The beach at the small town of Montezuma in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica was only a remote fishing village until the 1980s when budget-minded visitors discovered its beauty. Still a relatively quiet village on the southern tip of the famous Nicoya Peninsula, Montezuma and the nearby Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve draw backpackers and eco-tourists to its rivers, beaches, and waterfalls and is considered somewhat bohemian with its funky international guests and open-minded locals. The beach here is especially well-suited for snorkeling because in the dry season the water is very transparent and the rock formations are teeming with fish, Moray eels, sea turtles, and octopi.
Costa Rica has gained international prominence as a surfing destination, and Montezuma boasts exceptionally important surf spots such as Playa Grande, Los Cedros, and Rio Lajas. Anamaya Surf Camp is a luxury retreat center, and La Escula del Sol Surf School is an all-inclusive school that teaches surfing, fire dancing, yoga, and the Spanish language. The beach town has an active nightlife, numerous diverse restaurants, and a plethora of arts and crafts galleries as well as artists selling their goods along the streets.
