After the Montezuma waterfalls, one of the most beautiful spots in the Nicoya Peninsula, it is time to talk about the town and the beach of the same name, just a short way from the falls.
Key points
- Montezuma, about 8 km from Cóbano, between a plateau and the sea, is a former port that now focuses on tourism.
- Some boats still arrive there carrying people from Puntarenas and Jacó.
- Restaurants, bars, ice cream parlors, handicraft shops and hotels at popular prices, a few steps from the sea.
- The beach, 100 m from the town, is the only sandy stretch (about 2 km) of a rocky coast; the waves are gentler in the center.
- A turtle nesting site watched over by volunteers: nesting in June and July, hatching from August to September.
Previously we talked about the Montezuma waterfalls, one of the most beautiful spots in the Nicoya Peninsula area. Now it is time to talk about the town and the beach of the same name, which are just a few meters away from the waterfalls.
Our article on the waterfalls: Montezuma Waterfall
Montezuma town
Located about 8 kilometers from the city of Cóbano, between a plateau and the sea, is the hidden town of Montezuma.
This town was an important port for the entry and exit of products in the area. Boats would come from Puntarenas bringing goods while carrying raw materials from the area back to the interior of the country. Today some boats still arrive at Montezuma Beach carrying people from Puntarenas and Jacó.
The town has changed to be more oriented to tourism and the exchange of local products such as fish and agricultural products. There is also trade in handicrafts. The presence of restaurants, bars and even ice cream parlors shows how many businesses revolve around visitors.
The soccer field and the park are in the middle of the town, and the locals use them to play different sports on their days off.
Hotels are everywhere, offering popular prices. Outside the town you can find more exclusive hotels. All these places are located a few steps from the sea, giving a unique view while you enjoy a drink, a meal or a coffee.
Montezuma Beach
The beach is about 100 meters from the town. Most of the coastline in the area is rocky, which is not very friendly to sandy beach lovers. The only sandy portion of the coast around is a beach of about 2 kilometers with some reefs.
Despite this, some surfers perform their maneuvers here, among the rocks that protrude from the seabed and the reefs. For swimmers, the waves can be a little rough. In the center of the beach the waves become friendlier, as the shore slopes more gently. This makes for safer swimming and lower waves.
But the delight of this beach remains for the campers. With forest and a hillside behind that have prevented any construction, it is an almost virgin beach with lush vegetation a few meters from the town. Under the trees, campers pitch their tents, protected from the heat of the sun's rays. In front, they have a view of the Pacific Ocean.
Montezuma Beach and the turtles
This beach is known as a turtle nesting site. Some environmental organizations have a base there, where local and foreign volunteers patrol to protect the eggs and the nesting. Sometimes, after the female lays her eggs, members of these associations carefully move them to a hatchery, where they will be better watched over.
The mother turtles come to nest between June and July, while the first hatchlings emerge from their eggs from August to September. Lucky campers can enjoy watching the turtles nest, as long as they keep the right distance, stay quiet and do not disturb them.
