The main draw in the quaint Costa Rican town of Montezuma are its spectacular waterfalls- but those who visit on day trips frequently forget to check out Montezuma’s beaches as well.
That’s a mistake. East of Montezuma there’s a 1.5-2 hour beach walk that takes you through four distinct beaches, each completely different from the last, ending at a hidden waterfall most tourists never find. The only way to access them is on foot, which keeps the crowds away almost entirely.
In this post, I’ll detail this walk, giving you glimpses into each of these beaches– each of which, by the way, are some of the best beaches I came across in the entirety of Costa Rica, let alone Montezuma.
The Montezuma Beach Walk
While the town of Montezuma is quite small, it is surrounded by massive expanses of national reserves and beaches.
To the west you have plenty to see, including the town of Cabuya with its island that is only accessible at low tide, as well as the Capo Blanco National Reserve, the oldest such reserve in the country.
There’s also a gorgeous cove worth checking out called Playa Las Manchas.
But the best beach experience can be found in the opposite direction.
East of Montezuma is a massive stretch of beaches. Beginning with the main beach in the center of town- Playa Montezuma- you can walk to beach after beach, each uniquely beautiful, over the course of about 1.5-2 hours.
The beaches are generally almost empty and feel like your own– the only way to access these remote beaches are with your two feet, which weeds out all the lazy tourists.
And at the end, you’ll be rewarded for your hard work by a beautiful waterfall.
Map of the Montezuma Beach Walk
Note: The Montezuma Beach Walk is pinned on Offpath, my interactive map app of hidden gems from every destination I’ve visited around the world. Browse it to find more off-the-beaten-path spots like this!
Playa Montezuma
Playa Montezuma is your starting point, and certainly not as spectacular as the beaches to come.
It starts right by town, and will take you about 10-15 minutes to walk. Even in the first ten minutes, you can feel the beach getting more wild with the town fading from view and the jungle coming into more prominence.
Soon, you’ll arrive at the path that takes you to our next stop. Do note that the beaches are always connected by trails, though you have the option to walk along the water on the rocks. I’ll talk about it more in the Tips section later.
Piedra Colorada
After emerging from a quick walk over the rocks or a stroll through the jungle, you’ll have arrived at Piedra Colorada.
The name translates to “colored stones”– the beach here is a narrow cove with sand that has a distinct color from all the other beaches you’ll see. At first it appears brown. But if you actually investigate the grains of the sand, you’ll find lots of green and red.
Flowing into the beach here is a small freshwater river from the jungle. Walking up away from the water, you’ll find pools, streams, and small waterfalls filled with these green and red stones.
Take a dip in the pools here. After walking for a while in the sun, it’ll feel nice and refreshing.
If you want, you can also spend some time here walking up the stream into the jungle. There are lots of cool spots to find up there.
Playa Grande
Playa Grande is one of the most impressive beaches I’ve seen in my life, and probably my favorite beach in Montezuma.
To get here from Piedra Colorada, I’d recommend taking the trail through the jungle- there’s a nature reserve that is quite pretty. However, it’s certainly possible to tackle the rocks as well.
Playa Grande is a long, wide, flat expanse of beach. No features really stick out. No streams, no waterfalls, no colored stones.
But it’s the simplicity that does it here. It showcases Pacific Costa Rica in its most basic form. Wild. Remote. Jungle. Dark, volanic sand that reflects the sky like a mirror.
The remote feeling here is incredible. There’s a decent chance you’ll be the only one on this entire beach, and the feeling of having such a massive beach all to yourself is exhilarating, and refreshing after seeing many of Costa Rica’s more touristy spots.
Keep your eyes open for turtles, who often nest on this beach! There was an absolutely massive dead one on the beach when I was there. Sad to see, but I’m assuming from his size that he had a good and long life.
Playa Cocalito
You’ll again have the choice of jungle trail through a nature reserve or the rocks to reach the next beach, Playa Cocalito.
This is the last beach you’ll visit, and long like Playa Grande. But that’s really the only similarity the two share.
Unlike Playa Grande, which is flat, wide, and essentially just ocean and sand, Playa Cocalito has a whole lot more going on. Many curves; parts that are wide, parts that are narrow; parts that are flat, parts that are steep; and cool stone formations popping up here and there.
There’s also a river similar to the one at Piedra Colorada flowing into the ocean near the end of this beach. Locals often come here to build dams.
The sand here also differs from Playa Grande. It doesn’t have quite the colorful array of grains that Piedra Colorada’s sand possesses, but its certainly lighter and more golden.
By the time you’ve reached to end of the beach, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with the Cocalito Waterfall.
A quick minute’s hike over some rocks will bring you right to the base.
Go refresh yourself under the cascades. They don’t come from very high up, so you can comfortably go underneath.
Then it’s time to head back! You can take a cab back from the nearby town or walk.
As I’ll explain in the next section, I’d recommend you walk back.
Tips For the Best Beaches in Montezuma
Tip 1- Pack Enough Food and Water
It’s a long trip with a lot of sun likely beating down on you for hours- there’s not a lot of shade outside the jungle.
This combination of things means you want a hefty amount of water. You don’t want to come to the point where you’re diligently rationing it. And of course, enough food for energy.
Throw on a hat as well, while we’re on the subject.
Tip 2- Start at the Right Time
Don’t leave too early- or too late. You want to time it so that you’re ending your walk during sunset. It’s pretty magical if you do.
I’d suggest starting the walk around 12:30 PM. This will likely get you to the waterfall around 2-2:30 PM, and if you take your time there and on the way back, you should be getting back right around golden hour, which is generally around 5:30 PM or so.
If you feel comfortable walking in the dark (make sure you have a light), spend the sunset at Playa Grande. The reflections off of the dark sand are incredible, and the view is so expansive.
Tip 3- Take a Lot of Breaks
This is the main reason why I recommend you walk back, rather than taking a cab.
On the walk back, you have a good idea of timing and usually no reason to rush. For this reason, I definitely recommend taking a lot of breaks. And not only if you’re tired. You should pick a few spots and settle down, really taking in the scenery and isolation.
The way back was my favorite part for this reason. I took my time, and enjoyed the more mild weather with the setting sun. And met some dogs along the way.
Tip 4- Try Walking Along the Rocks
As I’ve mentioned throughout this post, the beaches are separated by large sections of rock.
There are always trails through the jungle to bypass the rocks, but if you have proper footwear (good water shoes) I would recommend sometimes taking the rocks to go from beach to beach.
Some of the rocky sections are quite cool. Just be prepared for sharp edges and lots of crabs, which probably won’t bother you.
Conclusion
The Montezuma beach walk sounds like a lot of effort, but it’s incredibly rewarding. You’ll see what I mean when you’re standing at the Cocalito Waterfall, having discovered multiple outstanding beaches and having barely seen another person all day.
Four beaches, each one different from the last, and a reward at the end that most visitors to Montezuma never find.
Prepare well, and time it for sunset on the way back. Will be a highlight of your trip to Costa Rica, trust me.
