In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know about visiting Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall, a unique waterfall that drops straight into the ocean near Montezuma, Costa Rica. We’ll recount our terrible experience hiking here, and tell you how to avoid our mistakes!
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About Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall
Located just north of the beach town of Montezuma, Playa Cocalito is a beach that is home to a very special and unique attraction – El Chorro Waterfall.
Officially Catarata El Chorro in Spanish, the waterfall is also referred to as Cocalito Falls. A small winding river reaches the end of a rocky cliff and tumbles over the edge into the ocean below.
Advertised by the local tourism industry as one of just seven waterfalls in the world that drop into the ocean, I think this figure might be a slight underestimate, but it is very impressive nonetheless!
Playa Cocalito is a vast and deserted beach, with no development and no visitors. On a sunny day, the waters are sparkling turquoise and there are some unique sea caves and rock formations to explore.
Visiting the beach and waterfall, either by car, on a long hike from town, or by horse, is one of the best things to do in Montezuma.
In this post, I’m going to share more information about the beach and waterfall, including all the different ways to get there. I’ll focus primarily on hiking to the waterfall from Montezuma, as this requires a lot of information and pre-planning.
This Playa Cocalito is near the town of Montezuma on the Nicoya Peninsula. There is another Playa Cocalito that you can hike to in Drake Bay, which is coincidentally a really similar experience. Check out our guide to the Drake Bay Hiking Trail.
Our experience hiking to Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall
Before I get into the details of how to visit Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall, I want to set the scene of our visit. As someone who prides herself on being a great planner and researcher, I mucked this hike up BIG TIME.
We were camping in Montezuma and had just been joined by our friends Matt and Marina. We had our Nomad America Troopy and they had an awesome VW Kombi Van.
Because we had two cars, we decided we would drive one car to the El Chorro Waterfall, and then hike back along the beach to Montezuma. Using the second car to go and pick up the first when we were done.
This avoided hiking both ways, which was going to be a very long way (over 13 km / 8 mi). This was a great idea on our part, but it was the last good idea we had…
The day we had chosen to do the hike was the first really grey and overcast day we had had so far in Costa Rica. The sun did not peek out the entire day, so instead of seeing the glistening blue waters around Montezuma, everything was dull. It really set the tone for the day.
I had read about timing your hike for low tide. Well, the tides weren’t playing ball with us on that day, but I really wanted to go. After checking the times, I figured we could try and squeeze the hike in about 3 hours before high tide. WRONG!
After parking at El Chorro Waterfall and checking it out, we headed down to Playa Cocalito to start the walk back to Montezuma. This should have been a warning sign. Already the waves were crashing and covering most of the beach, and we had to time our chance to run across the sand without getting our feet wet.
What proceeded was one of the most treacherous hikes I’ve ever done.
I don’t like to think of myself as a drama queen, and we’re always up for an adventure. We’re constantly getting lost, going off trail, scrambling over rocks and all that jazz, but this hike was a little more risky than either of us would have liked.
It was essentially high tide the entire time, and there was NO sand to walk on.
This wouldn’t have been a big problem, except for the fact the beaches were covered, and I mean absolutely covered, with ENORMOUS driftwood. Like, entire trees were bobbing around on the sand getting pushed in and out by the tide. I’ve never seen anything like it.
There was nowhere to safely walk on the beach, and we spent hours slowly hopping across huge logs and timing our dashes with the waves through particularly rough areas. Our poor friend Marina got knocked over by a log getting pushed in, and then had it crash back into her leg on its way back out. She really hurt herself, and we were so thankful she had just minutes before decided to put her camera in Brayden’s waterproof bag.
We spent hours bush bashing in the jungle, trying to find an alternative way through. We had capuchin monkeys chasing us, cut legs and feet trampling through thick growth, and we were hot, tired and defeated.
So, now you know about our awful experience with this hike, let me tell you how to NOT do this. The hike doesn’t have to be this way, and with more careful planning on my part, I think it would have been great!
How to visit Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall
There are a number of different ways you can get to Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall. Which you choose will depend on the transport available to you, and if you’re up for a hike.
There are essentially four options you can choose from:
- 🚗 No hiking – drive to the waterfall and back
- 🐎 Horseback riding – ride on a horse there and back from Montezuma
- 👣 Some hiking – drive or taxi there, hike back
- 🥾 A lot of hiking – hike there and back from Montezuma
Option 1: No hiking
If you’re not interested in a lengthy hike, it’s completely possible to visit Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall with nothing but a short walk from the car park.
To get here from Montezuma, you’ll need your own car or ATV, or to organise a taxi. There is no public transport to the waterfall.
This is also a great place to stop between Montezuma and getting on or off the car ferry at Paquera.
You’ll want to plug in Catarata El Chorro to your maps and follow the route most of the way. It is around 30 minutes drive from Montezuma town, and about 45 minutes from the Paquera ferry.
As you get closer to the waterfall, you’ll turn off the main road and follow a series of dirt roads (no 4×4 required). Most blogs will advise you to head to Tango Mar Hotel, but you don’t need to do this. Just keep following what your map says until you start seeing signs for the ‘cascada’.
You’ll eventually see a small car park on the side of the road, and a sign indicating the trail. It’s an easy 10-minute walk from here, on a well-defined trail.
If you’re taking a taxi, your driver will know exactly where to drop you off. You will need to pay the driver to wait, as you won’t pick up another taxi around here.
The trail leads to the top of the cliff, where you will see the river and the cliff edge where the water is dropping down into the ocean. There is no railing here and it can be slippery, so be careful, especially with kids.
For the best view, you want to cross the river (easier in the dry season, be ready to get your shoes wet and be very careful!). From the other side looking back, you get the best angle of the waterfall dropping down over the cliff.
If you plan your visit for low tide (MUST DO!), you can scramble down some rocks to the beach and look at the waterfall from below. Even at low tide, there will still be some water here in rock pools, but with shoes on you can easily look around.
Then you’re on Playa Cocalito, and you can spend as long as you like lazing on the beach. The water can be quite rough here, so it’s not necessarily ideal for swimming, but it’s a gorgeous beach that is deserted most of the time.
Just be careful about the tides. The higher it gets, the harder it will be to climb back up the rocks to take the trail back to your car or waiting taxi.
Option 2: Horseback riding
If you don’t want to hike, but you want the experience of going along the beaches and jungle trails from Montezuma, you can book a horse riding tour.
You will leave from Montezuma, and the horses will traverse the beaches and trails to Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall. It takes around 1 hour each way, and you’ll have some time to explore the waterfall and enjoy the beach.
El Pinto Horseback Riding Expeditions is a highly-rated company offering rides to El Chorro Waterfall, but I don’t think they’re in operation anymore. Their last review on TripAdvisor was in 2022, so they may have gone out of business. It’s worth researching and asking around in town as the reviews for these guys are fantastic, and they treated their horses very well.
I know it is still possible to take a horse riding tour to Playa Cocalito, as we saw people doing this. I would suggest asking your accommodation in Montezuma for their recommendation. Zuma Tours is a reputable tour company in town, they are worth checking in with. Otherwise, I found Indiana Horse Project on Facebook, which looks like they offer tours too.
Whoever you go with, please confirm the experience is ethical. That the horses are well treated, have a nice home and are frequently rested.
With hindsight, this would have been a great way to visit the waterfall. The scenery along the way is stunning, but it’s a very long walk. This gives you the best of both worlds.
Option 3: Some hiking
If you’re keen for a hike, but not up for tackling it both ways, it’s possible to hike one way.
If you happen to be visiting with friends or family in a large group, and you have two vehicles, drive one car to the car park at the waterfall, hike back to Montezuma on the beach, and then collect the car when you’re finished.
Otherwise, take a taxi one way. We would suggest getting a taxi to the waterfall and walking back to Montezuma. The area around the waterfall is very remote, and you wouldn’t find a taxi there unless it was preorganised. This way you end up back in the centre of town.
I’ll provide more details on the hike itself throughout the rest of this post.
Option 4: Lots of hiking
If you’re an avid hiker and you’re up for the challenge, you can hike both ways. From Montezuma to Playa Cocalito and back again.
Expect a 4+ hour adventure, hiking over 13 km / 8 mi in total.
I’m going to dedicate the rest of this post to the hike, as this requires the most information and preparation.
Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall Hiking Trail
- 🥾 Trail type – out and back, return via the same path
- 🗺️ Trail map – Wikiloc
- 📏 Distance – approx. 6.5 km / 4 mi one-way, 13 km / 8 mi return
- ⏰ Time required – minimum 2 hours one way, 5 hours return with stops
- 🌊 When to go – you MUST plan your visit for as close to low tide as possible
- 🪫 Difficulty – moderate – challenging
Trail type
The trail to Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall is an out-and-back trail that starts from the town of Montezuma.
A lot of the walk is done on the beach, but there are sections with a jungle trail running mostly parallel to the water. The trail is mostly flat.
Trail map
There isn’t a map for the trail on AllTrails. The best one to follow is this trail posted via a user on Wikiloc. I’m not sure the distance is very accurate, but the route is mostly right.
Essentially you are just following the coastline the entire way. At low tide, you should be able to stay on the beach the majority of the way. If the water is a little higher, jungle trails become (mostly) obvious when you need to leave the sand.
Distance
Because there is not one particular map online that has been verified by multiple users, it’s hard to get an accurate distance. According to the Wikilocs map, it is 17.3 km / 10.7 mi return. Looking at their map, they spent some time walking around town so I think this is an overestimation.
Our watch indicated it was closer to 7 km / 4.3 mi, one way. But we were zigging and zagging all over the place and cutting into the jungle.
If you walk at low tide along the beach most of the way, I think you can safely assume it will be around 6.5 km / 4 mi one-way, 13 km / 8 mi return.
Time required
The time you need for the hike completely depends on your usual pace, and how often you stop along the way. There are countless beaches, wildlife to spot, plenty of photo opportunities and of course drinks and snack breaks.
If you’re hiking at low tide, with no driftwood to navigate or jungle to bash through (oops), I think you should allow at least 2 hours each way, at a leisurely pace. With some time at the waterfall, I would suggest allowing 5 hours total.
From the time we arrived at the waterfall until we finally made it back to town after our terrifying jaunt, it was close to 3.5 hours. Ideally, it won’t take you that long, but don’t underestimate it!
When to go
Okay, you really REALLY need to take this seriously and plan your times accordingly.
Many blogs will say go early to avoid the heat – the heat is the least of your concerns.
The most imperative priority is going at LOW TIDE.
Given the hike should take you around 4 – 5 hours, I would suggest starting your walk around 2 – 3 hours before low tide (walking on an outgoing tide is better than on an incoming tide). Planning to be done within 2 hours after low tide.
This should give you ample sand to walk along, meaning the hike will be straightforward and safe.
If you’re lucky, the tides will align and you can leave early in the morning. This is the best time to avoid the hot sun, but as I said, this is not the priority when organising your hike.
Be sure not to leave too late, even if that’s when the tides are best, as it would be really dangerous to walk back in the dark. The sun sets between 5 – 6 pm in Montezuma.
Difficulty
Throwing our horrible experience aside, the hike isn’t that difficult.
The reason it can be considered challenging is the distance and the climate. The trail doesn’t have a whole lot of inclines or elevation gain, and the terrain isn’t too difficult at low tide.
But the length of the hike and the heat and humidity of Costa Rica can make this a tough one, especially if you’re going both ways.
What to expect hiking from Montezuma to Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall
Below I’ll share some of the landmarks you will pass by walking from Montezuma town to Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall.
As I mentioned, we actually did this hike in reverse, starting from the waterfall and walking back to Montezuma, but you can read this whichever way you like!
Montezuma Beach
You can start the hike from anywhere in Montezuma town. You can choose to get out on the beach straight away and walk north along the sand from town. Or you can follow one of the roads out of town until it ends.
If you’ve got a car, and you want to drive as close as possible, you can park in the car park right before the ASVO turtle hatchery, around here.
The road ends just before Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, and this is where you’ll first hit the sand (if you weren’t already on the beach) and find the trail.
There will be some signs indicating the trail to Piedra Colorada and Playa Grande, which are the first beaches you will pass. Both are popular spots to visit from Montezuma, so it’s possible there will be other people walking in this direction.
Piedra Colorada
The next beach you encounter is Piedra Colorada. Meaning ‘coloured rock’ in Spanish, this area is known for its stacked rocks, or ‘cairns’. You’ll see many teetering piles of coloured rocks stacked atop each other, which seems to have become a social media craze in the past few years.
The beach also features a freshwater river, which runs right down to the sand. This is a great place to have a dip in calm, fresh water. If you walk along the riverbank further away from the ocean, you’ll find some small waterfalls and larger pools to swim in.
Reserva Natural Abosluta Nicolas Wessberg
The next landmark you will pass on the trail is the ‘Reserva Natural Abosluta Nicolas Wessberg’ or the Nicolas Wessberg Nature Reserve.
Nicolas along with his wife Karen were responsible for the creation of Costa Rica’s first protected natural area, Cabo Blanco, which is just up the road from Montezuma. The Nicolas Wessberg Nature Reserve is their former property, which they left to the Costa Rican government to be protected.
As far as we could tell, there aren’t any other trails to explore in the nature reserve. I think it is just a dedicated protected area that will remain wild, but there is no visitor infrastructure per se.
There are signs to tell you when you are passing through the reserve.
After Piedra Colorada, there are a couple of rocky headlands that you won’t be able to cross via the beach (although you could try if it is the peak of low tide). The trail heads inland and you can clearly follow it through the jungle until you reach Playa Grande.
Playa Grande
Playa Grande (meaning ‘big beach’) in Spanish is the largest beach in Montezuma. At low tide, the beach is expansive and stretches for miles!
(At high tide when it was full of driftwood, it wasn’t so big… Don’t do what we did!).
This beach is only accessible by walking, so it is blissfully empty. A lot of people come to Playa Grande for the day from Montezuma but don’t continue walking on the trail to Playa Cocalito.
Playa Grande is one of the only spots in Montezuma where you can surf, so you may see some dedicated locals in the water. The 30 + minute hike from town with your board isn’t so appealing though, so don’t worry, it won’t be crowded.
Given it’s a good spot for surfing, the waves here are pretty big so it’s not the best place for a swim. The scenery is stunning though, and the long beach is lined with palm trees.
Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Romelia
The jungle area behind Playa Grande is part of the Romelia National Wildlife Refuge. Like the Nicolas Wessberg Reserve, there’s not really much more to it than just some signs advising that you are walking through the protected area.
Keep your eyes out as there is a lot of wildlife around the reserve. We spotted lots of cheeky capuchin monkeys in this area. Be careful about leaving any of your belongings on the beach, they are brazen and won’t hesitate to steal your bag looking for food!
Although we didn’t have the same luck, we have read of people seeing anteaters around here too!
We did see some volunteers here, and there were a couple of administrative-style buildings we passed. I believe the area is part of the local turtle conservation project, and turtles are released into the ocean on Playa Grande.
At the end of Playa Grande, there is a rocky headland where you will want to walk off the beach to the edge of the sand and follow the trail inside the reserve. It should lead you out the other side to Playa Cocalito.
This section of the trail was super sketchy for us at high tide, and we definitely went the wrong way. This is where we had to cut right into the jungle, and we couldn’t find a clear path. I believe at low tide you will be able to follow the coastline, and there should be an easy way to get around the rocky headland.
Playa Cocalito
After you cross the headland, the trail will lead out onto the beach again, and you’re on Playa Cocalito!
The beach is quite long, so you still have a fair way to walk before reaching the El Chorro Waterfall, which is at the northern end of the beach.
At low tide, you should be able to walk along the sand the whole way. There is a path in the jungle at some points, but mostly you will be walking on the beach itself.
Right before you reach the waterfall, you’ll see a river snaking out of the jungle. This is the Rio Bonito, and there is a lagoon-style pool. We didn’t swim here (we were racing against the rising tide!), but it looked gorgeous and so lush and tropical.
El Chorro Waterfall
At the end of Playa Cocalito, you’ll get a view of El Chorro Waterfall cascading over the cliff onto the beach. Although it’s not an overly strong waterfall, you can definitely see it from a distance away.
To get to the waterfall, you’ll need to scramble up some rocks onto the higher cliff ledge. From there you’ll get a great view of the waterfall from the side. If the tide is low enough, you can then climb down near the fall and view it from the base.
Turning back
If you’re hiking only one way, I would suggest doing this in reverse – driving or getting dropped off at the waterfall and walking back to town.
If you’re hiking both ways, after you’ve enjoyed El Chorro Waterfall and Playa Cocalito, you simply turn around and come back the way you came.
Amenities along the Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall hike
There are no amenities between Montezuma and Playa Cocalito. The area is inaccessible by road, so you need to be sure you have everything that you need!
The last place to use the bathroom would be in Montezuma town, and there is nothing else along the way.
What to bring with you
Given the length of the hike, and the remoteness of the trail it’s really important you prepare and pack correctly.
- 🥾 Comfortable walking shoes – if you prefer hiking boots or runners, great. If you’ve got water shoes or hiking sandals that you’re comfortable in, they can also work. I wore my Teva sandals and appreciated them for crossing the river and walking on the sand and in the shallows.
- 🩳 Lightweight hiking clothes – shorts are better than pants, as you’ll be crossing rivers and walking on the beach, in the water at times.
- 👙 Swimwear – I would suggest wearing it, as there aren’t any changing rooms on the way.
- 🧖🏽♀️ Towel – for sitting on and drying off after a dip.
- 🎒 Waterproof bag – to be prepared in case of rain, and in case you get knocked over by some driftwood (🤞🏼).
- 🌞 Sunscreen – reef friendly! A hat, sunglasses and a t-shirt aren’t a bad idea for sun protection either. When you’re on the beach, there isn’t any shade.
- 🦟 Insect repellent – I don’t recall the bugs being particularly bad, but you are in the jungle.
- 💧 Water – and LOTS of it! Minimum two litres per person if you’re hiking both ways. It is HOT and you will go through it very quickly.
- 🍍 Snacks – bring plenty of snacks or a picnic lunch. Fruit, lollies, chips, energy bars, sandwiches etc. you’ll need lots of fuel, especially if you’re going both ways. There is nowhere to get food on the trail.
Final tips for hiking to Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall
👉🏼 Plan if you are hiking one way or return, and how you will get to the waterfall to start the hike
👉🏼 Check, check and check the tides again
👉🏼 Do not attempt to hike any more than 3 hours on either side of low tide (at the maximum!)
👉🏼 Bring lots of water, more than you think you need
👉🏼 Pack plenty of snacks and lunch
👉🏼 Look out for driftwood, it can be dangerous when it’s being pushed around by the waves
👉🏼 Keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, birds, anteaters and other wildlife
Where to stay in Montezuma
Montezuma hosts some fantastic accommodations, all exuding the laid-back, friendly nature of the town. There are great options at all price points. Here are some of our favourites:
- 💰 Luminosa Montezuma Hostel
- $10 USD + per night check prices and browse photos here
- 💰 Luz en el Cielo Eco B&B and Hostel
- $30 USD + per night check prices and browse photos here
- 💰💰 Hotel El Jardin
- $70 USD + per night check prices and browse photos here
- 💰💰 Hotel Amor de Mar
- $80 USD + per night check prices and browse photos here
- 💰💰💰 Hotel Nya
- $150 USD + per night check prices and browse photos here
- 💰💰💰 Casa Frangipani
- $150 USD + per night check prices and browse photos here
Where to after Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall?
There are so many other great things to do in Montezuma. The Montezuma Waterfalls are a much simpler set of waterfalls to visit right in the centre of town. We also recommend a visit to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, especially given you’ve already seen a piece of its history in the Nicolas Wessberg Reserve.
I really hope this post helped you understand how to visit Playa Cocalito and El Chorro Waterfall, whether you’re driving, hiking or horse riding. I don’t want anyone to have the experience we did, it was poor planning and unnecessarily sketchy. Follow the tides and you will be able to make the most out of this gorgeous part of Costa Rica and see something really unique.
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