Tropical Sands Dominical Eco Inn

Location: 120 meters from the beach, in front of Cafe En Sueño, Bahía Ballena, Puntarenas, 60504, Ballena, CR

Star Rating: 2 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 12:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Instructions: This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 48 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. If you are planning to arrive after 5:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with check-in instructions and an access code. The front desk is staffed during limited hours.

Amenities & Facilities

• Nature reserve
• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Express check-out
• Area shuttle (surcharge)
• Free WiFi
• Terrace
• Garden
• Express check-in/check-out
• Designated smoking area
• Concierge service
• Wheelchair accessible
• Picnic area
• Snorkeling nearby
• Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
• Hiking/biking trails nearby
• Scuba diving nearby
• Library
• Safe-deposit box at front desk
• Multilingual staff
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Express check-out
• Express check-in
• Tours/ticket assistance
• Area shuttle (surcharge)
• Parking (limited spaces)
• Free self parking
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Beach umbrellas
• Beach sun loungers
• Shared refrigerator
• Nature reserve
• Reception hall
• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Horse riding nearby

Rooms Available

• Classic Cabin, Garden View, Garden Area

  1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

  237-sq-foot individually decorated room, furnished balcony/patio with garden views

  
  

  Layout - Separate sitting area

  Relax - In-room massage available

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, shared/communal kitchen access, and toaster

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, towels, and a shower

  Practical - Laptop workspace, yard, and safe

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping and ceiling fan

  Need to Know - Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Refrigerator
  • Private bathroom
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Toaster
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Yard
  • Ceiling fan
  • Separate sitting area
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • In-room massage available
  • Free WiFi
  • Furnished balcony or patio
  • Shared/communal kitchen access
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Local maps
  • Window screens
  • Guidebooks or recommendations
  • Laptop-friendly workspace
  • Restaurant dining guide
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

• Standard Double Room, Garden View, Garden Area

  1 Double Bed

  269-sq-foot individually decorated room, furnished balcony/patio with garden views

  
  

  Relax - In-room massage available

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Refrigerator, shared/communal kitchen access, and toaster

  Sleep - Blackout drapes/curtains and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, towels, and a shower

  Practical - Desk, yard, and safe

  Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Need to Know - Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

  Non-Smoking, renovated in July 2017

  Room is accessed via exterior corridors

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Toaster
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Yard
  • Ceiling fan
  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • In-room massage available
  • Free WiFi
  • Furnished balcony or patio
  • Shared/communal kitchen access
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Local maps
  • Window screens
  • Guidebooks or recommendations
  • Laptop-friendly workspace
  • Restaurant dining guide
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

Guest Reviews

• Michelle (10/5): - Close to the beach on a quiet side street with lots of restaurants in walking distance. Cute room with a lovely patio, complete with hammock. Very nice common areas with kitchen lounge and books.
• Loretta (6/5): - Disappointed no mini frig or TV in room
• Matthew (6/5): OK, but very dated rooms - I stayed here just one night while passing through, and it was ok but I don’t think I would stay here again. The property garden and grounds were nice but the rooms were incredibly dated. On check in there was a mix up with my booking which apparently someone had inexplicably moved to the next day, the room I booked wasn’t available, luckily they had another room to put me in, but this took some time to sort out and wasn’t ideal. Also be aware that they only take cash, no credit card or other payments, which is annoying and the only place I stayed in Costa Rica like this. For 1 night it wasn’t a big deal, but for a long stay this could be a challenge. Overall I probably wouldn’t stay here again
• Billie (10/5): - Small, intimate place. The kitchenette was extremely well equipped and the staff want out of their way to be helpful It could use some cosmetic touches, but the rustic charm shone!
• Adam (10/5): - Very nice hotel, rooms were clean and beds super comfortable. Staff was super friendly and accommodating, would recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a great place to stay in Dominical. Within walking distance of the beach and downtown.
• Kelly (10/5): - Amazing location, steps from the beach! The staff are incredibly helpful and booked all my tours and transportation:) The hotel itself is quiet and peaceful with a communal kitchen (bonus!) and a beautiful courtyard to hang out in. Will definitely stay again.
• Susan (10/5): - We love Dominical!
• John (8/5): - The hotel is in decent shape. It is little rough on the edges, and needs a bit of "loving up" in the common areas. We like the location, thou Dominical itself could do with a good house cleaning. The beach is a bit trashed out, and the infrastructure is rather neglected. We probably will avoid the area in the future.
• Verified traveler (8/5): - Nice location and lovely, cool garden and covered patio. Beds pretty comfortable. Pay in cash only and no reception present after 6 pm. Breakfast not included. Would stay there again.
• Adrian (10/5): - Staff members were awesome, courteous and informative! Rooms were amazing! Amazing wildlife and property. To hear the crashing of the ocean waves from the room was so surreal and calming. Definitely the best hotel I've ever stayed at. 10/10.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Amy was super helpful - I was excited to stay here but the late bus didn't stop and I found myself in Uvita late at night after being on a bus since 9 am. I was stressed and exhausted. Amy from Tropical Sands was so kind to help me figure out what to do. She even recommended a place I could walk to in Uvita to stay the night. Definitely above and beyond the call of duty.
• Elizabeth (10/5): - The garden is absolutely lovely, as is the staff. This quiet hotel on the edge of town is just what we were looking for.
• Michael (10/5): - Very clean rooms with A/C. Courtyard garden is well maintained. I especially enjoyed lounging in the hammocks. Amy is a great host giving guest a brief overview of the town hotspots and suggesting activities. Keeps contact info for taxis and also has bus schedules. She will even offer you a ride back to hotel if she sees you in town. Highly recommend staying here when visiting Dominical. Thank you, MTQ
• jennifer (8/5): - The area is very much for tourist. Very crowded.
• Verified traveler (10/5): Gutes Hotel, alles in Gehdistanz - Praktisches Hotel mit grossen Zimmern an einem wunderschönen Ort!
• Malte (8/5): - Staff was very helpful
• andrea (8/5): - A great place for a sleepy beach town, close to everything and a lush courtyard! Lots of roaming pets 🙏
• Sylvia (8/5): - Easy walk to the beach. We enjoyed the sunrise at the beach. The Staff was super nice working with us for the late arrival and early departure. We just did a stop over and didn't explore the town. The room was clean, roomy and the shower has warm water.
• Mirna (6/5): - They had no tv, parking was limited
• Stephen (10/5): - Reasonably priced. Nice, quiet and tucked away from the main drag in Dominical. Not too far of a walk. Really nice interior garden area to relax in your hammock on the front porch of your bungalow. I stayed in one of the fan-cooled rooms. While it was basic, it fit the bill and was a restful place to lay my head. Stay here because you want to sleep among plants in the garden and get just outside the noise of dominical for a decent price.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Super location in Dominical, everything is in walking distance. Ken and Amy were very welcoming and happy to share their knowledge of the area.
• Jeff (10/5): - What a great property, beautiful setting in the trees, it's much more lush than the picture shows! Amy and Ken are great hosts! It's a 2 min walk to the beach, and everything in town is within 10-15 min walk. They also have a little communal kitchen you can use. They will also help you book any excursions and give advice on what to do, where to eat, etc.
• Ramona (8/5): Beach Vibes - Perfect little Hotel, just steps away from the beach. Simply Cottage style accomodation surrounded by a backyard full of plants and flowers. Great to chill and relax. There are some hammocks in the garden and places to sit in the green. All you need is within walking distance. Amy and Ken were friendly and hearty hosts.
• chris (10/5): Nice garden like property. - Tropical Sands hotel was a nice quiet spot pretty close to the beach. The property is like staying in a garden. And there's a communal refrigerator to keep your drinks cold as well as a hammock in front of each room. We could hear the howler monkeys in the morning and got to see some scarlet macaws. The beach is only a 3 minute walk away and the town is about 7 minutes walking.
• Natascha (6/5): Zwischenstopp am Meer - Preis- Leistungsverhältnis stimmt bei den Doppelzimmern überhaupt nicht. Zu teuer. Gartenbungalow mit eigenem Gärtchen und Hängematte billiger. Dafür, dass kein Frühstück inkl. ist und kein Pool vorhanden zu teuer. Habe für weniger besseres erhalten während meiner Reise. Anlage insgesamt in die Jahre gekommen. Rezeption war nicht immer besetzt während Öffnungszeiten. Schöne Garten Lage und nah am Meer.
• Thérèse (8/5): Jardin tropical - Jardin tropical magnifique et coin salon agréable qui favorise la rencontre d,autres voyageurs. Très bien situé, proche de la plage et en face du restau ensuenos Délicieux. Réveil trés matinal avec le coq des voisins
• Jean (10/5): - The property was lush and intimate. Like staying in a tree house. Great lay out. Very clean, and so quiet at night.
• Verified traveler (10/5): - very nice, clean, friendly, peaceful, reasonable, attractive
• Wanda (10/5): - Garden area skillfully set up to maximize privacy of rooms as well as set up several group seating areas. Away from the crowd yet easy to walk to the beach and restaurants
• Verified traveler (10/5): - A cute beach hotel with garden area, hammocks, and resident cats and dog. This rooms are clean and basic, available with fan or air conditioning, and there is a common fridge for guests to use. Just off the main street, it's close to the beach in Dominical. Bring a flashlight if walking at night because the street lights don't keep the one road well lit. Very walkable to restaurants (Dominical is a small beach town). The staff are helpful with restaurant or activity recommendations, and they will call for transportation or a tour if you request. This was my second time staying at the hotel. We'll be back! :)
• Nancy (8/5): - We enjoyed our stay at the Eco Inn. We found it convenient for the beach, for walking into town, and it was quiet with nice gardens. I will definitely stay there again if I return to Dominical.
• Verified traveler (2/5): - i was never able to check in... i rang the door bell for 45 minutes, and no one aswered...
• Ana (10/5): Great experience - A little paradise for a very affordable price
• remmik (8/5): Very friendly and helpful owners - Convenient , small friendly town and really good restaurants
• Dwight (10/5): - It was a little hot at times, but that was my choice. They do offer Air Conditioned rooms, but I'm cheap. This by no means that the accommodations were in bad shape, completely the opposite. The owners were really great and they kept a really clean place at a great value. I hope by now you've welcomed your baby girl to the world! Congratulations!
• KandJ (10/5): Oasis - We stayed in one of the cabinas. It was cozy and we felt really comfortable and safe at this hotel. The staff are wonderful. Amy makes you feel really welcome. The outdoor space provided for guests is lush and peaceful. Highly recommended!
• Verified traveler (10/5): Oasis - We stayed in one of the cabinas. It was cozy and we felt really comfortable and safe at this hotel. The staff are wonderful. Amy makes you feel really welcome. The outdoor space provided for guests is lush and peaceful. Highly recommended!
• Verified traveler (10/5): - Staying here was the best decision we made on the whole vacation! Great vibe. Perfect location. Ken and Amy were amazing. The food and smoothies across the street were to die for. Everything about this place felt like home, if home was in beautiful tropical Costa Rica. Can’t wait to come back. Next time we will splurge for the room with A/C :)
• Dieter (10/5): Nice place to visite - The staff are friendly, the place is quite and a joy to visit.
• Verified traveler (6/5): Not a welcoming place at all. - The place is locked down like a compound and does not allow guests in any capacity. I had a two bed room and while checking in I was lectured about the fact that there were three of us even though we were completely willing to pay the extra $15/person. I was also upset that it was cash only. It was also very sketchy that a few days after booking on Expedia, Amy sends me an email saying I need to pay her half the amount on PayPal and send as friends and family (tax evasion?). Then when I get to the hotel and pay the other half, she will not accept PayPal or a Credit Card and I had to use what little cash I had. There is an ATM in town but it's not close and hard to find. The place is OK but you can find way better places in Domincal. Stay at the hostel across the street instead of this place. I've had nothing but great experiences at every place I've stayed at in Costa Rica until I came here. Of course, the one place I've been to that's ran by Americans was the rudest I've been treated (I'm American too, just saying).
• Millie (8/5): Nice Hotel - Nice hotel, beautiful grounds. Very clean. Only complaint, no A/C, just room fan. Short walk to the stores and close to the beach, just a short walk. Nice couple, owners speak English and very helpful. Loved the coffee in the morning. Would have been nice to have a pool as the ocean waves were huge. Good for surfers. Very quiet at night, except for a few dogs barking. Over all a good hotel.
• Lisa (10/5): - Generally very nice, was pretty hot and humid when we were here due to some unseasonal rain, so would have been nice to have AC. Not the hotels fault, but some local dogs seemed to be nocturnal and would randomly bark up a storm, part of life in Costa Rica. Only issue was that the beds weren't the most comfortable, everything else was great.
• Richard (2/5): We got in after 7pm & they had given away our room - We had an unexpected delay and could not communicate to the hotel. We got there and their was a sign saying they full. We honked and yelled but no response. We had to stay in a Costa Rican roach motel with bedbugs and mosquitos. Pura Vida at it's finest.
• Michael (10/5): Beautiful location, property, and hosts! - We had a wonderful time for a couple of nights. Location is wonderful if you like a little peace, with the Inn tucked in end of a lane near the beach. Grounds are private with lots of greenery and an inviting common area. Our room was clean with comfortable bed, hot water, clever black-out blinds, and a couple of quiet fans (we didn’t need A/C). Our little porch was great with hammock, chairs, and table; plus plants in front providing even more privacy. We appreciated the common fridge, as well as excellent free morning coffee. Ken and Amy are both beautiful human beings. They offered us practical local tips, and made sure our visit was enjoyable and trouble free. The owners are friends to animals as well, and we met a few local dogs in need who love and respect them as much as we do. Thanks for everything!
• Debbie (8/5): Dominical - Great clean basic accommodations. Great hosts
• Rosanne (8/5): Suffers delight - Friendly staff. No TV. Great little town. Close to beach. Sodas great food. All types of adventures available.
• Verified traveler (8/5): Basic - Nothing special but clean.
• Verified traveler (8/5): Nice hotel! Efficient staff - Nice place , waking distance to everything. Be aware if you are using. Waze it takes you to an alternative road from the main highway which is not the best, you can easily access through the road next to the beach. Nice place good price!
• Madeline (10/5): Quite Beachside Inn - I had a wonderful stay (so much so I booked another night!). The beds were comfy, very simple accommodations, but when you're at the beach and around town all day, that's all you need! A perfect distance from the beach, tucked down a small street with a few hostels, but quietly so. Although I didn't go for the additional breakfast, it looked yummy!
• jeffrey (10/5): - Incredibly accommodating, allowing me to check in 2 hours after 8 p.m. due to my late arrival. Ex-pat New Mexico couple have recently taken over the property. While already a tremendous layout, location, with a tasteful, tropical ambience to the property and rooms, they are making improvements to add a personal " Southwest " touch, all done in a environmentally conscious way. For value, the most outstanding accommodation in this small village.
• TOROLF (10/5): YES, a friendly clean place on Dominical beach - I have been through Dominical several times before and only stayed once overnight in a place away from the beach town since most of the hostels there look quite shabby. This is changing with the Tropical Sands. Even if some things are currently a bit "under construction ", many things have been improved already. Many travellers in CR will have had the experience of moist-feeling , smelly pillows, which is something that happens in this climate over time. Tropical Sands probably have the freshest pillows and mattresses in town at the moment. The rooms are basic, yes, but rooms and beds are clean and definitely provide for a good night's sleep. If you get to know the owners, you may start to feel like home! Maybe most important : the new owners are working hard every day to make this a great place to stay, so by the time you read this review, things have already happened. I will definitely be back here to see how it has developed.
• Luis (10/5): Close to the beach. Clean and comfortable rooms. - Really good experience, would definitely return. The owners mentioned a pool is being added as well.
• Julie (10/5): Great hotel with quiet peaceful setting - We loved our stay here. The first placed we stayed was a hostel, and it was loud and horrible. This place is 20 steps away and much more quiet and inviting. The prices were very reasonable, and we appreciated how friendly everyone was. We would definitely stay here again.

Photos