Río Lajas mouth & lagoon (Cabuya)
Swimming spot · Nicoya Peninsula · hidden gem
North of Cabuya village the Río Lajas meets the sea and backs up into a calm lagoon - a cool dip away from the waves. Wade upstream and the rocky riverbed has little natural jacuzzis; egrets, herons and kingfishers fish the banks, and surfers sometimes find waves right at the river mouth.
skip after heavy rain
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 1.5 h
- Best time
- morning, low to mid tide, dry season
- Kids
- 3 / 10
- View
- 6 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 6 / 10
- Effort
- 2 / 10
- Location
- 9.61472, -85.0781 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Entry
- Free
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Swimming
- Only when the water is calm
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Bring
- water shoes
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Walk north along the shore from Cabuya and combine it with the island cemetery on the same low tide.
Be careful
The river rises fast after heavy rain - skip it in storms. Watch for submerged rocks.
Getting there
From Cabuya village walk north along the beach to the river mouth; a dirt road, Calle Río Lajas, also follows the river inland.
Places nearby
- La Selva Cerveza ArtesanalFood & CoffeeA small, low-key craft brewery in Cabuya pouring its own well-liked beers - a laid-back spot to end a day at Cabo Blanco.
- Panadería Cabuya CafeteríaFood & CoffeeCabuya's village bakery-café, the go-to for breakfast or lunch before or after Cabo Blanco and the cemetery island: fresh bread, pastries and simple plates, with hundreds of happy reviews.
- Indígena Café & ChocolateFood & Coffee · from $15A jungle café 100 m before the Cabo Blanco reserve entrance making bean-to-bar chocolate: hot chocolate, brownies and coffee, plus hands-on chocolate tours where you taste cacao and make your own bar.
- Soda Típica Las PalmerasSodas & Local FoodBudget-friendly soda in the center of Montezuma with a balcony over the beach where white-faced monkeys play in the trees.
- Butterfly Brewing CoFood & CoffeeCraft brewery up the hill out of Montezuma, on the road toward the canopy tour and the upper falls, with a deck looking out over the jungle - a cold pint after the waterfall hike.
- Restaurante Montezuma Latino Beach FoodFood & CoffeeA casual beachfront spot in the center of Montezuma for fish and shrimp tacos, patacones with guacamole and whole fried snapper, with mojitos, coco locos and passion fruit margaritas and an ocean view.
Sources: OpenStreetMap way/1459388822 · https://nicoyapeninsula.com/montezuma/cabuya/ · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1459388822