Comments on: Montezuma – Artisan Paradise or Failed Hippie Rejuvenation Project?

By: Reggie Walls

Reggie Walls — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 22:23:08 +0000

It’s now home to a spiritual narcissistic community. I’ve never stumbled upon so many trustafarian white kids from the US in CR. They have driven out the locals and have decided that their way of life is the authentic Costa Rican experience.

By: clouded

clouded — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 20:25:37 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

You had better know the drug problems of CR are very real. So for paradise dreamers…….. However, doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. Remember third world types brought to the the USA are way outta touch with life here currently…..way out. luck- 2020

By: Dan the Man

Dan the Man — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 16:48:38 +0000

I think you’all are projecting your unsecurities into a gorgeous place. I spent 4 months there, and while there are many old timers there looking you connect, sell, provide services to travellers they are not petty criminals; poor perhaps but good people. Montezuma is the best place on the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica if you want to let your hair down. Cheers!

By: Hernan Tasies

Hernan Tasies — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 16:46:35 +0000

In reply to Charles Kosman. Like a tropical David Lynch movie. I'm CRn and live here, have never been to Montezuma, but have been around the surrounding towns and beaches. Good thing is that you can find a whole different vibe in neighboring Mal Pais, St. Teresa or move northward towards Carrillo.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 08:15:48 +0000

I was there in 2012. Word to the wise, don’t hang out with the Ticos. Had my money and iPhone ripped off from them. They prey on female tourists while you are drinking and having fun. I had to go to the neighborhooring town for police help. A detective knew all too well who the guys were that ripped me off. He had my phone back within hours.
Just don’t get complacent as I did. They have massive coke problems there and the young local guys think nothing of a ripe opportunity to rip off a tourist for food or drug money.

By: mk

mk — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 06:29:13 +0000

Great post. I’m really happy that I came across it, because I was wondering what it was about Montezuma that people raved about. Everything that I had heard about the area was not just good, but it was great. Almost overly enthusiastic. So I stayed for two weeks to find out what it was. The magic hasn’t hit me yet, instead, an underlying feeling of unease. Almost like everyone is watching/judging you. Everyone is nice, and it’s a small town, so maybe it’s partially so, but something about it feels uncomfortable. I haven’t felt this way in all my travels through central/south america that I can remember. I can’t place my finger on it, and it’s interesting to come across your article and find out that I’m not the only one who felt this way. It is a pretty place though, with great wildlife. Anyway, thank you for writing this out online.

By: Charles Kosman

Charles Kosman — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 20:43:06 +0000

In reply to Dean.

Thanks for the comment Dean. Without spending a great length of time someplace, sometimes it’s hard to get a grip on a place at times. I can remember when I wrote this piece that I was hesitant to make the place sound overly negative. There is obviously tons of people who love the area and we saw a few cool things ourselves.

That’s probably why we were a little surprised with Montezuma in general. It had received nothing but glowing praise from people we knew who had been there. We did enjoy our stay but there was a look of desperation and even contempt in more than a few peoples eyes when we walked the streets and it was the only time in our two month stay in Costa Rica that we ever felt uneasy.

As far as Artisan Paradise or Hippie commune, it’s probably a bit of both mixed in with a ton of other things. I wish I can say I fell in love with the people and place of Montezuma but that just wouldn’t be honest.

That said, I’m glad you’re enjoying it and maybe one day we’ll get back there and give it another chance. It wouldn’t be the first time we returned somewhere and fell into or out of love with a place!

Thanks for writing Dean and safe travels!

By: Dean

Dean — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 20:09:34 +0000

My spouse and I have recently returned to Montezuma, CR. We were here last year for three months and fell in love with the area. We love the people, we love the food, the creatures, the jungle, the Pacific ocean and on and on. Would we consider this to be an Artisan Paradise or a failed Hippie Rejuvenation project – no neither. Yes, there are plenty of artisans here, sure.

An Artisan Paradise, well there are certainly a good number of artisans here however, in the height of high season if you see twenty-five on the two main streets of Montezuma that would be a great number. Do they want to make sales – of course. Is there a sense of desperation here, yes for some I believe that to be true and those are the ones you must distance yourself from quickly. Have we been affected directly by it, yes we have. There will be those here that are very happy to latch onto someone to become their sugar daddy or mommy. So what do you do, recognize it and take steps to end that relationship. Then again there are those that live very simply and happily. There is also a great sense of community here. People do what they can to assist one another. That I find much to my liking.

As far as a failed Hippie Rejuvenation project, again I hesitate to respond in the affirmative. I would say that Montezuma is much more Bohemian in nature. There is a looseness, a non-conformist, escapist, self-reliance that permeates the land here. There is also a mystical, spiritual presence here that at times can be palpable.

I have just finished my first month of this stay and four months totally. Each day brings a new adventure whether I am at my casa or somewhere else. This is a totally different lifestyle for us and we embrace it daily. Is it for everyone, not a chance.

As I listen to the parrots behind me, watch the chickens scurrying around the yard, feel the cool breezes whispering by and see the many mango trees within view I say to myself, Yes I can do this.

By: buddhes

buddhes — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 23:17:01 +0000

in visiting other areas of the world, not costa rica, i find a similar feeling of unease when there is much local homelessness and over-dependence on tourists. i think having your homeland occupied by whites, being homeless yourself, then being dependent on white tourists would leave a mix of desperation for income with anger and frustration toward the visitors. another observation I have frequently in travels is how white people, like myself, move about to a different rhythm to local people; we tend to have movements than can be perceived as hostile, entitled or overly friendly, if not fake. for expats, i wonders too if sometimes they are tired of tourists on whom they do not depend and who they perceive to be keeping their new home in movement constantly; could result in some resentment and dissociation toward tourists. just reflections from my own travels; sometimes just nice to enjoy and move forward.

By: Charles Kosman

Charles Kosman — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 16:32:45 +0000

In reply to Brad G.

Hey Brad, I suppose when I think of a hippie commune I imagine a place of free love, tons of pot and good vibes. The truth is often different and looking back I suspect it was probably a sense of paranoia on their part that left a bad feeling in my mouth.

Sometimes visiting as a tourist doesn’t give you the time to get to understand the vibe that runs through a town. If I took Montezuma at face value and didn’t try to look behind the curtain I think I would have had nothing but positive things to say about it. Re-reading my post, it seems I do say a ton of positive things about it.

As to hippies, the pot scene and living cheaply I’ve lived for half a year in a van, months in a beach hut, weeks in tiny villages and I’ve seen a lot of everything on my travels. I have very good memories of each place and they were some of the best days of my life so I wouldn’t say I walked into Montezuma blinded by my oversized luggage or by my shiny rental car. (In truth we had a single backpack and our 4×4 was filthy from the rough roads we took getting there.)

As to nightlife, well since we’ve had kids I don’t know much about it anymore. Based on the music blaring and the people laughing it sounded like they were enjoying themselves. 😉

Thanks for the comment Brad. Regardless of the rest it seems you agree with me on the “perceived” feeling I had for this Bohemian town. Good luck on your travels and I look forward to any other comments you might post.