In Montezuma, the waterfall is more than a photograph people come to collect. It’s part of the sound and movement of the place: a river descending through thick forest, gathering in three natural pools, then continuing down toward the Pacific.
The Montezuma waterfalls are a series of three cascades beside Montezuma village on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. Day visitors usually reach the big lower waterfall by a riverside walk from near town. Guests at Anamaya have an easier way in: our own private path runs from the property down to the falls, right next door.
At Anamaya Resort, a yoga and wellness retreat on the hillside above Montezuma, the waterfalls feel like part of the neighborhood. The property overlooks the Rio Montezuma gorge, and waterfall outings have been a favorite of Anamaya guests for years. Here’s how to make the most of them.
Quick facts
- Location: Montezuma, southern Nicoya Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
- Main attraction: Three waterfalls and three freshwater pools along the Rio Montezuma.
- Anamaya guests: A private path leads from the property down to the falls.
- Day visitors: A public riverside trail starts near the southern edge of the village.
- Best footwear: Shoes with good grip for wet rocks, roots and uneven ground.
- Best time: Morning, when it’s cooler, the birds are busy and the pools are quieter.
- Seasonal difference: Powerful, dramatic flows in the green season and calmer, clearer pools in the dry months.
Three Waterfalls, Three Different Experiences
The lower Montezuma waterfall is the one most visitors picture first. Water drops dramatically down a steep rock face, framed by a bowl of green forest, into a broad pool. It feels cool and enclosed after the sunny streets of town, and the sound of the falling water can fill the whole gorge.
Farther upstream, the two smaller upper falls have a different character. Their pools sit among rocks and forest, with ledges, cascades and quieter places to watch the water. The river links all three, and the paths between them are real jungle trails with some steep and rocky stretches, which is part of the fun.
Photos online can make the tiers look closer together than they are. Each level has its own mood, and there’s no need to tick off every viewpoint. The waterfall is an experience, not a scavenger hunt.
The lower cascade is wonderful enough to justify a visit on its own. Watching the water, noticing the ferns clinging to damp rock and cooling off in the forest shade can fill an entire morning.
Anamaya’s Private Path to the Falls
This is one of our favorite things about the property. Montezuma Falls isn’t a drive away from Anamaya. It’s next door, and guests walk down to it on Anamaya’s own private path.
When Geoff McCabe first found this land in 2004, the private path to the falls was part of what made it feel like a small miracle. It means a waterfall visit can fit into any part of your day. You can go before breakfast while the gorge is still quiet, slip down between a yoga class and lunch, or wander over in the late afternoon when the light turns gold on the water.
Because the falls are so close, many guests visit more than once during their week. Some come back simply to sit by the pool and listen. Others return after a rainy night to see how much the river has grown. Ask the team when you arrive and they’ll point you to the path and share the best spots.
How to Reach Montezuma Falls from Town
If you’re visiting Montezuma without staying at Anamaya, the classic approach begins near the southern edge of the village, close to the river crossing. From the road, a path follows the water over roots and stones, and it reaches the lower waterfall first.
Travel guides give different hiking times because the trail is irregular and people move at different speeds. Allow roughly twenty to forty minutes each way for the lower route. The actual time depends on how wet the rocks are, how often you stop for photos and how much you enjoy rock hopping.
The town-side entry is commonly described as free, though parking may have a charge. Arrangements change from time to time, so check locally on the day. The trail is popular but still feels like a natural river path rather than a managed park.
Bring water and shoes you trust. Light sandals can feel easy in town but turn into a poor choice as soon as you step onto damp stone. You’ll enjoy the walk far more when your attention can stay on the forest instead of on keeping your shoes attached to your feet.
Our waterfall and trails map shows how the falls, the private path and the surrounding trails fit together. You can also read an independent route description in the Costa Rica Travel Blog waterfall guide.
When Is the Best Time to Visit?
Early morning is often lovely. The temperature is gentler, birds are active and there’s usually more time to enjoy the pools before other visitors arrive. The sound of water becomes especially appealing when the gorge is otherwise quiet.
During Costa Rica’s drier months, roughly November through April on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, the pools tend to be calmer and clearer and the paths less muddy. That’s when many visitors plan long swims.
From May through October, the forest becomes dramatically green and the cascades carry much more water. A powerful waterfall in full flow is a sight you won’t forget. After a heavy downpour, it’s often best enjoyed from the edge of the pool, with the spray on your face, and saved for a swim on a calmer day.
Our guide to Costa Rica’s green season explains the rhythm of the rainy months, while the best time to visit an eco lodge guide compares the seasons for nature lovers.
Swimming, Jumping and Enjoying the Pools
A natural pool beneath a waterfall is wonderfully inviting, and the big lower pool at Montezuma is a classic Costa Rica swim. The water is fresh, clean and cool after a warm walk, and the forest closes in around you on every side.
Many visitors climb behind the falls and jump through into the pool, and thousands of people jump at Montezuma every year. It’s been a favorite moment for Anamaya guests for a long time. If you’d like to try it, go with someone who knows the spots, check the depth before you leap and keep an eye on the water level after heavy rain.
A few easy habits make the day better. Wear shoes with grip, keep your group together and give yourselves plenty of daylight for the walk back. Then relax. Sitting beside a waterfall and watching sunlight play through the spray is a perfectly good adventure too.
Lonely Planet also describes the falls and the walk in. For a first visit, a local guide can show you the best swimming spots and the upper pools.
Wildlife Along the Rio Montezuma Gorge
The walk to the falls isn’t only about water. The river gorge supports a rich edge habitat where damp forest, open patches and flowing water meet. You may hear howler monkeys above the trail, notice lizards among the roots or see butterflies visiting shafts of sunlight.
Watch for kingfishers moving along the watercourse and herons waiting patiently at quieter sections. Higher up, parrots and aracaris move through fruiting trees while raptors circle above the valley. Insects, amphibians and the shifting patterns of leaves create plenty to look at between the main viewpoints.
The best wildlife moments tend to arrive when you stop moving. Stand quietly for a minute. Listen for different layers of sound: running water close by, a bird calling across the valley, rustling leaves, a monkey far above. It’s surprising how quickly the trail becomes more interesting when you stop treating it as a path from A to B.
This is also why staying nearby can be so rewarding. The wildlife doesn’t turn itself on only when you enter a reserve. At Anamaya Resort, the surrounding forest brings many of those same animals into daily view. Read our Montezuma wildlife guide to learn which sightings are common and which take a little patience.
How to Enjoy the Falls Without Leaving a Trace
Waterfall pools are shared habitats, not outdoor bathtubs. Please don’t use soap or shampoo in the water, even products labeled biodegradable. Sunscreen is best applied well before you swim, with a shirt or hat doing much of the work.
Carry out wrappers, tissues, bottles and anything else you brought. Keep food secure so monkeys and coatis don’t learn to associate humans with free meals. Watch wildlife from a comfortable distance, and resist the temptation to move rocks, disturb nests or pull plants into a better position for a photograph.
A small gesture can make a difference. If you notice a piece of litter, carry it out. If another visitor is reaching for a monkey with food, a friendly word can help protect the animal. Travel feels better when we leave a place as beautiful as we found it.
For Anamaya’s broader approach to protecting the local environment, see our sustainability story, including the work done to make electrical transformers safer for monkeys.
Other Waterfalls Near Montezuma: El Chorro
If you’ve fallen in love with waterfalls and want a second adventure, consider El Chorro, near Playa Cocolito north of Montezuma. It’s a striking coastal waterfall that pours toward the sea from a rocky cliff. The scenery is very different from the enclosed forest pools of Montezuma Falls: open beach, sky, headlands and waves.
The coastal approach is a proper hike, with hot beach walking and rocky headlands, and tide timing matters. Local operators also offer horseback and guided options when conditions permit. The reward is an extraordinary meeting of freshwater and ocean scenery.
El Chorro is best treated as its own outing rather than a quick add-on after a busy morning. Bring plenty of water, sun protection and good footwear, and check the tides before you set off. A local resource, Montezuma Beach’s El Chorro guide, describes the destination and its setting.
If you prefer something gentler, Montezuma’s beaches and small river crossings offer plenty of places to enjoy the landscape without a long hike. Our nature day trips guide compares the possibilities.
Why Anamaya Guests Love Having the Falls Nearby
For someone staying in a beach hotel, the waterfalls are a day-trip destination. At Anamaya, they’re part of the wider environment you live in all week. You can hear the gorge come alive after rain. You can see the forest valley from the property. And thanks to the private path, a waterfall swim is one easy choice among yoga, spa time, beach visits and a long afternoon beside the pool.
It’s also a lovely reminder of how Anamaya began. Founder Geoff McCabe fell in love with the Montezuma hillside when he first discovered it, and the relationship between the home, ocean and river valley shaped the place that eventually became the retreat. His original account of Anamaya’s beginnings tells that story in his own words.
You don’t have to know the property’s history to enjoy a waterfall hike. But it’s nice to realize that the landscape drawing visitors here today is the one that captured the imagination of the person who built the first house.
A Lovely Way to Spend the Morning
Start with a relaxed breakfast and shoes suitable for a real trail. Bring a small dry bag for your phone and a reusable water bottle. Leave valuables you don’t need back in your room. Head down the path while the day is still cool, taking time to notice birds and plants along the way.
At the lower waterfall, find a comfortable place to sit. Watch the spray catch the light. Take a photograph if you like, then put the phone away for a little while. Swim, float, climb behind the curtain of water or just let the scenery be enough.
Return without rushing. A waterfall visit doesn’t need to be strenuous to feel memorable, and there’s something deeply satisfying about finishing a jungle morning with a delicious lunch, clean clothes and nowhere urgent to be.
That’s one of the pleasures of a Costa Rica nature and wellness retreat. The experience doesn’t end when you leave the trail. It becomes part of the day.
