The Montezuma Waterfall is located behind the town of the same name, just a few hundred meters from the beach. Even so, it is not easy to access: you have to be in good physical condition.
Key points
- There is more than “one” waterfall: the bottom section is the most popular, because it is the easiest to access.
- Don't go if it is raining or has rained recently; wear hiking clothes and shoes, and bring swimwear.
- The trail starts by a bridge west of downtown, with a paid parking lot at the entrance; about 1.5 km to the waterfall, along the Montezuma river.
- The upper waterfall takes an extra 10 to 20 minutes uphill, to a pond under a fall around 3 meters high.
- Head back to the entrance around 4:00 PM, bring sunblock and snacks, and don't plan a long drive afterwards.
Montezuma Waterfall
The Montezuma Waterfall is located behind the town of the same name. The waterfall is the result of the plateau ending almost at the seashore: literally, the waterfall is just a few hundred meters from the beach. Even so, it is not easy to access: you have to be in good physical condition.
Accessing the Waterfall
Before going into this topic, it is very important to mention that there is more than “one” waterfall. The waterfall itself is divided into different sections. The higher sections are really hard to access and you need to be in really good physical condition. This is why the most popular waterfall is the bottom one, the easiest to access.
Also, do not go there if it is raining or has rained recently: check the weather conditions in the area before visiting the Montezuma Waterfall.
No matter which section you want to access, you need to dress appropriately. Hiking clothes and shoes are highly recommended. Since there are ponds where you can swim, you can take swimwear with you in your backpack.
The entrance to the trail that will take you to the waterfall is just west of downtown Montezuma. You'll find a bridge, and the entrance is next to it. There is a parking lot next to the entrance. Not bad: if you rented motorcycles, you can leave them there for a small amount of money.
The trail is not paved and runs parallel to the Montezuma river. From the entrance to the waterfall it is about 1.5 kilometers. Even though the river offers some nice ponds, don't get distracted: the best is yet to come.
Choose your destiny
As you get closer to the waterfall, you will see the trail split in two. The trail that still goes alongside the river will take you to the lower waterfall. Since it is the most popular, the pond can be crowded, so maybe you would like to leave it for the end of the trip.
If you take the other trail, it will lead you to the upper waterfall. You still have quite a walk to get there, maybe 10 to 20 minutes, and it is uphill. Don't go if you don't feel in good shape.
Then, after that extra walk, you'll find the pond and the first waterfall. It is a small waterfall, around 3 meters high. It has some nice stones where you can sit while the water falls on your back. From the edge of the pond, you can see the second waterfall with its own pond. Although you may see some locals jumping into the second pond, it is not recommended by any means.
Once you finish here, you can go back to the lower waterfall. There, a nice pond to swim in awaits you and, if you are lucky, you can watch some locals and foreigners jumping into the pond. Some people jump from very high.
Conclusion
It is better to go back to the entrance at around 4:00 PM, as there is still enough sunlight to see the path well. Be sure you won't be driving a lot after visiting the waterfall: the trip can be exhausting. Do not forget your sunblock and take some snacks with you.
Montezuma is an overnight stop on the Pura Vida Tour and the 7-day Offroad Tour. See the Pura Vida Tour
The town and its beach have their own article. Montezuma, the town and the beach
