JW Marriott opens its first all-inclusive resort, in Costa Rica

JW Marriott has opened its first all-inclusive resort anywhere in the world. Marriott announced on October 6, 2026, that JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa had opened.

Where it is

The resort sits above the bay of Playa de El Jobo, on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This is the Guanacaste region, known for dry-season sun, beaches and forest.

A new resort in an old shell

The resort was not built from scratch. The Points Guy reports that the developer, Mullen Real Estate Capital, fully reworked the former Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica resort. Mullen Hospitality Management runs the hotel.

Rooms and the club

The Points Guy reports 415 rooms. It also describes the Griffin Club, a smaller hotel inside the resort. Club guests get more privacy and butler service, plus their own pool, beach access and a lounge that never closes, according to TPG.

Food and drink

All-inclusive means meals and drinks are part of the room rate. The Points Guy reports 15 bars, restaurants and food experiences. They range from an international buffet to Japanese, seafood and Italian menus.

Wellness

The resort has JW Marriott’s first Mindfulness House, a quiet space for reflection set beside native forest. The spa offers a full menu of treatments, including some for children.

One of the signature experiences Marriott lists is the Sacred Fire Soiree. Each evening at sunset, guests meet for a shared moment that draws on the natural elements of Costa Rica, Marriott says.

What it costs

Marriott lists rates from $900 a person per night, for two sharing. The Points Guy, citing the hotel website, saw rates as low as $656 a night for two guests through year end. Check the live rate for your dates before you plan.

Why it matters

Marriott’s Caribbean and Latin America president, Federico Greppi, said travelers now want more immersive and meaningful stays. Mullen’s president, Javier Coll, said the all-inclusive category has changed a great deal, and that luxury guests now expect far more than convenience from it.

Good to know

• Confirm your airport transfer time with the resort.
• Ask which dining and spa services are included and which cost extra.
• Ask whether Griffin Club access is included in your rate.

Top photo: Gabriel P Chacon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped.