Surf Travel Guide: Montezuma, Costa Rica

Montezuma is the kind of place people plan a two night stop and end up staying a week, and the surf here is a big part of why: gentle, forgiving, and close enough to a waterfall that you can fit both into the same afternoon.

Why Montezuma?

This bohemian beach town on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula faces southeast, which means it catches less swell than the west facing towns up the coast, and that is exactly the point. The waves run two to three feet smaller than Santa Teresa's on the same day, which makes Montezuma one of the most approachable beginner surf towns in Costa Rica.

→ Playa Grande, the main beach break here, is only reachable on foot, a 30 to 35 minute walk that filters out the crowds you would find at a drive up beach.

↳ That walk is also why Montezuma stays mellow even in high season, when Santa Teresa and Tamarindo are packed.

Getting There & Getting Around

Short daily flights from Liberia (LIR) or San Jose land at Tambor Airport, about 20 to 30 minutes by taxi from town.
→ A daily boat taxi runs from Jaco across the Gulf of Nicoya, about an hour's crossing, a popular option if you are coming from the central Pacific coast.
↳ By road, paved routes 162 and 21 run the length of the peninsula, roughly three hours from Tamarindo.
Once in town, Los Cedros is about a 10 minute drive south, a 4x4 is better for that road, and Cabuya is about 15 minutes by car.

When to Surf (and Stay Safe)

Swell reaches Montezuma year round, so there is no truly bad time to visit, but the wet or green season, roughly May to October, brings the strongest south to southwest swells and the best surf, with an occasional oversized swell carrying a small closeout risk at Playa Grande. The dry season brings smaller, gentler waves that suit complete beginners, though expect something closer to one flat day for every five surfable ones. Watch for closeouts on a direct south swell at Playa Grande, and at Cabuya, pick your way carefully across the reef shelf, since it holds urchins and sharp rock. Surf is not reliably consistent here day to day, so this is a better base for a relaxed trip than for a surfer chasing a daily session.

Surf Breaks

Playa Grande (Montezuma): The main break, a sandbank beach break with chest high peaks that peel both ways, though the rights are generally the better option.
Wave: Small, gentle sets with little crowding, plus a peaky left off the rocks at the far east end.
Level: Beginner. One of Costa Rica's better learner beaches.
Los Cedros: A short drive south of town, with fickle, bowly left handers.
Wave: Needs a solid south swell and a full high tide to work, so ask around locally before the drive.
Level: Intermediate.
Cabuya: A point break south of town, peeling into a tapering shoulder over a reef shelf.
Wave: Empty right handers, though rarely good enough to justify the trip from town.
Level: Intermediate to advanced, due to the reef.

Where to Stay

→ Montezuma's lodging runs from simple backpacker hostels in the village to resort style properties a short drive out. Prices are approximate, seen October 2026.

Budget ($)

Luminosa Montezuma Hostel, Montezuma (from about $5 per night for a dorm bed, per Hostelz.com)
A basic, central hostel in the village, an easy walk to the beach, the waterfall trail and the boat dock.

Mid-Range ($$)

Hotel Amor de Mar, Montezuma (from about $71 per night, per Kayak.com)
Set right at the entrance to the Montezuma waterfall trail, with gardens running down to the rocks and a short walk into the village.

Beachfront ($$$)

Ylang Ylang Resort, Montezuma (from about $311 per night for double occupancy, per EnterCostaRica.com)
A jungle and beachfront resort just outside the village, the area's main option for a surf trip with a proper spa and pool day built in.

Food and Drink

Sunset Dinner: Playa de los Artistas, Montezuma
→ An open air spot right on the sand serving tuna carpaccio, octopus salad and wood oven pizza, with a meal running roughly $30 to $50 per person, per Joinpearl.co, seen October 2026.
Local Lunch: Soda El Artesano, Montezuma
→ A casado of rice, beans, salad, plantain and your choice of meat or fish runs roughly $8 to $12, based on October 2026 Costa Rica soda pricing.

Photographing Montezuma (Surf Snaps)

Gentle peaks, a walk in beach, and a waterfall in the background make Montezuma one of the more photogenic beginner lineups in Costa Rica, and the long learning curves here give a photographer plenty of time to line up the shot. If that is you, upload your Montezuma galleries to Surf Snaps so surfers can find and buy their own shots, no subscription, no listing fee, just a 10% revenue share paid monthly when a photo sells. If you were the one surfing, search Surf Snaps by spot and date to find your session.

FAQ: Surfing Montezuma, Costa Rica

Is Montezuma good for beginner surfers?

Yes. Playa Grande, the main break in town, is widely considered one of Costa Rica's better beginner beaches, with small, gentle, forgiving waves and light crowds.

How do you get to Montezuma?

Fly into Tambor Airport and take a 20 to 30 minute taxi, take the daily boat taxi from Jaco across the Gulf of Nicoya, or drive the paved peninsula roads from Tamarindo, about three hours.

When is the best time to surf Montezuma?

Swell arrives year round, but the wet season, roughly May to October, brings the strongest south to southwest swells. The dry season is smaller and gentler, better suited to complete beginners.

What are the hazards at Montezuma's breaks?

Occasional closeouts at Playa Grande on a direct south swell, and a reef shelf with urchins and sharp rock at Cabuya. Playa Grande itself is only reachable by a 30 to 35 minute walk.

Where can I find photos of my Montezuma session?

Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date on the explore page to find galleries from your trip.

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