As we waited for our hotel room to be ready for check-in, we sipped on some refreshing cocktails while gazing at the ocean. The picture perfect frame of Montezuma, Costa Rica, with its blue ocean and green jungle, had absorbed my attention.
But a screeching sound soon broke my concentration. I looked around and noticed some movement on a tree at one corner of the garden. A capuchin monkey, with a baby on its back, was moving from one branch to another.
Indranil and I got busy discussing the monkeys of Costa Rica. But we were now interrupted by another brushing sound in the tree next to us. An iguana was descending down the tree trunk.
As we were tracking the movement of the iguana, a tiger heron flew in from the beach and sat on the branch of the same tree.
We had not spent even 15 minutes in Montezuma, but were already captivated by its charm. Abundant wildlife mingles with postcard-like nature frames in this little beach town of close knit communities and hippie vibes.
Montezuma is like a novel telling a tale of love between nature and humans.
10 Things to do in Montezuma, Costa Rica
When you are surrounded by irresistible natural beauty, you can spend days at end without thinking about any activity. Yes, doing nothing is a thing! But if you are looking for some, there are plenty of things to do in Montezuma, Costa Rica.
Montezuma Waterfalls
Despite being located in a beach town with plenty of pretty beaches, Montezuma Waterfalls still manage to grab headlines on their own.
Three falls, Lower, Middle and Upper, constitute the Montezuma Waterfalls. However, reaching this waterfall is no easy feat! There are three different ways to access the hiking trails to all three falls. You can start from the free entrance near town or take the hiking trails starting from Butterfly Brewing Company or Sun Tours. We recommend the third option.
But on all the hiking routes, you will need to climb a lot of stairs, walk on loose rocks submerged in water, cross rivers on foot and scramble against rocks, holding on to thin ropes. Visiting Montezuma Waterfalls is an adventure!
But the adventurous hike is totally worth the effort as you will get to see the stunning waterfalls surrounded by dense green foliage. You can also relax at the couple of natural pools, one at the foot of the Lower fall and the other between the Upper and Middle falls. If you want to add more thrill to your adventure, you can jump off the waterfalls or the surrounding cliffs in to the pools, at your own risk.
Read this post for details about hiking to Montezuma Waterfalls.
Beaches of Montezuma
Montezuma does not draw as much tourist footfall as some of the other beach towns of Costa Rica. Yet enthusiast visitors and expats have been flocking to this town for years, primarily because of the incredible beaches of the area and the charming vibe of the town.
Playa Montezuma
Playa Montezuma is really what defines the personality of the lovely beach town of Montezuma. The white sand beach lines the blue waters of Montezuma Bay. The green hills surrounding the town and the rock formations protruding from the sea add more character to the Monetezuma beach.
Ylang Ylang Beach
A few minutes walk towards north from the center of the town will take you to another beautiful beach of Montezuma. The beach, located in front of the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, is as pretty, or prettier in my personal opinion, and has even lesser people. It is a lovely place to lie down on the beach and watch the sea for countless hours.
During one such afternoon on the Ylang Ylang Beach, we noticed a few locals point towards the sea and talk among them excitedly. We let our sight follow the direction of their pointed fingertips. There was a whale in the ocean! We observed the whale for a good few minutes and smiled as the whales spouted while moving along the waters.
We had had the opportunity of seeing whales and baby whales in the ocean when we took a whale watching tour in Uvita. But I had never imagined that we could just sit on the beach in Costa Rica and watch a whale in the distance with naked eyes.
Playa Grande
There are several excellent surf spots on the Nicoya peninsula. If you want to catch a few waves during your time in Montezuma, Playa Grande is the place for you. Grande, in Spanish, means long and that is exactly what this beach is, long!
Whether you are here to swim or surf or just to laze on the beach, forest covered hills along the length of the beach will always accompany you. Due to the softer waves, Playa Grande is also safer for swimming compared to the other beaches near the town of Montezuma.
Reaching this beach is also an interesting activity by itself. From the town of Montezuma, you will have to walk for about half an hour in the direction of north. On the way, you tread on jungle paths and cross other beaches.
Piedra Colorada
On your way from Ylang Ylang Beach to Playa Grande, you will come across another smaller beach, called Piedra Colorada. A river of the same name empties into the ocean here. The bed of this river is formed by several colored rocks, which in Spanish, translates to Piedra Colorada. So, yes, that is how the beach and the river get their names.
Once upon a time, a local artist used to make balanced rock monuments next to the beach, by stacking the colorful rocks from Piedra Colorada one above the other. Some locals and visitors still practice this and make their own rock monuments. So, when you visit Piedra Colorada, you get to see a unique rock monuments garden, and may be make your own monument too?
Although the colored rocks and the rock monuments garden are the main attractions of Piedra Colorada, the beach here is also nice. Wade in the soft rolling waves or just unwind watching the river meet the ocean.
Playa Las Manchas
Another pretty beach in Montezuma is Playa Las Manchas. Lying about 2 km to the south of Montezuma Beach, this rocky beach is small and is also lesser known among tourists. You can keep walking on the beach from Montezuma to reach Las Manchas. Otherwise, it is a quick 10 minutes drive from Montezuma town.
Among all the beaches in and around Montezuma, Playa Las Manchas has the whitest sand and the clearest water. Find your spot under the green trees or swim in the ocean, when the tide is low. You can also relax in the tide pools formed in the rocks of this beach.
While swimming in the sea, if you move a couple hundred meters to the right, you will get to see schools of colorful tropical fish. Snorkeling opportunity just near the shore! But be careful while swimming as Playa Las Manchas is known to have rip currents.
Zip-lining Canopy Tour
In Costa Rica, the best known zip line tours of the country are in Monteverde and in La Fortuna. But that does not lessen the offerings of Montezuma Canopy Tour in any way.
Zip-line along 9 cables over the canopy of the forest covered hills of Montezuma. As you zip along, appreciate the background scene of the blue ocean and watch out for wildlife in the jungle below. Another interesting part of Montezuma Canopy Tour is that it also includes a stopover at the Montezuma waterfalls, even allowing you the time to swim in the natural pools.
The canopy tour trail in Montezuma is owned by Sun Trails Tours. You can book with them directly or through other established tour providers in Montezuma.
Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve
Expansive green cover sprawls over the southern tip of Nicoya peninsula. This is a protected reserve called Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve. Founded by couple of Swedish people, this reserve symbolizes the story of Costa Rica’s conservation efforts, where acres of pasture lands are left alone for natural reforestation.
There are three hiking trails in the reserve, two out of which are short and can be done in about 1 hour each. The longer hike takes almost the entire day. But you will get to go to a secluded white sand beach, Playa Cabo Blanco, on this longer trail of 10 km (6.2 miles). The 10 km trail is difficult, but totally worth it, because of the nature and the wildlife you get to experience during the hike.
Inaugurated in 1963, Cabo Blanco also wears the crown of Costa Rica’s first ever nature reserve. So, when you are in the area, either in Montezuma or Santa Teresa, Malpais, Cabuya, reserve a day to explore this reserve. Despite the heat, humidity and the exhausting hikes, you will not be disappointed.
Read this post for our complete guide to hiking in Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve.
Cabuya Island Cemetery
Do you want to add some supernatural thrill to your Montezuma vacation? Then visit the Cabuya Island Cemetery, about 10 km south of Montezuma.
As the name suggests, the whole island is a cemetery. Apparently, it has been a place of burial since long before the Spanish colonization centuries ago. That is why the locals here grow up learning about legends about ghosts and spirits, often encountered on the island.
This small island remains submerged in the ocean during high tide. But during low tide, you can walk over the rocky beach to reach the island. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the island, and the same amount of time to return. Exploring the entire island cemetery on foot does not take more than 15 minutes. Allocate more time if you want to take a dip in the ocean. But be mindful of the tide timings, unless you want to get stranded on the island on purpose, for a chance meeting with the ghosts.
Cabuya Island Cemetery may be known for its haunted legends, but it is a quiet and peaceful place to visit. As you walk past the graves of the resting souls, feel the cooling shades provided by the greenery on the hot day, watch the iguanas slide by here and there and enjoy the views of the ocean.
No, we did not encounter any ghosts on the island.
Read this post to know more about Cabuya, the last town of Nicoya peninsula.
ASVO Turtle Hatchery
Sea turtles constitute an important marine wildlife system of Costa Rica. The turtles come to the beach for nesting. But due to theft threats to the eggs, volunteers of various conservation projects work on protecting the eggs until the baby turtles are ready to hatch. After hatching, the baby turtles are released into the ocean so that they can continue with their normal life in their natural habitat.
The turtle hatchery, right next to the Montezuma Beach, is operated by AVSO Turtle Hatchery. If there is a hatching of turtles on a given day, they release the turtle around 4:00 pm on the same day. The interesting thing is that people can be present on the beach and witness this release of the baby turtles!
So, whether you sign up for a volunteer program with ASVO Turtle Hatchery or just be present to watch the baby turtles to go to their home for the first time ever, this is definitely a bucket list worthy thing you can check off in Montezuma, Costa Rica.
ATV Ride
The roads in the southern part of the Nicoya peninsula are rough. You will often come across unpaved roads, rocky surfaces and rivers flowing over what you have for roads.
This is why one of the best things to do in Montezuma is to rent an ATV for exploring the rugged terrains of the region. ATVs can be rented at daily or weekly rates.
If you are renting the ATV only for a day, you can take the more adventurous routes to the Malpais/ Santa Teresa region and drive beyond as well. Visit the beaches, eat a good meal, watch the sunset – make an awesome day trip out of your ATV ride.
El Chorro Waterfall
El Chorro is one of the few waterfalls in the world that drop from a cliff into an ocean below. This is one of the most unique places to visit near Montezuma, Costa Rica. But you need to do some work to go see this cool geographic formation.
It is a two hour walk from Montezuma along the coastline. So, you will be walking from one beach to another, often crossing jungle paths intercepting the beach trail. The bonus is, you do not just get to see El Chorro Waterfall, but also enjoy Playa Cocalito, a beautiful beach where the waterfall pours into. Start early to avoid the midday sun, and spend an awesome day with a white sand beach and an interesting waterfall to entertain you.
If you are skeptical about undertaking this two hour hike under the sun, there is an alternative way. You can drive down to the entrance of El Chorro Waterfall, but from the cliff side, not from the beach side. You need to drive till Tango Mar Beachfront Boutique Hotel & Villas and then past it to take a right on the road leading to the waterfall. Look for a tiny sign that says ‘Waterfall Cascada’. Remember not to leave any valuables in the car as the parking is open on the road, unguarded.
Curu Wildlife Refuge
Curu Wildlife Refuge is Costa Rica’s first privately owned wildlife refuge. Although the refuge still contains some farmlands, major part of the area is covered in natural forests, which are home to several species of birds and animals. If you like to see animals and birds in the wild, include Curu Wildlife Refuge too on your list of things to do in Montezuma.
Located next to a bay, the wildlife refuge is 31 km (19 miles) north of Montezuma. It is almost an hour’s drive from the town. The refuge is open for visitors between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm. To plan a guided tour from Montezuma to Curu Wildlife Refuge, you can consult with your hotel tour desk.
Alternatively, you can also contact the refuge directly to reserve your visit. They offer the option of day visits as well as overnight stays in their cabins. If you stay overnight, you will get to see the bioluminescent planktons in the bay under dark night skies.
Tortuga Islands Snorkeling Tour
Tortuga Islands are located off the coast of Curu Wildlife Reserve, on the Gulf of Nicoya. A day trip to this wonderful island is one of the most popular things to do in Montezuma.
Two different islands, Isla Alcatraz and Isla Tolinga, constitute the Tortuga Islands. The small islands are uninhabited and are characterized by clear turquoise water, white sand beaches, lush vegetation and volcanic reefs. So, you get to observe magnificent marine life during the multiple snorkeling sessions near Tortuga Islands.
This is a full day tour, starting around 9:00 in the morning and returning to Montezuma around 4:00 pm. The tour price usually includes bilingual guide, snorkeling gear, lunch, fresh tropical fruits, soft beverages, beer, safety equipment, insurance, permits and road transfers from Montezuma, Cabuya, Santa Teresa, Malpais.
Some of the renowned tour companies offering Tortuga Island tour in Montezuma are Zuma Tours, Sun Trails, Montezuma Expeditions. Depending on the tour company you choose, you can also sign up for diving sessions.
Interestingly, Tortuga Islands can also be visited as a day trip from San Jose. Wonder how? Check the location of the islands on the map.
Montezuma, Costa Rica: Make it happen
To help you plan your trip to Montezuma, here are all the details about how to reach and the best hotels and restaurants.
How to reach
Although Montezuma is located in the southern part of the remote Nicoya peninsula, it is actually not that difficult to reach here, especially if you have your own vehicle or a rental car.
If you are driving from Liberia to Montezuma, take Ruta 21. This route will take you through the towns of Jicaral, Naranja, Pacuera. The road condition is good along the entire length of this route. But you will have to watch out for stretches with steep curves and sharp turns without markings on the road.
Read this post for detailed driving directions from Liberia to southern part of Nicoya peninsula.
If you travel from San Jose to Montezuma, you can drive around the peninsula and take the same Ruta 21. Alternatively you can drive till Puntarenas and take the ferry to Pauera for crossing the Gulf of Nicoya. From Paquera ferry landing, it is about an hour’s drive to Montezuma.
Read this post to plan your travel with the Puntarenas Ferry.
If you want to cut down significantly on your travel time to Montezuma, the best option is to take a domestic flight. You can fly Sansa Airlines from either Liberia or San Jose. From each of the two destinations, it is a 30 minutes flight.
Where to stay
Depending on your budget and preference, there are plenty of accommodations to choose from in Montezuma, ranging from budget hostels to luxury suites.
Ylang Ylang Beach Resort
Ylang Ylang Beach Resort is a luxury beachfront property, where you can choose from rustic cabins to fancy seaside bungalows. Although the resort is next to the beach, the property was built in harmony with nature, keeping almost all the trees intact in their natural places. This explains why so many monkeys, birds and lizards inhabit the resort property.
San Banano Beachside Hotel
San Banano Beachside Hotel, is a people’s choice place and one of the early hotels in Montezuma. It is a budget hotel, right at the center of the town, offering all amenities and free access to select luxury amenities of its sister property, Ylang Ylang. Click here to check availability and prices.
Sun Trails Lodge
A little farther away from the town, Sun Trails Lodge is another nice place to stay in Montezuma. Since the property is located up a hilly road, the views from the rooms include jungle as well as ocean. The interesting part of a stay at this lodge is that, you already have access to the property’s private hanging bridges and nature trails, including the ones leading to Montezuma Waterfalls.
Hotel Nya
Nya is a boutique luxury hotel, a walking distance away from the Montezuma Beach. The property has beautifully landscaped garden areas and carefully designed rooms. The WiFi here is excellent, something that is not common in Montezuma. Click here to check availability and prices.
Kalapiti Luxury Jungle Suites
Kalapiti Luxury Jungle Suites, located about 4 km away from the town of Montezuma, offer two luxury villas, each complete with its own rooms, balcony and bathtub. The property also offers Turkish Bath and Jaccuzi. So, if you are looking for luxury vacation rentals in Montezuma, check out Kalapiti.
Where to eat
In the small town of Montezuma, there are only a few restaurants as opposed to the assortment of restaurants in the nearby town of Santa Teresa. Still, the food scene here is pretty diverse and growing. Here are our recommendations for some of the best restaurants in Montezuma, Costa Rica.
Ylang Ylang Restaurant
Ylang Ylang Restaurant is arguably the most romantic restaurant in Montezuma. At this garden restaurant right next to the beach, you are treated to beautiful views during the day. At night, twinkling golden lights add to the charm of the place. The cocktails, the main course dishes and the desserts, all are worth trying at this onsite restaurant of Ylang Ylang Beach Resort. The resort restaurant in open for outside visitors as well.
UBIN By Keilor Sanchez
Keilor Sanchez, a renowned Costa Rican chef, owns UBIN, the onsite restaurant of Hotel Nya. The dishes here made with Spanish and Italian techniques and fresh local produce are works of art. Also, do not forget to try the UBIN signature cocktails, they taste delicious.
Soda Tipica Las Palmeras
Just diagonally opposite Playa Las Manchas, Soda Tipica Las Palmeras is a great place to grab delicious authentic Costa Rican meals. With a view of the ocean and the company of Cappuchin Monkeys in the trees next to the partially open air restaurant, the lunch experience here feels even more ‘tipica‘. Notice the photo frame on the wall from when Kaka, the Brazilian footballer, had a meal at Sosa Tipica Las Palmeras.
Ice Dream
Ice Dream is Montezuma’s favorite spot for getting ice-creams, smoothies, and shakes, and cakes and croissants. Located bang at the center of the town, it is hard to miss this place as it is always busy with people.
Best time to visit Montezuma, Costa Rica
The dry season in Montezuma runs from December to April. The rest of the months from May to November fall under the wet season. However, even during the wet season, you are likely to get sunny mornings as it usually rains in the afternoon.
During the dry season, chances of rain are almost nil, so you can spend perfect beach days on any of the beaches around Montezuma. You will get to see clear blue skies hovering over the blue ocean. The driving conditions are better and also, the adventurous hiking trails to Montezuma Waterfalls can feel less treacherous during the drier months. That is why most visitors choose months between December and April for visiting Montezuma.
But, in the rainy season, the lush green cover of Montezuma wears its best colors, fresh after the rains. Number of visitors is even lesser during these months, so you can have stretches of beaches all to yourself. You will also find discounted prices for hotels and tours. But be mindful of the driving conditions if you visit Montezuma during this wet season.
So, any time of the year can be a good time to visit Montezuma. Our secret tip is, if you can plan, visit Montezuma just after the rainy season, so that you get to see the greenery and also have lesser chances of rainfall during the day.
Final thoughts on Montezuma, Costa Rica
With its stunning beaches harmoniously blending in with nature, adventurous waterfalls and precious wildlife reserves, Montezuma offers something for all kinds of travelers. Whether you seek peace or adventure, you are likely to be smitten by its rugged beauty of Montezuma. We were.
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As usual, charming description of the places here you visited. Photographs are distinguished. Detailed description help the the visitors plan the tour before hand.
Thank you.
I love the info. No COVID info surprises me.
Thanks Heather. In Costa Rica, the general COVID protocols are mandatory masks, washing/sanitizing hands, reduced capacity of operation (based on type of business) and practicing social distancing. People mostly follow all the recommended protocols.
I have yet to visit Costa Rica! You’ve written so beautifully about it; we’ve got to put it at the top of our travel bucket list now. Thank you 🙂
Thanks Scout. Costa Rica is totally a bucket list worthy destination. Hope you get to visit soon 🙂
This trip sounds incredible! I keep hearing great things about Costa Rica and I’m dying to visit one day!
Thanks Courtney. Hope you get to visit Costa Rica soon. Pura vida! 🙂
Wow – Costa Rica is on our list (was actually supposed to be this month, but….covid…), hopefully we will get there soon and Montezuma will be one of the first places we visit! Sounds amazing!
Hi Erin, thanks. Yes, it’s so sad how a little virus is altering the life plans (and travel plans) for us humans. Hope you can re-plan your Costa Rica trip for a future date. Cheers!
We have booked our flights to Costa Rica for June. Thank for the information. Did you see any sloths?
Hi Douglas, great to know that. Hope you have a great time when you arrive here in June.
We have seen sloths in the wild in many parts of Costa Rica, like Manuel Antonio National Park, Cahuita National Park, Puerto Viejo, Sarapirqui, La Fortuna. In La Fortuna, a popular sloth sighting spot is Bogarin Trail – you can read more about it in this post: https://www.paradisecatchers.com/bogarin-trail-bird-sloth-costa-rica/
Costa Rica is so undeniably beautiful! And what a charming town Montezuma is – I’d love a chance to visit. Those waterfalls are awe inspiring and the beaches absolutely tropical. The food, especially the fresh seafood, looked perfect.
Totally agree Jamie. Hope you get to visit Montezuma soon 🙂
The wildlife is the big draw for me to visit Costa Rica and it looks like even in your first few minutes you were fortunate to observe quite a bit. Montezuma looks like a great spot to visit, with plenty to see and do in the local area. The natural landscapes combined with the opportunities to see wildlife, and then you have activities like zip-lining and beach activities as well. Seeing turtles hatch would be a highlight!
Absolutely Kavita, wildlife is abundant almost in every part of Costa Rica, and the good part is people here value the existence of all living creatures in their respective natural habitats.
This looks like a wonderful beach although Costa Rica is a bit far from Europe… ir not as easily accessible. The kind of place for a longer sabbatical and Central America trip, though, if that ever were to happen…
Hi Anja, agree. But a large proportion of Costa Rica’s international tourist count is from Europe. Hope you get the chance to plan a trip to this part of the world 🙂
Everything about Costa Rica always seems like paradise on earth, and that gorgeous waterfall and stunning sunset at Ylang Ylang Beach pretty much reinforce all of my impressions of this beautiful Central American country.
🙂 Pura vida!
I feel like Costa Rica is a place I could non stop explore! One great thing about it is the wildlife for sure! It’s so beautiful in every way. I really like finding the little spots on the way to the big spots. So, when I read about Piedra Colorada I knew that was going to be somewhere I wanted to see! Also, Playa Las Manchas looks so beautiful and relaxing as well! Thanks for all the tips and sharing your experience.
Thanks Stephanie. Agree that one can never stop exploring Costa Rica, despite the small size of the country 🙂
Montezuma looks breathtaking! I was sold at waterfalls but it just got better and better!
I’m definitely bookmarking this post for when I can go to Costa Rica 🙂
Thanks Nina! 🙂
I am hoping to visit Cost Rica. I definitely want to see the waterfalls. Does it require a lot of hiking to see them or are some close without much walking?
Hi Amy. Reaching Montezuma Waterfalls, especially the lower (and the largest) one, does require quite a bit of scramble. You can read the details of our Montezuma Waterfalls hike, including different ways to reach the falls, in this post: https://www.paradisecatchers.com/montezuma-waterfalls-costa-rica/
The article is such a beautiful description of Costa Rica. I’m looking forward to travel and explore much of Costa Rica. My hope is to visit a fishing village and interact with people there, maybe some day to live there. You never mentioned anything about the night life, I wonder what is that like?
Thanks Robert. We hope you get to visit (and live) in Costa Rica in the near future.
Montezuma is a small beach town – the nightlife here is limited to hanging out at the local bars or restaurants.
Read your story here, top! We are in Tamarindo now. Tomorrow to Montazuma!
Thanks Erik. Have a great time in Montezuma! Pura vida 🙂
Thanks for this article. Very helpful. I am trying to plan out a vacation for Montezuma. I can basically arrange my travel dates from now until May. Do you have a suggestion for the better time? I am surprised to see that it is 32 degrees C right now in Nicoya! So hot! Also, are the covid restrictions typical for travelers from the U.S.? I appreciate any suggestions:)
Hi Negar. Thanks, glad to know that the article is helpful 🙂
Yes, the coastal areas in Costa Rica are hot, particularly during dry season. But anytime during your specified travel window should be good for visiting Montezuma. The week of Easter will be busier than usual due to domestic travel, so you may want to avoid that. May will bring the onset of rainy season.
For international arrivals, you will need to fill out a Health Pass and upload it prior to the flight boarding. No other COVID specific restriction for vaccinated travelers. If unvaccinated, you’ll need to purchase an insurance that covers the cost of treatment and isolation accommodation in the unwanted event of contracting COVID while vacationing in Costa Rica.
Once in Costa Rica, you will need to follow all the local sanitary protocols like wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining social distance.
Hope this helps. Please feel free to email if you have more questions 🙂