Montezuma, Costa Rica
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Montezuma was easy to love. Between its jungle-lined coastal trails that lead to gloriously empty beaches and freshwater pools to its interesting eateries, refreshingly present community spirit, and frequent hellos from the thriving capuchin monkey population, this is a place where every day - scratch that - every moment is a new adventure. I’m selfishly glad it’s a bit hard to reach because just maybe this Costa Rican beachtown can hang on to its authenticity and charm awhile longer. If you do make the trek to this gem at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, here are my recommendations for where to eat, what to do, and where to sleep.
First Things First: Getting to/from Montezuma
By Public Transport
From Santa Teresa: It is possible to travel by public bus between Santa Teresa and Montezuma, however, it will turn what could be a quick 30-minute drive into a 2.5- to 3-hour journey, and that is if you time the bus in Cóbano right. The benefit is it will only cost you a mere $4USD total. To do it, you’ll first have to hop on a Transportes Cobano bus along the main road in Santa Teresa and take it to Cobano (ask a local for the latest schedule as it’s always changing). From Cobano, you’ll transfer to a bus headed towards Montezuma, again with Transportes Cobano. Here’s the latest schedule.
From Puntarenas: There is a ferry from Puntarenas, which is “near” places like Jaco and San Jose, that will drop you in Paquera in the Nicoya Peninsula. From Paquera, you’ll take a local bus to Cobano. From Cobano, you can get a bus to Montezuma.
From Samara and points north in the Nicoya Peninsula: This is a trip I do not recommend you take and one that should really just be done by shared shuttle or private transport (I recommend searching Bookaway or 12Go’s routes first). Doing this by public transport involves far too many transfers and it’s a very roundabout way to get there. But if you want to do it, here’s how: Take a bus from Samara (or your point north) to Nicoya, then a bus from Nicoya to Cruce de Barranca, then Cruce de Barranca to the ferry port in Puntarenas. The ferry will drop you in Paquera. From there, you’ll take a bus to Cobano and then another bus from Cobano to Montezuma.
By Private Transport or Shared Shuttle
Uber does work in Costa Rica, so you could always check that first. Or check out the routes on Bookaway or 12Go, two reliable sites that aggregate vetted local transportation operators and that offer the added benefit of 24-hour live support should anything come up during your trip.
Explore Bookaway’s routes to/from Montezuma and beyond
Explore 12Go’s routes to/from Montezuma and beyond
Restaurants
The Bakery Cafe
Delicious cafe and restaurant on the edge of town, where it’s almost guaranteed you’ll receive a few visits from the local capuchin monkey population while you dine.
Pizzería Chelo Montezuma
A Montezuma legend, this Argentinian-run Italian pizzeria is famous for running out of pies by a certain hour - they’re really that good.
Butterfly Brewing Co.
This craft brewpub doubles as a butterfly sanctuary. Beer and butterflies…catchy no? Their food menu is as delicious as their beer selection, so come thirsty and hungry.
Ice Dream Gelato & Coffee Shop
There’s no better way to beat the heat in Montezuma than with a double scoop from this spot. Located in the heart of Montezuma, there’s always someone licking a cone of gelato or nursing a coffee at this popular local hangout.
Soda El Artesano
Though I didn’t get to try this soda firsthand, I was recommended it multiple times by locals and travelers alike. It seemed to be always full, so it’s a safe bet it belongs on this list of recommendations. If you go, let me know how it was!
Things to Do
Walk the Sendero Verde
This trail follows the coastline from Montezuma Beach, passing points of interest like Piedra Colorada, a beachfront freshwater pool surrounded by stacked rocks, the vast and gloriously empty Playa Grande, and the Nicolas Wessberg Absolute Natural Reserve.
Experience the Montezuma Saturday Market
Every Saturday morning at 10:30am, there is an organic farmer’s market at Cancha las Pangas. It’s full of vendors selling everything from handmade souvenirs to flowers, light bites, and organic fruit and veggies, of course.
Hike to the Montezuma Waterfalls
Just a 20-minute walk from the trailhead are the stunning Montezuma Falls. Entrance is free for the lowest (and biggest) waterfall. To visit the other two falls further up the mountain, there is an entrance fee of $2 USD (1,000 Colones). I recommend wearing sturdy, waterproof shoes for the hike there, as you’ll be crossing riverbeds and lunging over tree roots.
Hotels
Hotel Montezuma Pacifico
Surprisingly, Montezuma’s hostel game is seriously lacking. They exist, but none of them have the best portfolio of reviews on booking sites. That’s how I ended up booking a room at Hotel Montezuma Pacifico, an affordable hotel on the edge of town where iguanas and monkeys are frequent sights out the window and sounds on the roof. Carlos, the owner, felt like my Costa Rican dad, delivering coffee and breakfast to my room, setting me up with an induction cooktop to cook meals in my room, and making sure I got the appropriate rate for tours and shuttles. I’d stay here again in a heartbeat.
Onward Travel (and how to do it)
If your plan from Montezuma is to head for places like Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Quepos, Uvita, or Dominical, read my how-to on navigating the public transport (to include the ferry) and/or booking a shared shuttle. The step-by-step is included at the end of my Montezuma travelogue. There’s also information in there on how to get to/from Uvita from Jacó.
Useful Links
Guide to Montezuma (Sightseeing, Tours, Activities, Dining, Lodging) via Montezuma-CostaRica.com, Montezuma’s own non-profit community initiative.
If you found this Montezuma guide useful and would like to say thank you, one of the best ways to do so is by booking your hotels, transport, tours, and trip insurance through the links you find on my site or on my Travel Resources page. This sends a bit back my way at no additional cost to you and helps to keep this blog up and running. Thank you for your support!
Travel Resources
Accommodations: When I’m not booking directly with the accommodation (which is sometimes cheaper), I often use Booking.com, Trivago, and Hostelworld.com. Agoda is also a great tool when searching for longer stay options at discounted rates that include hotels and private homes.
Tours: While I personally prefer do-it-yourself travel most of the time, sometimes it’s just better with a guide. In those cases, I typically use Viator, GetYourGuide, EatWith, and Airbnb Experiences. For self-guided audio tours, I recommend WeGoTrip.
Flights: My favorite flight aggregator tool is WayAway and my favorite tool for finding out about the best flight deals is FareDrop, while Hopper’s great for keeping track of when to book at the best price.
Shuttle Services: My go-to’s are Bookaway and 12Go. Both sites aggregate vetted local transport options in destinations all over the world with the added benefit of 24-hour live support should anything come up during the journey.
Travel Insurance: If you’re a full-time nomad like me, I recommend SafetyWing. For medical coverage during shorter trips, I frequently use and would recommend Squaremouth. It aggregates your options across more than 22 providers and offers what I’ve found to be the best rates.
Travel Debit & Credit Cards: If you travel often and like perks like airport lounge access and annual travel credit, I recommend the Capital One Venture X credit card that includes Priority Pass, a $300 annual travel credit, and covers your Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee. For a fee-free ATM card that reimburses you at the end of every month for any incurred ATM fees, I recommend opening a Schwab Bank Investor Checking Account.
VPN: I recommend Surfshark. It’s one of the best and most budget-friendly VPN services out there.
What to Read Next
Costa Rica Foot Tracks
Uvita is the stuff of legends, or so it was for me. This beach town was the one spot consistently recommended by what felt like every traveler I met. Here’s where I ate, drank, slept, and explored in this infamous spot.