A day trip to Montezuma from Cabuya
Written by Cabuya CR EditorsChecked 4 min read
In short Montezuma is a small beach town 15 to 20 minutes north of Cabuya, and it makes an easy day out. Hike to the waterfalls in the morning, spend the afternoon on Playa Montezuma or walk to Playa Las Manchas at low tide, and stay for dinner at one of the beach restaurants.
Why go
Cabuya is quiet by design. Montezuma, just up the coast, is where the southern tip of the peninsula comes to eat, swim and see a few more faces. It's a small, walkable town with a sandy beach, a string of open-air restaurants and a river that drops through three waterfalls in the hills behind it. From Cabuya it's a 15 to 20 minute drive north along the coast, so you can be there for breakfast and home by dark.
Morning: the Montezuma waterfalls
The Montezuma waterfall is really three falls on the river just south of town. The lower fall, the big one, drops about 25 m into a wide pool you can swim in. Above it are a middle fall and a smaller top fall with pools.
How to get there. The trail starts just south of the village, past the small bridge over the river and near Hotel Amor de Mar. From there it's about 20 to 30 minutes up the riverbed to the lower fall, hopping over rocks and roots and crossing the water a few times. Wear shoes with a grip. To reach the upper falls, you can climb a steep staircase from the lower trail, or use the trail from the canopy tour entrance farther up the hill, which crosses two hanging bridges.
Stay safe. This is the part to take seriously:
- Don't jump from the lower or middle falls. Visitors have died from slips, bad landings and drowning here, and there are no railings.
- Watch the water. In the rainy season, the river can rise fast. If the water changes color or starts rising, get out and head back.
- Go early. Don't start up the riverbed late in the afternoon.
- Ignore unofficial "guides" who approach you in the parking area. You don't need one for the lower fall.
Going early also means cooler air and fewer people at the pool.
Midday: beaches
Playa Montezuma runs north from the village. It's big and sandy, but the bottom drops steeply and the surf can be rough, so swim with care and stay close to shore.
Playa Las Manchas, about 2 km south of town, is the better swim on a calm day. You reach it over rocky headlands at low tide, and it has white sand and clear water that's good for snorkeling. Watch for rip currents toward the south end, and check a tide table so you don't get cut off on the way back.
Playa Grande, about 3 km north, is a long, white-sand beach reached on foot by a trail. It's one of the area's best surf spots. The forest behind it is a protected wildlife refuge, so stay on the beach.
Or spend the day at sea: Isla Tortuga
Boat trips to Isla Tortuga, in the Gulf of Nicoya, leave from Montezuma beach most mornings. A typical full-day trip includes about 45 minutes by boat each way, a snorkel stop over the reef and lunch on the island, and you're back by mid-afternoon. Tour sellers in town, such as Zuma Tours, can book you on, and it's best to reserve at least a day ahead. From about August to November you may also see humpback whales on the way. See tours from Cabuya for more boat trips.
Where to eat
Montezuma has the best choice of food on this end of the peninsula. A few long-running favorites, all open in October 2026:
- Cocolores: beachfront and lantern-lit at night, known for fish and seafood. A good dinner choice.
- Sano Banano: on the main street with a garden by the beach, open from breakfast to dinner, with plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices.
- Ylang Ylang Restaurant: at Ylang Ylang Beach Resort along the beach north of town, with raw, vegan and gluten-free menus. Book for dinner.
- Playa de los Artistas: a beachfront lunch spot with a daily fish menu, reportedly open Thursday to Sunday.
- Orgánico: a vegetarian and vegan cafe with live music and an open-mic night.
- Ice Dream: gelato and coffee for the walk back to the car.
For more, see where to eat in Cabuya and Montezuma.
A piece of history
Montezuma is where the story of Costa Rica's conservation movement begins. In 1955, Nicolás Wessberg, from Sweden, and Karen Mogensen, from Denmark, settled on land about 2 km north of town. Determined to protect the forest at the tip of the peninsula, they raised money abroad and lobbied the government until, in 1963, Cabo Blanco became the country's first protected area. Wessberg was killed in 1975 while campaigning for what became Corcovado National Park, and Mogensen died in 1994. Both are buried on their former land near Montezuma, now the small Nicolás Wessberg Absolute Nature Reserve.
Getting there and back
From Cabuya, drive north along the coast for 15 to 20 minutes. Local buses run between Cabuya and Montezuma a few times a day, but the last one back leaves in the afternoon, so if you're staying for dinner, drive or arrange a taxi in advance. Don't leave valuables in the car.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Montezuma from Cabuya?
About 15 to 20 minutes by car along the coast road. Local buses also run between the two a few times a day.
Is it safe to swim at the Montezuma waterfall?
Swimming in the pool below the lower fall is popular, but don't jump from the falls, where people have died. Leave the river if the water rises or changes color after rain.
Can I swim at Playa Montezuma?
Yes, with care. The bottom drops steeply and the surf can be rough. Playa Las Manchas, south of town at low tide, is calmer on good days.
Where do Isla Tortuga tours leave from?
Full-day trips leave from Montezuma beach in the morning and return mid-afternoon. Book at least a day ahead with a tour seller in town.
The places in this guide
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Catarata de Montezuma
The Montezuma waterfalls are a set of 3 falls on the Río Montezuma, just south of Montezuma village and about 20 minutes' drive from Cabuya. The big lower fall is a…
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Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco
Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve covers the forested southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, a short drive past Cabuya, and was Costa Rica's first protected area when…
