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.
2nd Waterfall
The 2nd waterfall is by far the most exhilarating drop in Montezuma that you can actually jump from safely (usually), and aside from the howler monkey urine that seems to drop from the sky once in a while on the trails to the 1st and 3rd waterfalls. Getting to number 2 requires a steep, difficult climb holding onto cords, vines and tree branches. Once there, you'll look down over the 2nd waterfall from the top. In order to see it from the bottom, you'll have to either jump or boulder down the sometimes slippery rocks on the northern part of the waterfall. If you choose to jump, there are 30, 38, 44, and 50+ foot options - ish (we'll actually measure them soon). Enjoy the freefall, but get pointers on how to land from a kind tico before you take the plunge.
There have been people die here as well, mostly from landing wrong as you're not likely to hit rocks if you jump from the normal places (though it HAS happened). You don't want to land wrong. I once had a cousin who died jumping off a boat at 35 mph, and you're going much faster when you jump from here. Just earlier this season there was a death. Oh, and be careful of the current, especially in rainy season. Recently we saw a dog get caught in the current and swept over the 2nd. Fortunately this one landed ok, and probably had the ride of her life.
All this said, the 2nd waterfall is what many people remember most about visiting the Montezuma Waterfalls. Enjoy, but be careful.
