Bright pink hues of the rising sun filter through the verdant treetops and softly land at the base of my bed, before melting into a bright yellow. It is dawn in Montezuma, Costa Rica and from my vantage point in the vista cabina at Luz en el Cielo Eco B&B I can just make out the deep blue of the ocean in the distance.

Montezuma, Costa Rica

Montezuma is a colorful beach town on the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It’s famous for its hippy vibes, beaches and waterfalls. It’s central location also makes it a great base for exploring Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve as well as nearby beaches and towns of Santa Teresa and Malpais.

The Nicoya Peninsula has been on my Costa Rican bucket list for a while now, and as my time in Central America quickly approaches its end date in March, I was anxiously looking for a time to visit. To get there from where I live in the mountains of San Ramon de Tres Rios requires three buses and a ferry. The travel time from San Jose to Montezuma is a little more than six hours, so I’ve been waiting for a long weekend to find time to visit. Lucky for me, this past weekend I had Friday off so I managed to squeeze in a quick trip.

Luz en el Cielo Hotel in Montezuma

I spent two nights in the vista cabina at Luz en el Cielo, an eco B&B and hostel located just outside the center of Montezuma. The sprawling accommodations are built on a hillside jungle property that offers a tranquil escape. It may feel secluded, but from my room it was a five-minute walk to the restaurants, stores and beaches in Montezuma.

The property is home to many white-face capuchin and howler monkeys. While I didn’t see any from my room, I did hear them in the mornings and saw several while walking around the grounds. The sight of monkeys in Costa Rica never gets old to me – it’s still very exciting!

In addition to private cabins, Luz en el Cielo also has dorm rooms, so there’s accommodation for a range of budgets. Everyone can access a cozy common area with tables and hammocks, and there’s also a kitchen. As I learned the hard way, dinning in Montezuma can be pricy so it’s great to have a place to cook your own meals.

The Vista Cabina

The vista cabina is a spacious cabin with a private bathroom and two beds that can comfortably sleep a family of four. The room also had a table and chairs and below bed lockers to store valuables securely. I didn’t experience any mosquitoes during my stay, but the beds come with a mosquito net. The billowy white of the netting around the bed was a beautiful touch and even further made me feel the beauty of being surrounded by nature.

Thanks to the hilly slant of the property, the cabin is literally located among the treetops. My favorite feature of the cabin was the wood doors that open up, letting in the gentle breeze and up-close views of wildlife and jungle foliage. From this cabin you can also see the ocean and observe the changing light throughout the day as it drifts through the leaves.

A Hearty Breakfast for Travelers

Being a B&B, a stay includes a free breakfast of gallo pinto, a traditional Costa Rican dish of rice and beans, eggs, fresh fruit and coffee. The breakfast was delicious and fueling me up for a challenging hike to the famous Montezuma waterfalls.

Personal Touches

Luz en el Cielo is operated by Abbie Stout, a native of Durango, Colorado who long harbored a dream of opening a hotel in Costa Rica. Her dream was realized when she opened the property in May 2010. Abbie’s passion for hospitality is evident with many personal touches including fast and friendly email responses and a welcome letter and binder full of tips and resources to discover Montezuma located in every room. The rest of the staff I interacted with her was also very friendly and helped me check in quickly and get an overview of how to spend my time in the area.

Rates start at $15 for dorm rooms and $70 for a private cabin. There’s also a two-bedroom house with a loft available. Make a reservation online or email Abbie at luzenelcielocr@gmail.com for more information.

Note: I received a complimentary stay at Luz en el Cielo. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.