Playa Cocolito Waterfall Beach near Montezuma

Playa Cocolito  
Playa Cocolito is one of the most remarkable places in Costa Rica.
To get here, walk north along the beach from Montezuma.
It’s a two-hour hike each way along an absolutely spectacular set of mostly undeveloped coves and beaches.
We recommend leaving at 5 a.m. when you will find jungle animals scampering on the beach. Everyone who does this hike will tell you it was one of the best things they did in Costa Rica. Along the way, look for an old man who sells drinks. He has two pet pizotes that have been with him for over twelve years. When you arrive, you’re unlikely to see any other tourists for several hours, so feel free to make yourself at home.
When you reach the end, you’ll find a waterfall pouring off the cliff, splashing onto the rocks and ocean below.
A few years ago, this waterfall fell into the ocean below, where there was a nearly circular natural pool.
Many hotels in Montezuma still show a photo of the way it used to be. Unfortunately, an earthquake broke off
the cliff lip and rocks fell into the pool, so it’s not quite as spectacular as before. Still, this is a
truly memorable spot.Not shown in the photo on the left is that there is a sparkling white sand beach with crystal-clear turquoise
water just before the waterfall. For whatever reason, the color of this beach and water is better than any
other spot around.

Montezuma is a beach haven for all types of travelers especially those keen on a more hippie holiday lifestyle. Visitors can head straight to Playa Cocolito if they are looking for something a little more offbeat than a regular vacation. You can take a nice dip in the tropical ocean, snorkel in the attractive looking tide pools, hike up to the nearby waterfalls or just lie on one of the beaches with a breezy read for company.

Nearby, the sun kissed tropical sand beach just before El Chorro Waterfall is known to be one of the best spots in the region. Attention-grabbing rocks dissect the two swimming areas, where the ocean presents its raw cobalt azure tinged splendor. An attractive freshwater lagoon below the palm trees is a good place to enjoy a short dip break after an action packed sporting adventure. The spectacular view from the rocks surrounding the waterfalls is a fitting reward for the tiring trip from Cocolito. Owing to the long trek, most people arrive here on horseback within an hour’s time from the Cocolito beach. Wildlife sightings here are spectacular at the crack of dawn here. Visitors can plan in advance and leave at daybreak to make the most of their wildlife spotting adventure. This isn’t a typical boisterous touristy attraction, where hordes of people will be scampering around to check out the place. But if a relaxed, laidback yet adventure packed day out in the heart of Costa Rica’s pristine, unspoilt surroundings is high on your list of priorities, this may be a good option for a day trip.