How to Get to Montezuma Waterfall via 4 Different Trails

Everything you need to know to visit Montezuma Waterfalls, including the 3 main trails and a bonus, secret and free path!

Dan sitting on some rocks beside a Montezuma Waterfall, looking away towards the water and the surrounding greenery.

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Montezuma Waterfall is a highlight of anyone’s trip to this secluded spot on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. But how do you actually reach the waterfall? Before we visited, we were very confused by the information online about how to actually reach Montezuma Waterfall. Turns out, there are four different routes you can take, all with a variety of challenges, entrance fees, and advantages. We visited Montezuma Waterfall ourselves to find out how best to hike to the falls, and have compiled a complete guide to getting to Montezuma Waterfall, including the pros and cons of each trail, in this article.

Montezuma Waterfalls at a glance

Where: Montezuma Falls Google Map Location.
When: Although access is technically 24/7, it’s not recommended to visit after 16:30 or in the dark.
How: Hike there yourself via one of the four trails we outline below.
Cost: Free to ₡3000 (~$5 USD) depending on the route you take.
Difficulty: Easy to Challenging
Time: Average 10 to 30 minutes’ walk each way, depending on your route.
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (₡).

The Upper Waterfall at Montezuma Waterfalls surrounded by dense Costa Rican greenery. — Montezuma Waterfall is actually made up of three falls

More from Montezuma

About Montezuma Waterfall

Montezuma Waterfall is actually a set of three waterfalls that span a total height of about 40 metres (130 ft). It’s a popular spot just for hikers and photographers, as well as anyone looking for a refreshing spot to cool off in the stunning swimming holes. Each waterfall has a different look and feel, with various advantages.

Lower Waterfall
Middle Waterfall
Upper Waterfall

Lower Waterfall

The Lower Waterfall is the main Montezuma Waterfall and the one that most people think of when you say ‘Montezuma Waterfall’. This huge cascade drops 25 metres (80 ft) into a large pool, where it then continues down the river to Montezuma and the sea.

Middle Waterfall

Montezuma’s Middle Waterfall is actually hidden. To see it, you need to swim across the pool of the Upper Waterfall. People do jump from the top pool into the middle pool, but we wouldn’t recommend it as it’s very dangerous. It’s also possible to scramble down the rocks on the side of the Upper Falls to the Middle Waterfall. The Middle Waterfalls is a decent 12 metres (41 ft) tall.

Upper Waterfall

The Upper Waterfall is the smallest of the three falls at only 5 metres (15 ft). It cascades into a deep pool, perfect for swimming in. There’s a rope swing here that you can use to jump into the water, as well as plenty of rocky space on the sides of the river where you can leave your belongings.

The view upstream towards Montezuma Waterfall as the stream of flowing water curves around the trees. — The Lower Waterfall is the most famous fall in Montezums

Where is Montezuma Waterfall?

Montezuma Waterfall is located just outside of Montezuma on the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula. It is 0.6 miles (1 km) from the town and can be accessed via a variety of trails.

Read our Montezuma Travel Guide

Montezuma Waterfall Map

Use the filter function on the left-hand side of our interactive Montezuma Map to see the four trailheads for Montezuma Waterfall.

How to get to Montezuma Waterfall

Montezuma’s Waterfalls can be accessed by four different trails:

The Sun Trails
The Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail
The Riverbed Trail
The Sunshine Sanctuary Trail

Each route has a different parking lot. A 4×4 isn’t necessary but the roads around Montezuma can be really muddy, and full of potholes in wet season, so it may be preferred. We certainly felt much better navigating the roads in our 4×4 Nomad America Camper Rental than if we’d been in a standard car. We’ve detailed all the parking lots, as well as how to access the trails, below.

Signs depicting winding roads and wildlife crossing the road with the words "cruce de fauna". — There are several ways to get to Montezuma Waterfalls

Montezuma Waterfall Directions

To get to Montezuma from the Costa Rican mainland, you have two options. The long inland route or the Nicoya Ferry From Puntarenas to Paquera. If you’re coming from the north or the coast, it’s easy to get here by following Route 21 to Montezuma.

Find cheap car rentals in Costa Rica here!

We’re going to tell you exactly how to find the waterfall and have broken done the directions to Montezuma Waterfall via each trail below.

1. The Sun Trails Route

Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: ₡3000 (~$5 USD)

Sun Trails is an adventure company in Montezuma known for its ziplining course and hanging bridges hikes. They have created a lot of the trails that lead around Montezuma Waterfalls. You can pay a small fee to walk through thick jungle, over suspended bridges, to the waterfalls.

Sun Trails has also built a staircase on the left-hand side of the Falls (as you look at them) which leads all the way from the Upper Waterfall to about 30 metres (110 ft) from the base of the Lower Waterfall. From here, you can cross the river to the right riverbank and walk up to the Lower Falls pool.

Sun Trails also offers guided walks through their reserve to the waterfall, as well as ziplining and other fun day trips around Montezuma.

A howler monkey reaches for berries in the tall branches of a tree. — You can often see native animals on the trails near the waterfall

It’s also possible to access the Sun Trails Route from halfway up the staircase that leads from the Lower Waterfall to the Upper Waterfall. This is where you’ll arrive if you take the Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail, or decide to use the stairs from the Lower Falls.

An employee from Sun Trails is usually stationed at a checkpoint at the top of the stairs to collect the fee to continue. Sun Trails opening times are between 8:30 and 16:30 so they may not be there if you arrive early. The hut is also less frequently manned in off-season, so you may not need to pay then either.

The pros and cons of Sun Trails

Direct access to the waterfalls via a staircase
Scenic route through the jungle
Great wildlife spotting opportunities
Hanging bridges and ziplining opportunities
The most expensive route to Montezuma Waterfall
Some visitors find the staircase steep and challenging
The trailhead is the furthest from the town and hard to access without a car

Montezuma Waterfall's upper pool of water covered on all sides by tall trees. — You need to swim across the Upper pool to see the Middle Waterfall

2. The Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Time: 15 minutes
Cost: Free until Sun Trails, then ₡3000 (~$5 USD)

The Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail starts down a track by the Butterfly Brewing Co. parking lot and leads directly to the Upper Waterfall.

You can park at the Butterfly Brewing Co. parking lot for free but it’s nice to give them some custom too, whether it’s before or after your hike. Otherwise, they may ask for a small parking fee. We found that the car park was often full, but there is a dirt track just down the road, on the opposite side, that we found space to park on the side of.

The Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail heads through the lush forest but soon comes to the Sun Trails checkpoint, where you need to pay a small fee to go any further. From here, you can take the stairs up to the Upper Waterfall or down to the Lower Waterfall.

Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail is the perfect place for a post-waterfall hike bite to eat. Its gastropub offers hearty food and delicious, locally brewed beers. Dan tried a tasting board of a variety of beers and highly recommends them (don’t worry, Lucy was the designated driver!).

The pros and cons of the Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail

Free to access
Easily accessible from the town
Perfect for food and drink after your hike
The path soon joins the Sun Trails, which is a paid route
A 25-minute walk from the centre of town
Parking can be limited

A selection of Butterfly Brewing Co. beers lined up on a bar table against a backdrop of greenery. — Butterfly Brewing Co. is a great stop for a post-hike drink

3. The Riverbed Trail

This route is not recommended for visitors in wet season (June to November) as flooding and strong currents are more common.

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Time: 20 minutes
Cost: Free

The Riverbed Trail is the most popular way to get to Montezuma Waterfall. It’s a completely free trail that leads from the town to the base of the Lower Waterfall.

There is a parking lot at the Riverbed Trailhead which costs about ₡2000 (~$4 USD) but it’s easy enough to walk from the town if you leave your car there. There’s also limited street parking by the trailhead if you arrive early enough to snag a spot.

The trail isn’t marked but is obvious enough as you just follow the river upstream. You cross from the left riverbank to the right riverbank at the start of the trail, then follow along the riverbank.

It can require a bit of scrambling over rocks depending on the level of the river so isn’t ideal for anyone who isn’t so surefooted. After about 20 minutes of walking up the rocky riverbed, you’ll reach the lower waterfall. There are ropes intermittently to help you.

If you’re not a confident hiker, it may be a good idea to hire a guide. Often, people are milling around the trailhead offering their guiding services. Just be sure your guide is licensed by ICT as the signboard at the entrance recommends.

A small handful of tourists standing on Montezuma beach. Palm trees line the sand and the greenery stretches far along the horizon. — The Riverbed Trail can be accessed from Montezuma town

If you’d like to continue up to the Middle and Upper Falls, you have two options:

You can take the route to the right of the Lower Waterfall. This is a challenging climb that requires you to use the guiding ropes to pull yourself up the steep hill that heads into the forest. After a walk through the forest, there’s a steep descent to the upper waterfall, where you can also climb down to the middle waterfall. It’s a pretty extreme trail but doable if you’re fit and used to hiking.
Alternatively, from the Lower Waterfall, you can access the Upper Waterfall via a steep climb up a staircase with about 200 steps on the left side of the falls. This staircase then joins the Sun Trails path we mentioned above.

A sheet of white water rumbling down Montezuma waterfall and into the pools below. — There’s a long, steep staircase up the side of Montezuma Waterfalls

From the hut, you can descend about 80 more steps to the top of the left side of the Upper Waterfall (as you’re looking at it). To see the Middle Waterfall, you need to swim across the pool to the right-hand side.

The pros and cons of the Riverbed Trail

Free access to the Lower Waterfall
Open 24/7 (but recommended to leave by 16:30)
Scenic route up the river
Takes you straight to the Lower Waterfall
Can be dangerous if wet and slippery
Can be impassable in wet season
Prone to flooding and strong currents
Can be harder to reach the Middle and Upper Waterfalls for free

Dan sitting on some rocks by Montezuma Waterfall against a backdrop of bright green trees. — Montezuma Waterfall is a great place to cool off from the heat

4. The Sunshine Sanctuary Trail

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cost: Free

This is a pretty well-kept secret and we haven’t seen anyone else really mention it but you can also access Montezuma Waterfall via a fourth, lesser-known trail.

To find it, you need to take the Montezuma-Delicias Road up the hill. Just past the Butterfly Brewing Co., there’s a dirt track on your right, signposted for the Sunshine Sanctuary and Casa Tranquila. Take this to the end, where you’ll find a dirt parking lot. It’s a fairly muddy and bumpy side road, so you’ll need a 4×4.

A dirt path through a tropical forest in Costa Rica. A sign reads "Casas Tranquila Y Mirador". — Not all trails require an entrance fee

This secret path to the waterfall is in the left corner of the car park. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes and is free for guests of Sunshine Sanctuary, although there’s no one there to check. This path takes you straight to the waterfalls.

From here, you can take the Sun Trails staircase between the Upper and Lower Waterfalls, but you will need to pay the fee at the checkpoint if an attendant is present.

The entrance to a dirt track into the forest that leads to Montezuma Waterfall. — The entrance to one of the Montezuma Waterfall trails

Sunshine Sanctuary also has a suspended bridge on-site. Nestled in the heart of the jungle, this hotel is as close as you can stay to Montezuma Waterfall – it’s so close you can actually hear the falls from the hotel!

The pros and cons of the Sunshine Sanctuary Trail

Free access to the waterfalls
Scenic route through the forest
The hotel is as close as you can stay to Montezuma Waterfall
You’re not really supposed to use the path if you’re not a guest
The road to the parking lot requires a 4WD car
If you want to use Sun Trail’s staircase, you need to pay

Two cars parked in an open dirt patch surrounded by trees. This is the carpark for Montezuma Waterfall. — Some trailheads have convenient parking lots

How much does it cost to go to Montezuma Waterfall?

Hiking to Montezuma Waterfalls is completely free to access. However, the free route is the most challenging and not always safe to follow. In wet season especially, you might prefer to take the well-maintained paid routes to the waterfalls. We’ve listed the trail fees below:

The Sun Trails – ₡3000 (~$5 USD)
The Butterfly Brewing Co. Trail – Free until Sun Trails
The Riverbed Trail – Free
The Sunshine Sanctuary Trail – Free

Where to stay to visit Montezuma Waterfalls

There’s a variety of accommodations in Montezuma, from budget hostels to boutique hotels. To visit Montezuma Waterfall, you can stay in a hotel right by the trailhead of the path you’ve chosen to hike. Alternatively, you can stay in the vibrant town centre, where most travellers choose to stay.

If you’re camping in Montezuma, like we were, we’d recommend making your way to Cedros Beach. Both Playa Los Cedros and Camping Fernando Morales at Playa Cedros are great beachside campsites where you can fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. We also woke up to a pack of howler monkeys calling in the trees right above us!

Read our Complete Guide to Camping in Costa Rica

Montezuma Waterfall Hotels

Location: Sunshine Sanctuary Boutique Jungle Lodge – Also known as Sun Trails Lodge, this is the closest you can get to the waterfalls, with only a 5-minute walk down a private path.
Backpackers: Hotel La Cascada – A basic hotel with cabin-style rooms right by the Riverbed Trailhead.
Budget: Amor de Mar – A rustic hotel with river and sea view rooms, also at the entrance to the Riverbed Trail.
Boutique: Ko Glamping – A place of rest and relaxation with yoga and massages available, right next to the entrance to Sun Trails.

Browse Montezuma Hotels here!

Dan leaning against a palm tree, drinking the water from a fresh coconut at Playa Cedros Campsite in Montezuma. — Camping in Montezuma is a great way to experience the area

Is Montezuma Falls worth it?

Whether the waterfalls are worth it really depends on when you go and your experience with waterfalls. We personally think Montezuma Waterfall is worth the effort. It’s essentially three waterfalls in one, the rainforest is beautiful to hike through and great for spotting wildlife, and the pools are lovely and refreshing to cool off in when it’s hot. On the other hand, many people reported finding the hiking route they chose challenging and wouldn’t say their effort was worth it.

Another thing to factor in is the season. The Falls are much fuller and more impressive after rain. This means, that although there’s still a decent trickle, the waterfalls are much drier in the dry season between December and April. The downside of visiting after rain however is that the pools often lose their clarity, picking up colour from the surrounding mud. It can be a balancing act between visiting when there is enough water but not when the rain may make the hike dangerous and turn the water brown.

Water streaming over rocks at a small section of Montezuma Waterfall. — Montezuma Waterfall has more water in wet season

What to pack to visit Montezuma Waterfalls

There are some obvious things you’ll want to pack for Montezuma Waterfalls but we’ve compiled a list in case you were going to forget anything that might also be useful to take:

swimwear
microfibre towel
sturdy, water-resistant shoes
layers of lightweight clothing
a waterproof jacket
eco-friendly sunscreen
eco-friendly bug repellent
a waterproof backpack for valuables
a reusable water bottle
snacks and plenty of water
emergency first aid kit

Filling up a Water-to-Go bottle from an outside water tap in a forest. — Don’t forget your swimsuit, towel, and water bottle

Montezuma Waterfall Tips

Make the most of your visit with our top tips:

Go early to avoid the crowds.
Choose a trail that’s suitable for your level of fitness.
Stick to the paths and don’t leave the trails.
Take all rubbish with you.
Keep an eye on your belongings and don’t bring or leave any valuables unattended.
Check the weather forecast before you set off.

Montezuma Waterfall Safety

There’s always a risk when hiking outdoors. Stay safe on your hike to Montezuma Waterfall by following the below tips:

Don’t jump from the waterfalls – it’s dangerous, especially in dry season when water levels are lower, and people have died.
If you’re really keen on risking jumping off the falls, the safest waterfall to jump into is the Upper Waterfall.
Beware of slippery and uneven surfaces and ensure you’re wearing appropriate footwear for walking over slipy rocks.
Don’t get too close to or walk over the edge of the waterfalls where you can slip and fall.
Use ropes and handrails when provided.
The Riverbed Trail can be perilous in wet season when increased rainfall results in flooding and strong currents.

Dan sitting by a pool at the end of Montezuma Waterfall. He is smiling and looks ready for a swim. — It’s not recommended to jump between the waterfalls

Montezuma Waterfall FAQs

Now you know how to get to Montezuma Waterfalls, we’re going to finish with a few frequently asked questions to ensure you’re fully prepared for your visit.

Are Montezuma Waterfalls free?

Montezuma Waterfalls are completely free to visit if you’re up for a pretty challenging hike from the town along the Riverbed Trail. The free trail traverses the right-hand side of the Falls, first up the riverbank to the Lower Waterfall and then up a rocky cliff face to a steep descent to the Upper Waterfall.

The other way to access Montezuma Waterfall for free is to stay at Sunshine Sanctuary and use their on-site track to the waterfalls.

If you choose to take the easier routes via the Sun Trails stairs, there’s a small fee.

How long is the hike to Montezuma Falls?

Each trail is different in length. The Riverbed Trail take between 20 and 3 minutes to walk, depending on your level of fitness and how easy you find scrambling up the riverbanks. The other trails are around 10 minutes to walk as they start closer to the Falls.

We’d recommend at least an hour and a half to do the out-and-back hike and to spend some time at the waterfalls.

Do you need a 4WD to get to Montezuma Falls?

You don’t need a car at all to get to Montezuma Waterfall via the Riverbed Trail. If you plan to drive, a standard car is fine.

You only need a 4×4 car for the road to Sunshine Lodge. But it would be wise to have one if you intend to do any more exploring around Montezuma, especially in wet season when the roads become riddled with potholes.

What is the closest town to Montezuma Falls?

Montezuma is the closest town to Montezuma Waterfall. A vibrant bohemian beach town, this is the place to go for surfing, relaxing on beaches, wild camping, and wildlife watching. Montezuma is a true oasis that’s

Santa Teresa is also fairly close to Montezuma but is a lot more commercialised and less charming. It’s still a great spot if you’re interested in surfing or yoga and we’d recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.

Read our Ultimate Costa Rica Road Trip Itinerary