In a nutshell
- Montezuma is a small village on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica — a laid-back haven for hippies, yoga lovers, and artists.
- This guide covers everything you need to plan your visit to Montezuma, Costa Rica: the best things to do, where to stay, and how to get there.
- Our absolute highlight: the Montezuma Falls — three waterfalls you can actually jump off. Pure adrenaline, and totally free!
- Our top hotel pick is the Casitas Sollevante Boutique Hotel — the sunset views over the ocean from the pool are seriously stunning.
The Most Important Things About Montezuma
Montezuma is a small, charming village on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The coastal town is seriously popular with free spirits, hippies, and a growing number of vacationers.
That said, Montezuma is a place where you can truly unwind during your Costa Rica vacation. You’re surrounded by jungle and long beaches. Playa Montezuma is even one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches, in our opinion.
There’s also a thriving arts scene, plenty of yoga classes, and exciting volunteer programs.
The best weather is definitely from December through April — that’s the best time to visit Costa Rica. In other months, there’s less sunshine and more rain — but also far fewer crowds.
Where Is Montezuma?
Montezuma sits on the Pacific coast, more specifically on the Nicoya Peninsula in northern Costa Rica.
Here’s exactly where that is on the map.
Take a Trip to Montezuma Falls
Montezuma is fairly small and there aren’t a ton of different things to do here. But there is one absolute standout among the attractions in Costa Rica: the Montezuma Falls.
These are three waterfalls stacked on top of each other — seriously cool! They’re completely free and if you’re feeling brave, you can jump off all the waterfalls.
How to Get to the Montezuma Falls
From Montezuma, you can simply walk to the entrance of the Montezuma Falls. Just search for Montezuma Waterfalls Trailhead and Parking Lot on Google Maps.
You can also drive there — parking costs around $3.50.
Then it’s off on the roughly 30-minute hike to the lower waterfall, during which you’ll need to cross the Río Montezuma through the water several times.
Don’t worry though — the water isn’t deep, and the trail itself stays flat and is very manageable.
The first waterfall is the tallest at 27 meters. You can swim leisurely in the pool below, and the many trees provide plenty of shade.
If you’re up for more, you can continue up to the upper waterfall. The path gets quite steep — a bit of an adventure. Up there you’ll find lots of sunshine and the smallest waterfall at 5 meters.
Our tips: From the top, you can get a great jump off the middle waterfall, which is 12 meters high. Let the locals show you the ropes — pure adrenaline! And make sure to wear sturdy shoes for the hike.
Where to Stay in Montezuma
There aren’t many accommodation options in Montezuma, and prices tend to be on the higher side. Here are our three favorites.
Hotel El Jardin: One of the most beautiful beachfront hotels in Costa Rica, with a pool, affordable rates, and possible ocean views.
Casitas Sollevante: A lovely boutique hotel in Costa Rica — with stunning sunset views over the ocean.
Aves Hotel: Spacious, modern rooms right in the middle of the jungle, with pools, a yoga deck, and ocean views.
Getting to Montezuma by Car, Ferry, and Bus
Getting There by Car
If you’re doing your Costa Rica road trip by car, you have two options for getting to Montezuma.
Option #1: By Ferry
Since Montezuma is on a peninsula, the first option involves taking a car ferry between Puntarenas and Paquera.
You’ll first head to the port in Puntarenas — find it on Google Maps as Ferry El Carmen Puntarenas. From San José, it takes about 1.5 hours. Plan to be at the port at least 30 minutes before departure.
Make sure you take the right ferry — there are two departing from there. The one to Paquera runs several times a day, between 4 AM and 10 PM. You can check the departure times on the ferry’s website.
A car with one driver costs around $24 one way. A foot passenger pays just $1.50. You can buy your ticket in advance through QuickPayCR.
If you’d rather buy your ticket on-site, we recommend arriving about one to two hours before departure to secure a spot. At the ticket window, you can only pay in cash or colones.
The ferry takes about 70 minutes. During the crossing you can get out of your car and enjoy the scenery. We even spotted sea turtles on the way — so cool!
Once you arrive in Paquera, just enter Montezuma into your GPS. From there it’s a little over an hour.
Option #2: Without the Ferry
If you want to skip the ferry, just enter Montezuma into your GPS and add Puente La Amistad as a stopover.
This route covers almost twice the distance compared to the ferry option. However, since you have to wait for the ferry anyway, it probably won’t make much of a difference time-wise.
From San José to Montezuma without the ferry takes about 5.5 hours.
This detour is especially worth considering if you tend to get seasick easily. Otherwise, we’d always recommend taking the ferry.
Getting There by Bus
Taking the bus from San José to Montezuma is super easy. Just keep in mind that the bus only runs once a day, at 6 AM.
You can grab your online ticket easily through the La Terminal website. The bus ticket costs $15 in total.
The bus also travels on the ferry. The ferry crossing is included in the ticket price. On the ferry, you’ll need to get off the bus and can enjoy the ride and the views — just make sure to take your valuables with you.
Once in Paquera, wait at the dock for your bus. Since several buses travel on the ferry, make sure you remember the color and name of your bus.
You can also book your bus ticket online through the booking platform 12Go (our recommendation).
There you’ll also find alternative trips with a shared minivan. It’s more comfortable and usually faster, but also more expensive.
See connections to Montezuma on 12Go
Our Personal Tips for Your Visit to Montezuma
There is no bank and no ATM in Montezuma. Be sure to bring enough cash — we recommend at least $80 per day. Also check in advance how you’ll need to pay for your accommodation.
For a really great meal, head to Soda Típica Las Palmeras (open in Google Maps). We had fresh fish there — honestly one of the best meals of our trip!
Every Saturday, a really cool market takes place at Montezuma Beach. You’ll mostly find handmade crafts and fresh fruit — it runs from 10 AM to 2 PM.
If you only have a little time in Costa Rica, we’d recommend basing yourself in Santa Teresa and making a day trip to the Montezuma Falls and Montezuma. From Santa Teresa to Montezuma by car takes only 30 minutes. If you’re traveling by bus, your best bet is to rent a quad bike in Santa Teresa.
