“Isn’t this bit tricky?”. He smiled at me and then went back to figuring out the rocks that he would have to step on next. We just met on the trail but shared the same thought. The river is shallow at places and you will have to find the somewhat flat rocks beneath the clear running water to find the path to the lower one of the Montezuma waterfalls.
Crossing the river is the last hurdle. The sound of the gushing waterfall is already audible and partially visible. However, this last bit of steps is required to confront the 25 meters high protagonist.
3 waterfalls – upper, middle and lower waterfalls, consist the trio of the Montezuma waterfalls. The most tricky part is reaching them as there is no one easy choice to make. Although, there are some decisions to make, the trio is a must-visit place in Montezuma along the southern coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica.
Here is our guide about everything that you need to know to reach and enjoy the Montezuma waterfalls.
How to reach the Montezuma Waterfalls?
You need to be in the Montezuma town, as the name suggests. There are various routes to access the waterfalls. All the entrances are close to the Montezuma beach or a short ride away.
Here is how you can reach the Nicoya Peninsula through ferry, if you are arriving from San Jose. Montezuma is about an hour’s drive away from the Paquera ferry landing.
Montezuma Waterfalls: Three Entrances and Hiking Trails
There is no easy way to reach all the 3 waterfalls. However, there are 3 options to choose from.
- The Montezuma town entrance
- The Butterfly Brewery Garden entrance
- The Sun Trails entrance
All 3 entrances have their advantages and disadvantages and which one you choose depends on your preferences.
However, one common requirement among all three trails, is that you will need some amount of physical fitness if you wish to reach all the 3 waterfalls as there is a fair amount of stairs climbing and river crossing involved in each.
Montezuma Entrance
The Montezuma entrance is closest to the town. It is a few minutes walk from the town center or the Montezuma beach. You can find this free entrance on Google Maps.
Costs
Entrance Cost: Free for the Lower Waterfall. 1000 CRC per person for the other 2 waterfalls as the trail is through a private property owned by Sun Trails.
Parking Cost: 1000 CRC (this is like a tip to the guards)
Waterfalls Access
Advantages: This is the best option if you do not have a car as the other 2 entrances are bit far from the town and requires an uphill drive.
The Lower Waterfall: This trail takes you first to the lower waterfall, which is also the highest and the most popular. The initial part of the trail (if you can call it a trail) requires climbing on rocks, followed by crossing the river Montezuma and reaching a thin trail to lower Montezuma waterfall. The later part of the trail gets thinner, however, there is rope fixed along the rocky wall as a support which helps you get to the end of the trail. Yes, this is not straightforward but you will find lots of people doing it. You are in Costa Rica where people seem to effortlessly embrace adventure. Reaching the waterfall will take around 15-20 minutes.
The Middle and Upper Waterfall: After you have enjoyed your time at the lower waterfall, you will find your way towards the other 2 waterfalls. This requires crossing the river again and finding a rope on the wall (this is a short one, I promise!) that leads to a flight of stairs.
Climb all the way up the stairs, you will find a person who asks for the additional 1,000 CRC to use the trails to the upper waterfall. The rest of the stairs are mostly downhill and lot easier compared to the previous flights.
Butterfly Brewing Company Entrance
The Butterfly Brewing Company entrance is a few minutes uphill drive from the Montezuma entrance on a paved road. They let you park for a fee and access the trailhead. You can find Butterfly Brewing Company on Google Maps.
Costs
Entrance Cost: Free. 1000 CRC per person for accessing the trails to the waterfalls through a private property owned by Sun Trails.
Parking Cost: 1000 CRC
Waterfalls Access
Advantages: If you have a car, then this is a great option as most part of the trails are well marked except the last bit near the lower waterfall.
The Middle and Upper Waterfall: This is closer to the Upper and Middle waterfalls. A comparatively easier walk with fewer stairs will take you to the Upper waterfall. At a junction in the trail, you will find the left part leading to the Upper fall, while if you take right, it leads to the lower falls. You will have to pay the fees to a person at this junction, same as the one mentioned in the previous section, as the trail or stairs are on a private property.
The Lower Waterfall: As mentioned above, you will find a flight of stairs on the right at the junction. These stairs will take you down near the river, which you will need to cross. There is no escaping this tricky part, whichever route you prefer!
Sun Trails Tours Entrance
The Sun Trails Tours Entrance is a few minutes uphill drive as well from the Montezuma entrance on the same road, past the Butterfly Brewery Garden entrance. Here is the Google Map location for Sun Trails Tours.
Costs
Entrance Cost: 2,000 CRC. No other fees to be paid beyond the entrance fee to explore the trail and the waterfalls.
Parking Cost: Free. No separate cost of parking.
Waterfalls Access
Advantages: The trail starts with 3 hanging bridges with the forest canopy around you. This is a well marked trail except the last bit near the lower waterfall.
The Middle and Upper Waterfall: This trail is closer to the Upper and Middle waterfalls. The beginning of the trail has 3 connected hanging bridges that bring you close to the canopy and chances of watching birds up close. Post that, there are stairs on the trails that lead to the Upper waterfall. It is a 10 minutes walk from the entrance and mostly easy.
The Lower Waterfall: The trail to the lower waterfall is the same as the other 2 options. So you will need to climb down the same stairs to reach the lower waterfall.
Montezuma Waterfalls:
As mentioned before, three different waterfalls, lower, middle and upper constitute the Montezuma Waterfalls. Different in size, texture and accessibility, each of the three waterfalls has its own charm.
Lower Waterfall
The Lower waterfall is the highest and the prettiest among the three waterfalls. The Montezuma river gushes through a 25 meters / 82 feet towering waterfall into a huge pool which is perfect for swimming after your hiking through the trail.
We did exactly that! The day was warm and sunny when we visited and found the water to be in the perfect temperature to cool down after the hike.
There are several cliffs or high rocks or even the top of the waterfall, from where you will find the locals dive into the deep pool. While this looks fun but we recommend against it to avoid any accident as the rocks get slippery particularly if you are visiting after rains.
However, there is a natural rock platform formed just behind the waterfall curtain, is not as high and you jump from here piercing through the waterfall into the pool. Still, not recommended, but just in case you are too inclined and want a ‘safer’ option. I could not resist the temptation though. Twice!
There is ample space beside the pool to sit, relax and have a quick snack after the swim.
Upper Waterfall
At 5 meters / 16 feet, the Upper waterfall is the smallest among the three falls. There are multiple ledges that are suitable to jump in the deep wide pool below the waterfall. However, like the lower one, we advise you to be extremely careful if you decide to take a plunge.
There is a rope at the left wall beside the waterfall. It can be used as a support to hang and get close to the rocks near the pool or swim! You can use the same rope to climb back.
This waterfall also has ample space to sit and spend some time listening the flowing water or the sounds of the forests.
If you are not feeling adventurous enough to climb down or jump into the pool, another option is to check the small pools and the cascade behind this waterfall.
How to reach the Middle Waterfall?
There is no trail that leads to the Middle waterfall. The gateway to the Middle waterfall is the Upper Waterfall.
You can reach the top of the 12 meters / 40 feet high middle waterfall, either swimming across the pool of the Upper waterfall or walking on the narrow ledges beside the pool.
Tips for Montezuma Waterfalls Visit
We compiled our best tips here to help you plan your visit to the Montezuma Waterfalls.
Best time to visit
You can visit Montezuma Waterfalls any time of the year. The waterfalls are likely to be at their fullest volume during the rainy season. But the rocky trails will be slippery and the rivers will be difficult to cross during the rainy season. The waterfall will be almost drying up towards the fag end of the dry season in March/April.
We visited the waterfalls in December, just after the rainy season concluded. We got sunny weather, not too slippery trails, waterfalls flowing full and also some seasonal cascades. So, according to us, the early phase of the dry season is the best time to visit Montezuma Waterfalls.
What to wear
The dry season (mid-December to April) which is also the peak season, can be humid. However, the Costa Rica weather is difficult to predict and there can be rains anytime of the year. So you need to pack accordingly.
- Swim wear
- Water shoes with good grip (the rocks around the pool can be slippery)
- Good hiking shoes
- Light cotton or dry-fit clothes as it can be humid
- Rain jacket or poncho
What to carry
Remember to carry these essentials for your Montezuma Waterfalls hike.
- Water, absolutely necessary in dry season. The trails or stairs are not easy.
- Insect repellent cream
- Towels
- Camera gear with rain protection
Safety Tips
- The trails are moderate or difficult in parts and involves crossing the Montezuma river. It is important to be cautious as the rocks can be slippery. Use the rope support, wherever it is provided.
- Be absolutely sure if you plan to jump in any of the pools near the waterfalls. As always, practice caution.
Closing Thoughts
The hikes might be little tricky but the Montezuma Waterfalls have rewarding views and could as well be among the best waterfalls in Costa Rica. Therefore, if you are up for a little adventure and a break from lazing around in the serene beaches of Montezuma, then these waterfalls provide the perfect opportunity.
Here are some more impressive waterfalls of Costa Rica:
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Excellent photography and detailing. On going through this blog any one will be tempted to visit this beautiful nature.
It is not the three step waterfalls that we had visited, I believe.
Thank you, keep on presenting us with such nice places.
Thank you. No, that was different.