lays on the water.
Why we choose it
- Surf coaching that starts in the pool. Lessons for every level begin in the infinity pool, then move to the breaks at Dominical, Dominicalito, Playa Hermosa and Playa Linda, with video and drone footage reviewed on the big screen afterwards. After three days in a row they give you a day off the board.
- Everything comes with the stay. In the hotel's own words: all daily meals and non-alcoholic drinks, surf lessons with Firewire boards, one surf session or one adventure for every full day, and the resort's SUVs to the jungle, the beach and town. No rental car needed.
- Families are welcome. The FAQ answers "Can I bring my kids?" with a plain yes, and there is a family package with s'mores at the fire pit.
Rooms and views
Every suite faces the Pacific. The Ocean View King Suites have a king bed, teak floors, vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors onto a private terrace over the jungle. The same suite comes in a version for three, with an extra-long twin bed alongside the king.
On the property
The infinity lap pool looks at the ocean and doubles as the surf classroom. There is a teak-floored yoga studio, an open-air massage room, a bocce court in the jungle and a fire pit for the evening. The kitchen is garden-to-table, with a greenhouse on site, homemade ice cream and edible flowers, and the chefs cook to whatever diet you give them. Wednesday night is dinner out in Dominical.
The nine adventures that come with the stay take in Rocas de Amancio, the Uvita waterfall, Hacienda Barú, a chocolate or coffee tasting, the Whale's Tail at Ballena National Park and Nauyaca Waterfall, 15 minutes from the gate.
Location and getting there
Lamangata is above Dominical on the Costanera, about ten minutes from the surf breaks, and there is no beach on the property: the resort drives you down. The closest airstrip is Quepos; by road from San José it is most of a morning, and we build that transfer into your trip. The resort asks for a 3-night minimum. Check-in is from 2:00 PM and check-out by 11:00 AM. Read more about Dominical.
Hotels we book in Dominical
From our own hotel records: stars, themes and amenities. Nothing here is a price.
| Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort | Hotel Cuna Del Angel | Costa Paraiso | Villas Rio Mar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Boutique | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Spa | Not listed | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Team favourite | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Check availability | See hotel | See hotel | See hotel |
Where it is
Your Costa Rican driver waits at arrivals and stops whenever you like on the way: fruit stands, a sloth in a tree, a bathroom.
If this hotel is full, we would look at
Your Costa Rica, starting in Dominical
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