Playa Cativo

The location is a paradise, the atmosphere is warm and friendly. The entire team is welcoming and attentive - thank you Mike, Ashely, Alfonso and Ivan; Javier and the management team; Thank you Edward - the master chef, for preparing such flavorful and presentable dishes. The fruits were always aromatic, fresh and sweet. Resting on the edge of the rainforest with all its wonders was an incredible experience. Encountering the dolphins as well as the new mama & baby whale was spectacular & left me in awe. Each habitation & every part of the lodge are beautifully arranged , built of natural wood, and thoughtfully set amid the natural flora of the rainforest. A truly magical concept and an endeavor to see this project through. Well done. I’m grateful to have experienced Cativo Lodge, with all its magic - the staff, other guests from across the ocean, and the natural habitat that surrounds it.

Fabulous 4 night stay at the end of our holiday in Costa Rica. The service is impeccable and the every meal here was beautifully presented, fresh and delicious - it was like eating in a fancy restaurant. Our rooms were large with a seating area and AC. We also had private plunge pools. The views are stunning. You can go kayaking and paddle boarding. There are some walking trails by the beach, to their vegetable farm and to a waterfall so you don’t feel trapped here. The hotel grounds are immaculate too. The staff are thoughtful and helpful. Thank you so much Kenneth, Laura, Mike, Alonso, Javier and all the staff working hard there. I felt like I was in a tropical paradise here - it’s going to be hard going back to the real world. What a treat at the end of our trip.

This was one of the best travel experiences ever. After the boat went for 30 minutes and then turned for the shore, I could barely see any people or any structures. I knew this was a going to be great. Alonso, Mike, Ivan, Kenny, Laura, and Brian took care of every detail and answered my questions of where can I snorkel, where can I see the herb farm, how did they get dairy-free yogurt for my husband, where is the puma, how can I see a sloth, what is a Cativo tree, and so much more. The chef put flowers and delicious herbs in the food and the staff put flowers on all the tables so this attention to detail made me smile all the time.

A little piece of paradise in the rainforest of Costa Rica. Views that you would never bore of seeing. All of the staff were polite and couldn’t do enough to make our stay memorable in so many ways. Special thanks to Ivan, Alfonso and Mike. The views from our room were amazing, I would never tire of sitting on the verandah early in the morning watching the wildlife whilst sipping a coffee x

My husband and I just returned from a magical week at Playa Cativo - we wish we had stayed for even longer! It was like being in paradise - beautiful beaches, calm water perfect for swimming, the lushest rainforest, lots of tropical flowers and most importantly, great people. It's accessible only by boat, so the nature is truly unspoiled. We saw many animals, birds and lizards without even leaving the property. It was the best! When we did want to leave for an adventure, there are many wonderful activities nearby that Alessandro, Kevin and Laura seamlessly arranged for us so we were able to fully relax without worrying about planning or details. We especially appreciated Alessandro's suggestions for the best activities, along with his care in selecting orchid and flower guidebooks for me, as I was especially interested in those. Cindy was our amazing wildlife guide who knew everything about each animal and plant we spotted and even found us at breakfast one morning to show us monkeys she had spotted nearby! The food was incredible and we were able to enjoy something different each meal so we never got bored, even staying for an entire week. The chefs Eduardo, Pablo and Ronnie were amazing, the food was some of the best we've ever had! Ronnie went above and beyond, preparing us local fish one night and also teaching us how to make ceviche. I also really appreciated the delicious baked goods and bread that Pamela made gluten-free for me during our stay. Our waiters Mike and Alonso also made our stay so memorable and special. Mike arranged a beautiful table setting and romantic dinner for us one evening, along with a delicious wine pairing, which was one of the highlights of our trip! Overall, apart from enjoying being in such a beautiful place, we felt at home thanks to the wonderful people who were always ready with a smile and friendly conversation and to help us with absolutely anything we needed. Kevin and Laura even picked us up and dropped us off at the airport, a special touch that made our travel very easy. We miss Cativo already and can't wait to return!