Cabuya, Montezuma
Map of Montezuma /Cabuya:
Hyperlinks to hotels are marked in orange color
From Montezuma heading south, you’ll find a scenic road along the beach to Cabuya and in to the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.
The big strangler fig of Cabuya
The road begins by passing a steep-sided jungle with huge boulders covered in the roots of strangler figs and vines. Small rivers tumble down the slopes and empty into the ocean forming natural pools large enough for swimming.
After two kilometers, you arrive at Playa Las Manchas, a luxurious white-sand beach with clear turquoise water perfect
for snorkeling and swimming.
Playa Los Cedros between Montezuma and Cabuya
A little bit further is Playa Los Cedros, the best surf spot around Montezuma.
The sandy beach is framed by palms and almond trees and stretches all the way until Cabuya.
There are usually very few people on this stretch of coastline. Instead you will see flocks of pelicans diving for fish and frigate
birds soaring overhead.
River bathing near Montezuma
A bridge leads over the Rio Lajas where egrets, herons and kingfishers are frequent visitors to the river and its estuary. Take a bath in the warm riverbed while watching the wildlife around you, or hike 3 kilometers up the river to a small cascade.
On the road, shortly after the Rio Lajas you will spot an impressive natural monument: the renowned strangler fig of Cabuya which is the largest of its kind in Costa Rica.
Entrance to the cemetery of Cabuya Island
7 km after Montezuma is the quaint little village of Cabuya. From here it is only 2 km to the Cabo Blanco Reserve.
Another rare attraction of Cabuya is the small cemetery island (Isla de Cabuya), around a hundred meters off the coast. In pre-Columbian times the Indians used the island as a burial ground, and to this day, funerals are held here.
At low tide it is possible to walk to the island over the rocks to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere with views of Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.
View across Cabuya with Cemetery Island
The reef on the extreme tip of the Cabuya Island is one of the best spots in the area for snorkeling. Even without snorkeling equipment, you can see colorful fish swimming in the rocky tide pools.
A narrow dirt road goes 8 kms from Cabuya to Mal Pais over the hills.
When going uphill from Cabuya
be sure to look back at the panoramic views of the Cabuya valley and the Cemetery Island.
See also: From Mal Pais to Cabo Blanco
