Playa Cativo

Our trip to Playa Cativo was one we will never forget. We stayed for five nights during July. The weather was surprisingly obedient, but it was even beautiful when it rained. We saw countless wildlife on the resort property, including dolphins, howler monkeys, scarlet macaws and toucans, agouti, coati, stingrays, and even a friendly crocodile, just to name a few. Many more were seen, including countless species of bird indigenous to the area, along with countless plants and trees we are unfamiliar with in the States. It is truly a breathtaking experience where you feel a part of the natural world all throughout your stay. The resort itself pops up like a gem on the coast when you arrive. Friendly staff await you, and the supreme service never stops. The service is top, top notch every day, rain or shine, and the resort itself has just about everything you need and more. Special shout out to Ale, Kendell, Alonso, and Moses – truly incredible staff, managed by Kenneth, who was also terrific. We had issues with our return flight to PJM being cancelled twice, and they called the airline and got us a new flight. They are the best. We stayed in the [only] air conditioned room in the main resort building where the restaurant is, and it was just enough for my wife and I. The view from our room was incredible. You could probably get by without AC, but we didn’t want to take that chance. It was well worth it. The villas around the resort looked even more incredible, up with some of the best I’ve ever seen in the world. Oh, and the food was a class above with local ingredients almost exclusively sourced from the property or the nearby sea. We only had two minor issues with our stay, which would make this closer to a 4.5/5 For us, which is that we had issues with getting hot water in our room. It didn’t seem to be an issue in the villas, just the main building. Not a huge deal but they weren’t able to fix it in our time there. Additionally, while the food was incredible – breakfast, lunch and dinner – I did have stomach issues for a couple of the latter days. I am guessing, as they also surmised, that my body was having a reaction to the excessive fruit and the excessive seafood, which I happily and heavily consumed. It did not seem to be an issue of food preparation or anything of that ilk but is worth noting. We should have brought more medicine for that possibility. That said, the setting, scenery, food itself, service, spa, natural beauty, and excursions along with the resort features make this a mere footnote at the base of an otherwise incredible experience that we will never forget. We will never forget our time at Playa Cativo, and we hope the return there one day in the future.

Tucked away amongst the lush foliage is this stunning eco retreat. From the moment you arrive, you feel a sense of relaxation and serenity. The rooms are low key luxurious with the most spectacular views. Meals are top notch and visually stunning, and make sure you try the basil ice cream. Sounds weird but it’s delicious. The staff are super friendly and attentive, listening to your preferences and getting to know you by name and the tours are fun and interesting. Make sure to visit the super relaxing spa. Whatever your expectations they will be surpassed 🥰

Our stay at the hotel was incredible. From the moment we were promptly picked up at the dock, everything was perfect. We arrived at the beautiful hotel, where the staff were incredibly friendly and professional — truly world-class customer service. The rooms were in excellent condition, the food was delicious, and the tours were both varied and informative. Playa Cativo feels like a little piece of the Garden of Eden.

An Unforgettable Honeymoon! My partner and I were lucky to choose this hotel for our honeymoon — and we couldn’t have made a better decision! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with exceptional service. Every member of the staff was kind, attentive, and always willing to make our stay perfect. The room was absolutely spectacular: comfortable, romantic, and with an incredible view. Every detail was thoughtfully designed to create a special atmosphere. Housekeeping and room service were flawless. The restaurant offered a delicious variety of food, and we were surprised several times with lovely touches to celebrate our honeymoon. Special thanks to Moisés for the amazing cocktails he prepared for us! The spa and common areas gave us the chance to relax and truly enjoy every moment. We want to give a heartfelt thank you to the entire team for all their care and for making us feel so special. We’ll definitely be back for an anniversary. Thank you for giving us such beautiful memories!

May 12-17, 2025. We join in the stellar reviews of past guests. The rain forest surrounding Cativo, the staff, the accommodations, the tours/guides and the food/wine are all amazing. But, something that we did not expect was the unparalleled blue water fishing we experienced. Captain McAllister put us on the best marlin and yellowfin tuna we have EVER had. Totals included 4 marlin, including 350+ 450lb blues. Also, we limited on 70lb.+ yellowfin tuna. (We lost a 100lb fish at the rail.) At the end of the day we were exhausted, but incredulous at our success. We were concerned about going in the rainy season, but found that the daily showers didn’t typically arrive until about 4-5:00pm or later. Each of our 5 mornings and days at Cativo during the “rainy season” were beautiful and essentually rain free. An absolutely amazing experience with the nicest people in an unforgettable and isolated corner of the world.