MontezumaWaterfalls.com makes no claim of ownership to the waterfalls described on this site. We provide service for people visiting Montezuma and the waterfalls but do not in any way, explicitly or implied, provide insurance or guarantee the safety of visitors to Costa Rica, Montezuma, waterfalls, or any other facility or destination listed on this website, on business cards, or any other mention or advertisement of MontezumaWaterfalls.com anywhere and whatsoever. We do NOT encourage people to jump from the waterfalls. Please be sure to be careful when visiting Costa Rica.
Copyright 2010, Montezuma Waterfalls, Ltd. MontezumaWaterfalls.net
Important Information:
Visiting Costa Rica has its PERKS and its DANGERS. Most people who come here understand that NATURAL BEAUTY is the primary reason to come to Costa Rica. ADVENTURE tourism is the main source of tourism here. If you want culture, history, and museums, you're best going north to Nicaragua or south to Panama for your vacation. But if you want an ADVENTURE and BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SITES like WILDLIFE and WATERFALLS, then Costa Rica is where you need to go. That said, adventure tourism is often described as EXTREME tourism, and with EXTREME tourism inevitably comes DANGER.
Please understand that PEOPLE and PETS have DIED walking to, playing on and around, and jumping from these waterfalls. It is DANGEROUS, and the danger increases at certain times of the year, during rain, and for a full day or two AFTER major rain storms.
That said, people have visited the falls and experienced the EXCITEMENT and FUN SAFELY for many years.
Here are a FEW RULES you should follow to ensure your SAFETY at the falls:
1. Don't be cocky. People trying to look or be cool here are usually the ones who DIE.
2. Don't do anything the TICOS don't do. In fact, even if you see them doing it one day, that does NOT mean they will do it the next. Ticos understand how the danger changes from day to day and season to season. YOU don't.
3. If you aren't sure, ASK a Tico. Ticos (Costa Ricans) are about the KINDEST people on earth. Talk to them.
3rd Waterfall
From the 1st, you can take the trail to the 2nd, then swim in the 3rd's swimming hole or scale up a bit of rock to get to the top. It's only about 20 feet to the top of the 3rd. You could also ask a tico where the trail goes up just north of the 1st. Or, the best option is to walk the steep, paved road (next to the parking area) up to just past the Butterfly Garden, and then take the dirt road to the right until you see the old jungle gym (yes, monkey bars in the middle of nowhere - apparently once used as a greenhouse).
Once at the jungle gym, take the only trail (it's on the left and sometimes difficult to find). Keep going straight on the trail and walk underneath or around the Sun Trails zip line stairs and then down until you get to the waterfall.
If you've got a family of good swimmers, this waterfall and its swimming hole below it are the best option for you. You can enjoy a long day swimming here, jumping off the rocks, creating dives off the rope swing, or slithering your way out onto the large tree branch and jumping or diving into the water. Just be a bit careful of the current. In the rainy season, after large storms especially, it can be VERY overpowering. If you've got small children or non-swimmers, it's best to hang out at the 1st waterfall. And definitely don't let them jump off the 2nd.
