Costa Rica now holds a world first. In October 2026, Marriott opened JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, the first all-inclusive resort ever operated under the JW Marriott name, on Playa El Jobo in the far north of Guanacaste.
For travelers, it changes the map of luxury all-inclusive stays in the country. Here is what the opening really means, what is new, what it costs, and how to decide whether it is the right base for your trip.
Key takeaways
- What: the first all-inclusive JW Marriott in the world, 415 rooms and suites.
- Where: Playa El Jobo, Costa Elena, near Bahía Salinas, about an hour from Liberia airport (LIR).
- Highlights: 15 restaurants and bars, 17 pools, a 1,500 m² spa, the Griffin Club and a Mindfulness House.
- Rates seen in October 2026: from about US$734 to US$4,074 per night for two adults, taxes included.
- Best for: travelers who want five-star service with everything included, in a quiet corner of the coast.
A world first, and why Costa Rica
JW Marriott had never run an all-inclusive resort. The brand chose Costa Rica to launch the format, which Marriott calls all-immersive: everything is included, so guests stop counting and start living the place.
Marriott’s leadership for Latin America explained the choice to the Costa Rican daily La Nación: the country has become one of the most attractive luxury destinations in the region, and travelers increasingly want immersive, meaningful experiences rather than a simple hotel room.
Having lived ten years in Costa Rica, I see the logic. Guanacaste offers what international brands look for: a dry, sunny season from December to April, an international airport close to the beaches, and a coastline that still feels wild.
Where exactly is Costa Elena?
Costa Elena sits on Playa El Jobo, a sheltered bay in the canton of La Cruz, close to Bahía Salinas and the border with Nicaragua. It is the northernmost stretch of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and one of the least built-up.
Most guests fly into Liberia international airport (LIR), then drive about an hour north on the Inter-American Highway through cattle ranches and dry tropical forest.
Insider tip
From December to March, the north of Guanacaste is swept by the Papagayo winds. Bahía Salinas is one of the best kitesurf spots in Central America for that reason, while the cove of El Jobo stays calm for swimming. Pack a light layer for breezy evenings.
If you prefer to be closer to restaurants and a lively town, Tamarindo is about two hours south; the Papagayo peninsula, home to the Four Seasons, is about halfway.
The resort in figures
The project transformed a former resort on the same beach, with an investment reported at about 60 million dollars. Here are the key numbers published by Marriott and La Nación.
| JW Marriott Costa Elena | |
|---|---|
| Rooms and suites | 415 |
| Restaurants and bars | 15 venues |
| Pools | 17, presented as the largest pool complex in Costa Rica |
| Spa | About 1,500 m² (16,000 sq ft) |
| Beachfront | About 270 m on Playa El Jobo |
| Event space | About 900 m² |
| Jobs created | About 700 |
What is really new
Size alone does not make a great all-inclusive. Three ideas set Costa Elena apart from the classic resorts of the coast.
The Griffin Club: a resort within the resort
The Griffin Club is the brand’s first next-generation club level: dedicated spaces and services for guests who want more privacy inside a large property. If you travel as a couple or with teenagers, it is the first thing to ask about when you book.
The Mindfulness House
Wellness is the backbone of JW Marriott. Here it takes the form of a Mindfulness House, a calm sanctuary for meditation and slow moments, alongside a full spa.
A dining program that tells Costa Rica’s story
Among the fifteen venues, three concepts stand out:
- A Guanacaste-inspired restaurant where guests roast their own coffee and follow a seven-course tasting journey through the country’s provinces.
- Casado, a wood-fired coastal grill named after the everyday Costa Rican plate of rice, beans, salad and meat or fish.
- Puerto Limón, devoted to the Afro-Caribbean flavors of the east coast: coconut rice and beans, patí, rondón.
Good to know
In Costa Rica, a 13% sales tax and a 10% service charge are added to restaurant bills by law. In an all-inclusive, these are usually built into the nightly rate, which makes comparisons with a villa plus a private chef easier: ask for the total, taxes included.
How much does it cost?
Rates vary widely with the room, the season and the number of guests. When La Nación checked the hotel’s website for a Friday night in October 2026, it found:
| Guests | Rate per night (taxes and fees included) |
|---|---|
| 2 adults | About US$734 to US$4,074 (Presidential Suite) |
| 2 adults + 2 children (4 and 10) | About US$893 to US$2,824 |
October is the heart of the green season. From mid-December to April, and above all over Christmas, New Year and Easter, expect significantly higher rates and minimum stays.
Watch out
The first months of any new resort can be uneven while teams settle in. If your dates are fixed, for a celebration or a large family group, check the latest reviews and confirm exactly what the all-inclusive plan covers: premium drinks, à la carte restaurants, spa, motorized water sports and airport transfers.
The two JW Marriotts of Costa Rica
Many travelers searching for “JW Marriott Costa Rica” are surprised to find two. They are very different stays.
| JW Marriott Costa Elena | JW Marriott Guanacaste | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Playa El Jobo, far north of Guanacaste | Hacienda Pinilla, south of Tamarindo |
| Concept | All-inclusive (a world first for the brand) | Classic resort (not all-inclusive) |
| Atmosphere | Remote bay, calm water | Golf estate, long wild beaches |
| Ideal for | Everything included, no driving | Golf, surf beaches, Tamarindo nearby |
If Hacienda Pinilla appeals to you but you would rather have a home of your own, the estate also has private villas with pools, such as Villa Nalu, Casa Guayacan and Casa Descanza, a few minutes from the beach club.
Who will love it, and who will not
- Couples who want five-star service, a spa and fine dining without planning every meal.
- Families who value pools, space and the simplicity of a single price.
- Celebrations and groups, thanks to the event spaces and the variety of venues.
It is less suited to travelers who want to explore a different beach every day, or who dream of a whole house with their own pool and chef. For them, a private villa in Tamarindo or Hacienda Pinilla, or a smaller resort, will feel more personal. Compare all options on our all-inclusive vacations in Costa Rica page.
Thinking of an all-inclusive stay in Costa Rica?
Tell us your dates, your group and the atmosphere you want. We compare the resort with the best villas and resorts for your dates and send you a clear selection.
Frequently asked questions
Is JW Marriott Costa Elena really the first all-inclusive JW Marriott?
Yes. Marriott presented it as the first all-inclusive resort in the world under the JW Marriott brand when it opened in October 2026 on Playa El Jobo, Guanacaste.
Where is the JW Marriott all-inclusive in Costa Rica?
On Playa El Jobo in Costa Elena, canton of La Cruz, in the far north of Guanacaste near Bahía Salinas. The nearest international airport is Liberia (LIR), about an hour’s drive away.
How many rooms does JW Marriott Costa Elena have?
It has 415 rooms and suites, 15 restaurants and bars, 17 pools and a spa of about 1,500 m², plus the Griffin Club and a Mindfulness House.
How much does a night cost?
Rates checked in October 2026 ranged from about US$734 to US$4,074 per night for two adults, taxes and fees included. High season and holidays are more expensive.
How many JW Marriott resorts are there in Costa Rica?
Two: the all-inclusive JW Marriott Costa Elena in the far north of Guanacaste, and the JW Marriott Guanacaste resort in Hacienda Pinilla, south of Tamarindo.
In short
JW Marriott Costa Elena puts a quiet corner of Guanacaste on the luxury map, with an all-inclusive format the brand had never tried anywhere else.
If you want everything included in a calm bay, it deserves a place on your shortlist. If you want more privacy or more variety, a villa may suit you better, and we are happy to compare both for your dates.
- La Nación, “JW Marriott abre en Costa Rica su primer resort todo incluido del mundo”, October 2026
- La Nación, May 2026
- Rates are indicative and change daily.
