A Note of Thanks From Golfo Dulce 

To every guest who has stepped off our boat and onto the shores of Playa Cativo: thank  you. 

You've hiked our trails at first light. You've watched dolphins break the surface of the gulf  and listened to howler monkeys call across the canopy. Many of you have written to us  long after checkout, sharing memories that still move our whole team. 

Those moments are the reason we do what we do. We're grateful for each one, and for  every traveler who has carried a little piece of Playa Cativo home with them. 

Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea

Playa Cativo Lodge rests where lush tropical rainforest tumbles down to the turquoise  and emerald waters of the Golfo Dulce. Reachable only by boat, our 16-room lodge sits  within a 400-hectare private reserve that borders Piedras Blancas National Park. 


Here, mornings begin with birdsong instead of alarms. Toucans glide overhead. Agoutis  wander the grounds, and coatis appear wherever they please. At night, the water glows  with bioluminescence and the forest hums you to sleep. 
As one guest put it, it doesn't feel like a hotel placed upon nature. It feels like you've  been invited to live within it.

The Heart of Cativo Is Our People

Ask our guests what they remember most, and the answer is rarely the plunge pool or  the ocean view, beautiful as they are. It's the people. 


• Cindry, our naturalist, turns a simple walk into a discovery. Her passion  for the rainforest is contagious, and many families tell us their children now see  nature differently because of her. 
• Mike has a rare gift for making every guest feel special. He remembers  the little things and turns each meal into an experience. 
• Kenneth, our General Manager, cares deeply about every guest and about  protecting this remarkable place for years to come. 


Alongside them are Alonso, Alessandro, Ivan, Kyra, our chefs, and many others  working quietly behind the scenes. Their warmth isn't rehearsed. It's simply who they  are. 

 

Recognized by the Guests Who Know Us Best 

We're deeply humbled by the kind words our guests have shared: 


• #1 of 53 hotels in the Osa Peninsula on TripAdvisor 
• TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 
• 5.0 rating from more than 630 guest reviews 


Every review is a gift, and each one reflects the care our team brings to every stay. 

How it works:

1. Visit tlwbavote.com – Open the survey on your desktop or mobile device. It only  takes a few minutes to get started.

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5. Enter for a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize, courtesy of Travel + Leisure – After submitting your survey, you'll automatically be entered into the  sweepstakes. 
The survey closes February 22, 2027. Results will be revealed in the August 2027  issue of Travel + Leisure. 

 

The survey closes February 22, 2027. Results will be revealed in the August 2027  issue of Travel + Leisure. 
 

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Until We Welcome You Again 

Whether you've stayed with us once or many times, or are still dreaming of your first  visit, thank you for being part of the Cativo story. The rainforest is waiting, the gulf is  calm, and our team would love to welcome you home. 

 

The Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards survey and sweepstakes are independently  administered by Travel + Leisure. For official rules and eligibility details, please visit  tlwbavote.com.
 

The World's Best Awards survey and sweepstakes are conducted by Travel + Leisure.  For official sweepstakes rules and eligibility details, please visit tlwbavote.com.