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Just a few minutes south of Montezuma, on the quiet stretch of coast that leads to Cabuya and the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, there is a part of the Nicoya Peninsula that still feels the way many people imagine Costa Rica before they arrive.

Green hills roll down to the ocean, the roads are calm, and life follows the rhythm of the tides rather than traffic.

For families and anyone looking for a slower, more authentic way of living, the area between Las Delicias, Montezuma and Cabuya is one of the best-kept secrets of the peninsula.

A Surf Beach Just Minutes Away

Playa Cedros is one of the most loved surf spots in the Montezuma area, yet it rarely feels crowded. Lined with palm and almond trees, it is the kind of beach where you can paddle out in the morning, share the lineup with a handful of locals, and watch pelicans fishing just beyond the waves.

Living only 5 minutes away means the beach becomes part of your daily routine: a quick surf before work, a swim after school, or a sunset walk with the family.

And when the surf is flat, there is more to explore nearby:

• Playa Las Manchas, a small white sand cove with clear water, ideal for swimming and snorkeling
• The Río Lajas, where you can cool off in the river and spot herons and kingfishers
• Isla Cementerio in Cabuya, a small island you can walk to at low tide, with excellent snorkeling around its reef

Close to Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica’s First Absolute Nature Reserve

This is a place where nature isn’t a weekend activity. It’s your backyard.

Howler monkeys wake you up in the morning, toucans and parrots cross the sky, and the ocean breeze moves through the trees all day long. Just past Cabuya, the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve protects thousands of acres of forest and coastline, with hiking trails that end on pristine, untouched beaches.

For anyone who values fresh air, open space and wildlife, few places offer this much natural beauty so close to home.

Peace and Privacy, Without Being Isolated

Unlike Santa Teresa, which has grown quickly in recent years, this part of the peninsula remains largely undeveloped. There are no busy streets, no nightlife noise and no rows of buildings. Just scattered homes, small local businesses and a lot of green.

At the same time, everything you need is close by:

• Playa Cedros: 5 minutes
• Local pulperías for daily groceries: 8 minutes
• Montezuma’s village, waterfalls, restaurants and cafés: a short drive
• Cabuya and the entrance to Cabo Blanco: just down the road
• Cóbano downtown, with supermarkets, banks, schools, the clinic and essential services: 20 minutes

It’s the perfect balance: the tranquility of the countryside with the convenience of nearby towns.

An Ideal Place for Families

More and more families relocating to the Nicoya Peninsula are choosing this area for one simple reason: it lets children grow up outdoors.

Kids spend their days at the beach, in the rivers and in the garden instead of in front of a screen. Communities like Cabuya, Las Delicias and Montezuma have a friendly mix of Costa Rican families and people from all over the world, where neighbors know each other and life feels safe and simple.

For parents looking to trade stress and schedules for a laid-back lifestyle close to nature, this corner of the peninsula checks all the boxes.

Why Buyers Are Discovering This Area

As Santa Teresa has become one of Costa Rica’s most in-demand real estate markets, many buyers are now looking a little further south for more space, more privacy and better value.

The Montezuma and Cabuya area offers larger properties, ocean views and a genuine connection with nature, while keeping the charm that made the peninsula famous in the first place. For families, retirees and long-term investors, it represents an opportunity to be part of a special place before it becomes widely discovered.

Interested in Living Near Playa Cedros and Cabuya?

If a peaceful life between the jungle and the ocean sounds like what you’re looking for, there is currently an opportunity to make it your home.

This turnkey 3-bedroom ocean view home with an infinity pool sits on 17,330 m² (4.28 acres) of landscaped tropical land, just 5 minutes from Playa Cedros, offering complete privacy, refreshing breezes and stunning views of the ocean and jungle.

Explore the property here: