Playa Cativo Lodge

The whole experience from arrival to departure was first class. All the staff; restaurant, bar, gardens, etc. were all super helpful and polite. The room and meals were exceptional., and the location is an absolute paradise. The only advice we would give if you are looking to stay here is to make this your final stop as all other locations will be a disappointment in comparison.

Great resort in Costa Rica. It was a lovely place in which to end our holiday. The staff were so cheerful, shows they enjoy their work. They were helpful, attentive tho not intrusive, and professional in all departments. Delicious food. There is a good range of activities and the lodge we stayed in is tops. We loved the setting.

An incredible experience of peaceful luxury. No air conditioners, televisions or noisy neighbors. Awakening to breezes, incredible birds and howler monkeys. Day getting too hot? Just relax in your private pool. Meals are freshly prepared to order and excellent. We recommend the romantic dinner for 2. Added 18 birds to my life list on the resort. We plan to return.

Beautiful, (very) hidden, retreat you can get to only by boat. From your room to the grounds, you're surrounded by lush rainforest filled with animals including toucans, humming birds and monkeys. Sign up for activities like kayaking, hikes and snorkeling with well-informed, friendly, guides. Spa treatments and yoga also available. Terrific meals (especially the fish) mornings, afternoons and evenings. The attentive staff including Ray and Andrea are there to assist for any requests or questions you have.

The staff and services were beyond outstanding! Very thoughtful, welcoming and responsive team of professionals! The accommodations were beautiful and comfortable with great views of the gulf and the rainforest! Food was unbelievably fresh and good with lots of options to accommodate everyone! We loved their commitment to nature and sustainability! The activities included knowledgeable guides as well! Couldn’t have been a better experience for our family!!!

The rooms are lovely, Beds comfy, bathroom beautifully tiled. Large windows looking out across the grounds and water allowing you to see all the wildlife moving about. Staff was always attentive and helpful. Guides allowed us to experience things we would have missed on our own. But the food was fabulous and beautifully presented. Lots of trails, plenty to do and beautiful spots to sit and do nothing.

From the moment Rei picked me up at the dock with a huge, warm smile, I knew this place would be special. A fabulous 30-min boat ride, with Rei explaining the area and showing me the coral, and I arrived in paradise! Beautiful room, incredible food (much of which is grown on the farm so is super fresh and tasty), gorgeous forest and beach. But it all comes down to the amazing staff. The fabulous Rei, Karen, Teresa, William, Laura, Kielynn, Moses, the magical nocturnal forest tour with Alberto, and all the others whose names I don’t know. Everyone greets you with a shining smile and genuine warmth. I felt at home as soon as I arrived and, as I was sick, they treated me with so much care and attention. Thank you all so much. I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. It was THE best experience I had in the whole of Costa Rica. They truly do live Pura Vida!

How does one describe “perfection” in just two words? Playa Cativo! We had seen the photos and the descriptions of Playa Cativo Lodge on line, but even that did not prepare my wife and I for what awaited us on a recent 4-day trip to paradise. A small plane from Liberia International Airport transported us to Golfito, where we were met by staff from Playa Cativo, with cold towels, water and a fresh, chilled coconut with a sugar cane straw to drink the coconut milk, whilst they gathered out luggage and tagged it with our names and room number. A quick drive in the Lodge’s van to an awaiting open-air boat for the 30 minute ride to the lodge was the perfect beginning to what would only get better over the next four days. If I did not know better I would have thought that the dolphins were trained to greet us as we got close to the beach at the lodge. Upon arrival we were taken to our casita, one of 18 rooms emerging out of the lush jungle overlooking the Golfo Dulce. Already outside our door were boots for hiking, snorkeling gear and a pair of binoculars. Entering the bright casita, across the room and out the full wall window, we could see the beautiful blue waters of the gulf, and the hammock on the deck. The room was tastefully decorated with native paintings and the spacious bathroom and rain shower opened onto the deck with plunge pool. And because of the privacy of each villa, the only peering eyes were of the scores of beautiful birds and butterflies. Even more impressive than the casitas were the staff and the dining. Friendlier people you will never meet. Always greeted with a smile and a willingness to help or, just as important, steer clear, every need was seemingly anticipated. At such a remote location it is hard to believe that the restaurant could compare to a Micheline 3-star, but it does. Exceptional, fresh, organic (they have their own farm) food presented in a fashion like the best world class restaurants, where a dairy free person (me) or a gluten intolerant person (my wife) did not suffer from choices of food. Where did they find this chef? Probably where they found the bartender who commanded a separate bar area across from the swimming pool, as he could prepare anything one desired, even mocktails that were the rave of those seeking to cut down on alcohol. There is just too much to describe. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on a sunset cruise in front of the lodge, a fishing trip (or just on board for the views) where the hundreds, yes hundreds, of dolphins, lead the boat to the tuna, a waterfall hike into the jungle behind the lodge, where a seemingly endless cascade of water falls into a pool (don’t forget to bring a towel, as you will want to go for a dip), a kayak trip down the Rio Esquina mangrove forest into the gulf, outdoor yoga on a beachfront platform, a massage in a beautiful, zin like spa, or simply a hike where the howler and spider monkeys jump from tree to tree, displaying their athletic abilities, the rare

My wife and I are experienced eco-travelers. Over two decades, we’ve enjoyed everything from five-star safaris in Tanzania to high-mountain trekking in Peru. But nothing prepared us for the richness of Playa Cativo’s spacious casitas, gracious staff, and delicious meals – completely surrounded by southern Costa Rica’s matchless marine and rainforest environment. We took a small plane to the little town of Golfito where Playa Cativo’s marvelous staff met us and took us on a refreshing boat ride across the Golfo Dulce to the lodge. No cars. No noise, just the sounds of birds – hundreds of different kinds – and in the mornings, the calls of Howler monkeys deep in the forest. On our first morning, we went deep-sea fishing using huge schools of Bottlenose dolphins to guide us to the invisible Yellowfin tuna below. We caught enough to feed ourselves, other guests, and the lodge staff fresh tuna for days! Our hours were spent napping, snorkeling, yoga outdoors under Morpho butterflies, hiking in ancient forests to see rare two and three-toed Sloths, kayaking through the Rio Esquina mangrove forest, picnicking on the beach, lazy lunches watching Cinnamon and Green Hermit hummingbirds zipping from flower to flower, and wild card games into the night with our friends. Our last evening was sweet – a sunset cruise followed by a delicious dinner on the beach. We're going back! Kenneth Hidalgo, Playa Cativo's superb director, explained that Golfo Dulce is a world recognized breeding and birthing sanctuary for Pacific Humpback whales. We’re already planning a trip to see the whales and more of southern Costa Rica’s spectacular rainforests -- and to just melt again into Playa Cativo’s restoring rhythms.