Misafir Kullanıcı
15 Nisan 2024
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
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