Playa Cativo Lodge

Dense, tangled greenery surrounds the lodge. Plants here are bursting with life, and support colorful populations of tropical birds and noisy monkeys. Piedras Blancas National Park is home to an old-growth tropical rainforest, so staying at Playa Cativo puts you near some of Costa Rica’s most intense scenery. While you’re hiking through the forest nearby you have the chance to see macaws, anteaters, sloths, capuchins, and spider monkeys. Bird watching is one of the most popular ways to pass the time here. Off the coast, you can take a boat to visit coral reefs for scuba diving or snorkeling excursions.

Rooms have reclaimed wood and ocean views. These rooms are spacious and come with eclectic, stylish furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies make it possible to admire the scenery even while you’re tucked away in your room. You’ll get to sleep in a king-sized bed, and cool off under the ceiling fan. If you have an extra guest, you can offer them the sofa (or day-bed). All the rooms have their own private bathrooms with hot water. In the bathroom, you’ll find a cotton bathrobe and biodegradable bathroom amenities.

On the grounds of the hotel you’ll find gardens where you can see cultivated flowers and tropical birds. During your downtime, you can swim in the hotel’s fresh-water pool. The water here has no chemicals added. You can order drinks from the outdoor bar and sip as you sunbathe. And while you’re relaxing, rest assured that your valuables will stay safe in your room’s safety deposit box.

At the hotel library, you’ll have access to hundreds of books, including novels and nonfiction books about the ecology of the rainforest. Guests also have free access to the computers in the library, which are connected to the Internet. You can also bring your laptop to the library, and connect to the hotel’s Wi-Fi for some down time.

Playa Cativo’s El Gavilán restaurant serves gourmet versions of classic dishes from Costa Rica and other parts of Latin America. Chefs use organic, locally soured ingredients, including produce the hotel grows on its very own farm. This restaurant offers vegetarian food, and you can notify the kitchen staff in advance if you have any food allergies.