Published on Wednesday, May 27, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The world’s first all-inclusive JW Marriott resort is set to open this September in Guanacaste Province, according to an announcement by Marriott International.

The new JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa will be located at Costa Elena Beach and was developed with an estimated investment of $50 million.

Built on 3,000 acres of tropical dry forest, the luxury beachfront resort will feature a 44,000-square-foot pool complex, which Marriott says will be the largest resort poolscape in Costa Rica.

The property is designed for travelers seeking luxury amenities within an all-inclusive model, where accommodations, dining and most activities are included in a single upfront price.


The resort will offer more than 400 rooms, including 45 Griffin Club accommodations, an exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel concept featuring private check-in, butler service, and exclusive pool and beach access.


Guests will also have access to 11 restaurants and bars offering Costa Rican, Italian, Asian and Japanese cuisine.


Additional amenities will include a 16,000-square-foot spa and wellness center with a hydrotherapy pool and a mindfulness-focused wellness hub, as well as a children’s club and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space with open-air venues overlooking the ocean and surrounding tropical landscape.

Among the resort’s unique attractions will be the first standalone JW Marriott root beer stand, inspired by J.W. Marriott Sr.’s original root beer stand in Washington, D.C., which later grew into one of the world’s largest hospitality companies.


“What we’re building reflects where the all-inclusive model is going, not where it’s been,” Marriott said in a statement. “For a long time, all-inclusive was about convenience. Today, it’s about delivering a complete experience without compromising on quality, design or individuality.”


Marriott International is one of the world’s largest hotel companies by room count. In 2025, the company operated 36 brands and more than 9,300 properties with over 1.7 million rooms across 144 countries and territories.

The JW Marriott Costa Elena project is among the latest investments in Costa Rica’s growing hotel sector. Recently, the first Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique opened at Penca Beach in Guanacaste, marking the brand’s debut in the country.

Earlier this month, Costa Rica increased efforts to attract additional hotel investment by participating in the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Central and Latin America, known as ALIS CALA, where officials promoted the country as a leading destination for hotel development.

In another move aimed at improving the travel experience, Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), located in Alajuela Province, recently inaugurated a new passenger arrivals area.

Costa Rica’s tourism industry has continued to expand steadily. The country welcomed more than 1 million air travelers during the first quarter of 2026.

The country recorded more than 2.6 million air arrivals in 2025.

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Which hotel brand would you like to see open in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com