Costa Rica, Montezuma

Montezuma Beaches:

Playa Montezuma

North of Montezuma:
On the edge of the village is Playa Montezuma, a large sandy beach, great for sun bathing, swimming, and bonfires at night. Take care however, as the sea bottom drops steeply and the surf is sometimes rough.
If you crave more solitude, pack a bottle of water and venture further, passing by pristine, secluded bays fringed by the high rising jungle of the Montezuma Biological Reserve.
After a 15-minutes hike comes Piedra Colorado, a small beach between rocky outrops where a river empties into the sea. The off-shore reef is great for snorkeling.
3 km from Montezuma you arrive at Playa Grande. The long expanse of white-sand beach is the best spot for swimming and surfing in Montezuma.
If you are still not tired, you can walk on for another 5 km until you get to Playa Cocalitos and the scenic El Chorro waterfall. The fresh water cascades off an escarpment into lava rock swimming pools and then into the ocean.

Beach south of Montezuma

South of Montezuma:
Choose low tide to walk around the rocky headlands where tide pools provide natural bathing tubs.
After two kilometers you arrive at Playa Las Manchas, a picturesque coral sand beach with clear turquoise waters. The bay affords excellent swimming and snorkeling but you have to take care of a strong rip current towards the south of the bay. There is a rescue line in the water.
Further along the beach: » From Montezuma to Cabuya

Montezuma Center:
A blackwater creek empties into the bay of Montezuma, so that bathing isn't recommended.

Montezuma Waterfall:

Natural swimming pools in the Rio Montezuma

If you prefer to swim in freshwater, you can hike up a river to find natural pools and sparkling jacuzzis amidst the amphitheater of the jungle rising up steeply around you.

The Montezuma waterfall

The many waterfalls are one of the most noted features of Montezuma. The biggest and most beautiful is close to the village center, reached on a hike of around 20 minutes. The trailhead is across from Hotel Amor de Mar. See » Map of Montezuma
The rough path leads uphill through a heavily forested river valley. Wear sturdy, water-resistant shoes as you will clamber over slippery rocks and roots, and wade through the river. The Montezuma Waterfall tumbles down from 24 meters and feeds a large round swimming pool.
Be careful not to dive or jump off the rocks into the pool as there have been several casualties when divers hit underwater rocks.
A small trail at the right side of the waterfall climbs steeply up to another, smaller cascade which has also formed a large swimming pool. An easier trail to this upper waterfall starts at the side of the Montezuma Butterfly Garden.

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