"Playa Cativo Lodge is a wonderful place and the accommodations, food and staff were absolutely perfect. It was nice to be so close to the gulf which was calm, warm, sandy and perfect for swimming.
My only complaint was that the entire front area of the lodge has been landscaped with grass and ornamental plants, many of which are not native. Because of this large open area few birds or animals come near the lodge. Bird watching was disappointing compared to lodges that have left the rainforest...
"Playa Cativo Lodge is a wonderful place and the accommodations, food and staff were absolutely perfect. It was nice to be so close to the gulf which was calm, warm, sandy and perfect for swimming.
My only complaint was that the entire front area of the lodge has been landscaped with grass and ornamental plants, many of which are not native. Because of this large open area few birds or animals come near the lodge. Bird watching was disappointing compared to lodges that have left the rainforest...
"This isn’t just a beautiful eco lodge, it’s a life a life experience. You couldn’t chose a more picturesque location surrounded by nature. The building and facilities are clean, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is excellent. Their tours and services are great and very reasonably priced. Amazing place to visit !!!! "
"This isn’t just a beautiful eco lodge, it’s a life a life experience. You couldn’t chose a more picturesque location surrounded by nature. The building and facilities are clean, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the food is excellent. Their tours and services are great and very reasonably priced. Amazing place to visit !!!! "
"Beautiful boutique lodge at remote rainforest location. Delicious food and very friendly staff. Location at a hill allowed for beautiful views and birdwatching, with a pair of Scarlet Macaws breeding in a tree right on the property. Access for the last 2 miles after the airstrip requires SUV, but lodge also offers convenient airport pickup from Puerto Jimenez."
"Beautiful boutique lodge at remote rainforest location. Delicious food and very friendly staff. Location at a hill allowed for beautiful views and birdwatching, with a pair of Scarlet Macaws breeding in a tree right on the property. Access for the last 2 miles after the airstrip requires SUV, but lodge also offers convenient airport pickup from Puerto Jimenez."
"This is a lovely place, but I can't give it a great review because on the day we checked-in no one was available at the hotel to answer the phone. Answering the phone when you have guest traveling from out of country, and to a very remote location is standard basic custom service. For whatever reason we could not find our email confirmation the day we were scheduled to arrive and we called and called for 5 hours straight on a Saturday between 12noon-5pm and no one answered the phone. Because we...
"This is a lovely place, but I can't give it a great review because on the day we checked-in no one was available at the hotel to answer the phone. Answering the phone when you have guest traveling from out of country, and to a very remote location is standard basic custom service. For whatever reason we could not find our email confirmation the day we were scheduled to arrive and we called and called for 5 hours straight on a Saturday between 12noon-5pm and no one answered the phone. Because we...
"La tenda è piuttosto piccola, ma pulita e con zanzariera. Non ha luce né prese elettriche e, in generale, è tutto molto buio, anche lungo i sentieri. La doccia è privata (acqua a temperatura ambiente, non ghiacciata), ma non i WC. Nell'area comune all'ingresso è disponibile il wifi, ma non nel ristorante. Restano a disposizione tutto giorno acqua, té e caffé. L'unico pasto incluso era la colazione, mentre il pranzo costa 20$ (piatto unico) e la cena 30$ (zuppa, piatto principale e dolce). La...
"La tenda è piuttosto piccola, ma pulita e con zanzariera. Non ha luce né prese elettriche e, in generale, è tutto molto buio, anche lungo i sentieri. La doccia è privata (acqua a temperatura ambiente, non ghiacciata), ma non i WC. Nell'area comune all'ingresso è disponibile il wifi, ma non nel ristorante. Restano a disposizione tutto giorno acqua, té e caffé. L'unico pasto incluso era la colazione, mentre il pranzo costa 20$ (piatto unico) e la cena 30$ (zuppa, piatto principale e dolce). La...
"Totally warm-hearted family who makes you feel at home instantly. We would come here again just for a nice chat and dinner with Heyner and Jenny. So happy we decided to stay at this place – and we ended up staying two nights instead of one! Great place, great cooking, clean accomodation. This place is full of love and friendliness. Also, Heyner can help you with literally anything - he helped us book a great kayak tour in Sierpe in 3 minutes which we struggled with for 3 days. Thank you, thank...
"Totally warm-hearted family who makes you feel at home instantly. We would come here again just for a nice chat and dinner with Heyner and Jenny. So happy we decided to stay at this place – and we ended up staying two nights instead of one! Great place, great cooking, clean accomodation. This place is full of love and friendliness. Also, Heyner can help you with literally anything - he helped us book a great kayak tour in Sierpe in 3 minutes which we struggled with for 3 days. Thank you, thank...
"We had a really lovely stay here for 3 nights, and just a great time walking around the trail and observing all of the birds onsite. A really beautiful property and the cabins are cozy and well-designed. Great food too!"
"We had a really lovely stay here for 3 nights, and just a great time walking around the trail and observing all of the birds onsite. A really beautiful property and the cabins are cozy and well-designed. Great food too!"
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
"We have stayed at Casa Roland a half dozen times over the years. It’s by far the best appointed accommodation in Golfito proper. Situated in the historic old American Zone (where Chiquita Banana executives lived) it is charming and has the best pool complex in the area. The restaurant is also very good. I highly recommend Casa Roland."
"The road up is bumpy but easy in little Suzuki SUV. You can get food delivered to your lodging from town. The site is actually surrounded by rainforest, not some then agricultural land. Wildlife and fauna everywhere and facilities are excellent. It is off grid so a/c went off, not power, at night but the ceiling fan was powerfully and we were very comfortable sleeping. I’m coming back."
"Beautiful boutique lodge at remote rainforest location. Delicious food and very friendly staff. Location at a hill allowed for beautiful views and birdwatching, with a pair of Scarlet Macaws breeding in a tree right on the property. Access for the last 2 miles after the airstrip requires SUV, but lodge also offers convenient airport pickup from Puerto Jimenez."
"Our stay at Cielo Lodge was absolutely unforgettable and exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome with their warmth, attentiveness, and willingness to help with anything we needed. Their hospitality truly made the experience extra special.
The food was another highlight of our trip — every meal was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The local ingredients and creative dishes gave us a true taste of Costa Rica, and dining with such breathtaking surroundings made it even more memorable.
Cielo Lodge offers an amazing variety of activities, making it easy to experience the beauty and adventure of Costa Rica. Whether exploring nature, enjoying guided excursions, or simply relaxing and taking in the scenery, there was always something wonderful to do.
The grounds themselves are absolutely gorgeous — lush, peaceful, and immaculately maintained. What truly amazed us was the incredible wildlife surrounding the lodge. We saw colorful birds, monkeys, and so many beautiful animals right in their natural habitat. It felt like being immersed in a tropical paradise.
If you are looking for a place that combines luxury, adventure, incredible food, outstanding service, and the superb wildlife of Costa Rica, Cielo Lodge is truly a hidden gem. We cannot wait to return."
"If you want to be right in the middle of nature and wildlife this is the place to go. Most of the resort is raised up into the treetops so you can be eye level with creatures you'd usually only see way above you from the ground. The included hikes and birdwatching were wonderful with very knowledgeable and passionate guides. We also arranged a day trip to Corcovado by boat through the lodge in advance, seems pricey at first but was well worth it. Over the course of a week we saw sloths (lodge & Corcovado), monkeys (everywhere), tapirs (Corcovado), ant eaters (lodge and Corcovado), coatis (lodge), frogs and lizards (lodge) and so many different birds (everywhere). We chose a forest bungalow room which is just screened in from the outside. I was a bit worried the lack of AC might make it too hot to sleep, but at the end of April the fans in the room were enough to keep us comfortable over night. No need for alarm clocks, the howler monkeys will get you up every day. Overall a fantastic nature focused lodge that combines the ability to relax with adventure."