Kayak, Trek, and Paddleboard Away Stress at This Eco-Retreat in Costa Rica

MAYBE IT’S THE LUSH unspoiled rainforest encroaching on three sides, or it could be expansive views of the sparkling Golfo Dulce, or maybe it’s the pristine beach studded with palm trees, but Playa Cativo Lodge is so out there it gives fantastical AI-created nature vibes. The 18-room boutique eco-lodge in remote southern Costa Rica is only accessible by boat.Sunrise hike to spot howler monkeys and scarlet macaws along the beach in front of Playa Cativo.Your morning alarm is a mash-up of the muffled howls of monkeys with the trills and whistles of songbirds. Explore the 1,000-acre private reserve on your way to breakfast and you can see hummingbirds fueling up, incandescent giant blue butterflies flitting by, and explosions of color in the trees that turn out to be scarletmacaws.The view of the Golfo Dulce from one the casitas at Playa Cativo.On longer hikes led by a nature guide deeper into the rainforest, white-faced monkeys show off their trapeze skills high in the 150-foot trees, leaf-cutting ants demo their handiwork, glowed-up versions of wild turkeys called Great curassows scurry on the trail, and cartoon-worthy toucans strut their brightly-colored stuff.Paddle-boarding on the Golfo Dulce near Playa Cativo.The Golfo Dulce is a rare tropical fjord caused by ancient tectonic movement and its deep clear water teems with marine life. Paddleboard and snorkel to spot two kinds of dolphins, white tip sharks, and schools of rays cruising over coral outcrops where angel, trigger, and parrotfish patrol. A two-hour kayak paddle among mangroves serves as a core and upper-body workout and a vigorous version of forest bathing. It’s sweaty proof that an activity can be physically strenuous and mentally refreshing.Kayaking into a mangrove forest to eyeball snakes and parrots with a wildlife expert from Playa Cativo.After your exertions, refuel on freshly caught tuna sashimi or grilled mahi, locally grown vegetables, and house-made sorbets (basil and passion fruit stood out) or ice cream (try carrot or guava). Most of the vegetables and fruits are grown in a clearing in the forest about a mile away. The lodge also has its own chickens and bees, so eggs and honey are super fresh.Sunsets are must-watch viewing at Playa Cativo.Watching the slow-burn sunsets over the Golfo Dulce is like a calming mental massage and puts you on a gentle glide path to deep and restful sleep. (The best times to visit are December to May for blue skies and hot days and August to encounter humpback whales.)Ben Court is the Executive Editor of Men's Health. He has a decade of experience writing and editing stories about peak performance, as it relates to health, nutrition, fitness, weight loss, and sex and relationships. He enjoys yoga, cycling, running, swimming, lifting, grilling, and napping.