Located near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Montezuma is a laid-back town in Costa Rica. It’s renowned for its beautiful beaches where sea turtles come to lay their eggs and is backed by a dense forest that provides habitat for monkeys, birds and butterflies.
Things to do in Montezuma
Spend a day relaxing on Playa Montezuma, a long stretch of white sand that’s ideal for swimming and sunbathing. For a more secluded beach, walk north to explore one of the hidden coves that fringe the coastline or hike through the jungle to Playa Grande. Playa Grande is a popular beach for learning to surf, with lessons available from the surf schools in Montezuma.
Occupying the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula is Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco, which encompasses more than 3,000 hectares of both terrestrial and marine terrain. It is named after a guano-covered cape that hosts large numbers of brown pelicans, frigate birds and ospreys, as well as Costa Rica’s largest colony of brown boobies. Boat cruises depart for nearby Isla Tortuga where you can snorkel with sea turtles.
Don’t miss the Montezuma Waterfalls, a set of three cascades with refreshing pools for swimming and rock jumping. Follow the Riverbed Trail that leads to the lower falls before climbing a rustic set of stairs to the upper falls or walk across the hanging bridges of the Canopy Tour Trail. Zip-line tours are also available through the surrounding forest.
Getting around Montezuma
Montezuma is around five hours’ drive from San Jose, with the journey including a ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya. Juan Santamaría International Airport on the outskirts of San Jose has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses connect to Montezuma and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.