A New Luxury All-Inclusive Resort Has Arrived on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Coast

Costa Rica Has a New All-Inclusive Resort Worth Knowing About

JW Marriott Costa Elena has opened on the Guanacaste coast, giving travelers a new way to do Costa Rica with a beautiful beach, plenty of dining and the ease of an all-inclusive stay.

There is a certain appeal to a Costa Rica vacation that doesn't involve figuring out where to eat every night, planning every activity or getting back in the car after a long day at the beach.

That is the idea behind JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive, which officially opened September 30 on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Its location in Guanacaste makes it especially interesting for travelers who want the convenience of a resort vacation without giving up access to one of the country's most beautiful regions.

The resort sits along Playa El Jobo in La Cruz, where the Pacific coast, tropical landscape and the relatively laid-back feel of northern Guanacaste provide the backdrop. There are 415 all-suite accommodations, multiple pools, a spa, kids' programming and 11 restaurants and bars, so there is plenty to do without ever needing to leave the property.

But that may be exactly what makes this new resort appealing: you can stay put for a few days—or use it as a comfortable base for exploring Costa Rica beyond the beach.

Image Credit: JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive

The Kind of Costa Rica Vacation You Can Take at Your Own Pace

Not every trip needs a packed itinerary.

At Costa Elena, a morning can start with breakfast, move to the beach, continue at the pool and end with dinner somewhere completely different from the night before. Non-motorized water activities, the pool and fitness center are included, and the resort has a kids club for families traveling with children.

And because the property is all-inclusive, the nightly rate typically covers meals, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, entertainment, non-motorized water sports, kids' activities, taxes, service fees and gratuities. Spa treatments and certain off-property or specialty experiences are additional.

That means much less planning once you're there.

You can make the day as active or as lazy as you want.

Then There's the Beach

The resort's setting is a major part of the appeal.

Playa El Jobo is on the northern Guanacaste coast, where the landscape feels far removed from the urban side of Costa Rica. The resort is designed around its oceanfront setting, with pools and outdoor spaces that make it easy to spend most of the day outside.

And staying at an all-inclusive does not mean you have to spend the entire vacation inside the resort gates.

Guanacaste is one of the easiest parts of Costa Rica to use as a base for outdoor adventures. Nearby experiences include national parks, horseback riding, ATV excursions and waterfalls, while the resort itself offers non-motorized water activities for guests who want to get out on the water.

That gives you two very different ways to approach the trip: make Costa Elena the vacation, or make it the place you come back to after exploring.

You Probably Won't Get Bored With the Food

One of the bigger selling points is the sheer number of dining options.

There are 11 restaurants and bars, with choices ranging from Costa Rican and seafood to Japanese, Italian and Mexican.

That includes Casado, where Costa Rican cooking is central; Luciano for Italian; Puerto Limón for seafood; Boga for Japanese cuisine; Santos for Mexican; and Mercado Central for a market-style experience. There is also JW Market, Green Dome, Borbón, Leal and 24-hour room service.

For anyone who has ever reached day four of an all-inclusive vacation and thought, What am I going to eat tonight?, this is a welcome change.

You can keep dinner simple, make it a proper night out or choose something completely different from the previous evening.

The Rooms Are Designed for Staying a While

All of the accommodations are suites, with terraces and a design that uses natural textures and lighter colors to keep the rooms connected to the surrounding landscape. There are also swim-out accommodations and Griffin Club options for guests looking for something more private.

That makes the resort work for different kinds of trips.

A family can spread out in a suite and spend the day moving between the pool, beach and kids' activities. A couple can book a more secluded accommodation and spend most of the trip doing very little beyond eating, swimming and enjoying the setting.

There is no one "right" way to stay here.

Families Are Part of the Plan

This is not an adults-only escape.

The resort was designed to accommodate both couples and families, with a kids club and family programming built into the experience. There is also a water slide, pool access and included ocean activities.

That combination could make Costa Elena especially appealing to families who want something more sophisticated than a traditional family resort, while still having plenty available for younger travelers.

And couples do not have to feel like they're staying at a family resort. The separate Griffin Club offers an additional layer of privacy and service within the larger property.

A Resort Where the Food Changes with the Day

Taken together, the new dining lineup makes sense because each restaurant answers a different part of the vacation.

Perla is the special dinner. Ocean Terrace is the beach-and-ocean restaurant. Palm Court is the place to drop in throughout the day.

That matters at a resort as expansive as Four Seasons Puerto Rico, where the experience extends well beyond the restaurants. The property occupies a 483-acre setting surrounded by nature preserves, forests, lakes, canals and ecological areas, with Bahía Beach providing the backdrop.

The culinary changes also come under the direction of Executive Chef Victor Rosado, whose cooking is rooted in Puerto Rican heritage and local ingredients. Rosado returned to the island after a career that included work with chefs such as Jean-Georges, José Andrés, Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, Dominique Crenn, Daniel Humm and Emeril Lagasse. His stated focus is on honoring Puerto Rico while bringing a contemporary approach to the island's ingredients and traditions.

That makes the timing particularly interesting. The resort is not simply adding restaurants; it is building a dining program that gives travelers more reasons to stay on property while still making the food feel connected to Puerto Rico.

Don't Skip the Spa

A Costa Rica vacation can be active. You can spend a day hiking, exploring or getting out on the water, and then realize you would really rather do absolutely nothing the next day.

Spa by JW is built for that second kind of day.

The resort also has a fitness center, and the overall wellness programming is intended to give guests an easy way to slow down between excursions and beach time.

In other words, you can spend one day doing Costa Rica and the next day barely moving from the resort.

Both count as vacation.

Getting to Costa Elena

The resort is in La Cruz, Guanacaste, on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast.

For air travelers, Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia is the airport generally used to reach the Guanacaste region. Travelers should arrange transportation to the resort in advance rather than expecting a complimentary hotel airport shuttle.

The location also puts guests within reach of some of the region's outdoor attractions, including national parks and other excursions.

That makes Costa Elena a good fit for two very different kinds of Costa Rica traveler.

The first is the person who wants a beach vacation where nearly everything is already taken care of.

The second is someone who wants to explore Guanacaste but would rather come back to a comfortable resort each evening than move from hotel to hotel.

Is This the Costa Rica All-Inclusive to Watch?

For travelers who like the idea of an all-inclusive but don't want the vacation to feel generic, JW Marriott Costa Elena is an interesting new option.

The setting gives you Costa Rica's Pacific coast. The food gives you plenty of reasons to stay for dinner. The all-inclusive format removes much of the logistical hassle. And the resort is close enough to Guanacaste's outdoor attractions that you can still build some adventure into the trip.

Most importantly, you're not forced into one kind of vacation.

Spend the morning on the beach. Go kayaking after lunch. Take a nap. Get a massage. Explore a national park the next day. Or don't leave the pool for 48 hours.

For a lot of travelers, that flexibility is the real luxury.

And now that JW Marriott has entered the all-inclusive space, Costa Rica has a new resort to put on the radar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa?

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive is located on Playa El Jobo in La Cruz, Guanacaste, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast.

When did JW Marriott Costa Elena open?

JW Marriott Costa Elena opened on September 30, 2026, making it the first all-inclusive resort in the JW Marriott brand.

Is JW Marriott Costa Elena really all-inclusive?

Yes. The nightly rate typically includes the room, meals, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, entertainment, non-motorized water sports, kids' activities, taxes, service fees and gratuities. Additional charges apply to certain services and excursions, including spa treatments and some off-property activities.

How many restaurants are at JW Marriott Costa Elena?

The resort has 11 restaurants and bars, with options including Costa Rican, Japanese, Italian, Mexican and seafood.

Is JW Marriott Costa Elena good for families?

Yes. The resort welcomes families and offers a kids club, family programming, a water slide, pools and non-motorized ocean activities.

Is JW Marriott Costa Elena adults-only?

No. The resort welcomes both families and couples. Guests looking for a more private experience can choose Griffin Club accommodations within the resort.

Does JW Marriott Costa Elena have a spa?

Yes. Spa by JW offers spa and wellness experiences, and the resort also has a fitness center.

What kind of food is served at JW Marriott Costa Elena?

The resort offers a wide range of dining, including Costa Rican, Italian, Japanese, Mexican and seafood restaurants, along with international dining and 24-hour room service.

What airport do you fly into for JW Marriott Costa Elena?

Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia is the main airport for reaching the resort and the Guanacaste region.