Don Lulo's Nauyaca Waterfalls is a short jaunt from Dominical, but light years away in terms of development. In true entrepreneurial style, Don Lulo and his family cut a path through the forest and started breeding horses for those wanting a trail ride to the falls. Owner Peter Aspinall started carving his own utopia from 550 acres of virgin rainforest more than two decades ago. The results are shared with a lucky few who stay in the rustic cabins that face the crashing west coast surf. Ornithologists flock here like bees to honey.
Monkeys run the gamut from the unreserved howler to spider, squirrel and white-faced capucins.
Aspinall has planted a mouth-watering array of fruits created from seeds collected around the world. Tiskita is a blissful garden of enchantment that transiting humpbacks and orcas are reluctant to miss. In San Jose, the Hotel Milvia is an engaging hotel nestled in a garden. Frequented by those in the know, the 1930s era abode was the choice of Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts while filming nearby. All nine bedrooms come complete with ceiling fans, hand-painted ceramics and hardwood floors.