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JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive

El Jobo, Costa Rica

FamilyMarriott

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive opened September 10, 2026 as the first all-inclusive resort in the JW Marriott brand anywhere in the world — and it landed on a site Guanacaste regulars already know, the former Dreams Las Mareas at Playa El Jobo. Mullen Real Estate Capital and Marriott gutted and reimagined the property rather than building new: 415 all-suite accommodations (including swim-out rooms and a 45-suite Griffin Club hotel-within-a-hotel with butler service), a 44,000-square-foot pool complex billed as Costa Rica's largest, and a 16,000-square-foot Spa by JW. Because it just opened, there's no genuine guest track record yet — everything below is based on what Marriott has published and what early trade coverage confirms.

Things to Know

Newly Opened Sep 30, 2026 (formerly Dreams Las Mareas)

Traveler Insights

Pros

+This is the world's first all-inclusive JW Marriott — Marriott put its flagship luxury badge on the opening, and the top-to-bottom conversion of the former Dreams Las Mareas shows a real investment, not a logo swap
+The 44,000-square-foot pool complex is billed as the largest resort poolscape in Costa Rica, replacing the old Dreams infinity pools with something substantially bigger
+All 415 accommodations are suites — junior suites start at 527 square feet with a private furnished balcony or terrace and a hot tub, and swim-out options are available
+Eleven restaurants and bars cover Costa Rican, Japanese, Asian, Italian, seafood, and international buffet concepts, plus JW's interactive culinary school and the brand's first stand-alone root beer stand
+The 45-suite Griffin Club is a hotel-within-a-hotel with private check-in, butler service, and exclusive pool and beach access — a genuine VIP tier rather than a lounge upsell
+It earns and redeems Marriott Bonvoy points, which is rare currency at a Costa Rica all-inclusive and a big deal for points travelers who were previously locked out of this coast
+The 16,000-square-foot Spa by JW includes kid-friendly treatments alongside a dedicated mindfulness hub, so wellness programming spans the whole family
+The El Jobo site keeps what always worked here: reliable Guanacaste dry-season sun (December-April), a secluded Pacific cove, and dry-tropical-forest hillsides inside the 3,000-acre Costa Elena community

Cons

−Zero guest track record — the resort opened September 10, 2026, so every review you can find predates real stays; expect opening-months service kinks as 11 venues and a new staff find their rhythm
−Pricing jumped sharply from the Dreams era: introductory all-inclusive rates run around $900 per night for two (some listings quote per person), roughly double what comparable Guanacaste all-inclusives charge
−The remote El Jobo location hasn't changed — figure about 1.5 hours from Liberia airport, and marquee Costa Rica attractions like Arenal and Monteverde remain multi-hour road trips
−Marriott Bonvoy award-night availability wasn't loaded at launch according to points-focused coverage, so redemptions may lag cash bookings for a while
−It's a conversion of the Dreams Las Mareas buildings, not a ground-up build — the bones are a decade old, so it's worth confirming how deeply your specific room category was renovated
−Nearly all marketing imagery so far is pre-opening renderings rather than photographs, so the real-world finish level is still unverified
−Playa El Jobo's Pacific surf is stronger than Caribbean-calm water — young or weak swimmers need supervision in the ocean, with the pool complex as the fallback
−There is essentially no off-resort dining or nightlife in El Jobo, so at these prices you are committed to the resort's own venues for the whole stay

The practical setup: 11 restaurants and bars spanning Costa Rican, Japanese, Asian, Italian, seafood, and buffet concepts, plus a JW culinary school and the brand's first stand-alone root beer stand. Family by JW programming and a dedicated kids club make this a family resort, not an adults-only play, while the Griffin Club tier gives couples and VIP groups a quieter lane with private check-in and exclusive pool and beach access. Junior suites start at 527 square feet with balcony hot tubs. Introductory all-inclusive rates have been quoted around $900 per night for double occupancy — a meaningful step up from what this property charged in its Dreams years, and priced above nearly every other Guanacaste all-inclusive.

Who should book it: Marriott Bonvoy loyalists who've wanted a points-friendly luxury all-inclusive on this coast, families who want suite space and serious pool infrastructure, and early adopters comfortable being among the first guests at a brand-new operation. The El Jobo location is beautiful but remote — about 1.5 hours from Liberia airport, with Arenal and Monteverde multi-hour excursions — so plan to stay on-property. It now competes above RIU Palace Costa Rica, Planet Hollywood, and the Papagayo crowd on price; the open question a few months of real guest stays will answer is whether the service delivers at that level from day one.

Common Questions

Is JW Marriott Costa Elena the old Dreams Las Mareas?

Yes — same El Jobo site, same coordinates. Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica closed in 2026 and the property was gutted and converted into the JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, which opened September 10, 2026. It's a deep conversion rather than a ground-up build: the room count changed from 447 rooms to 415 all-suite accommodations, the pool complex was rebuilt at 44,000 square feet, and the dining lineup was replaced with 11 new venues.

Is JW Marriott Costa Elena open now?

Yes. The resort opened September 10, 2026 and is bookable on Marriott.com under property code LIRCJ. Because it's brand new, there are essentially no verified guest reviews yet — early bookers are the ones who will write them.

Does JW Marriott Costa Elena earn Marriott Bonvoy points?

Yes, it participates in Marriott Bonvoy — a rarity among Costa Rica all-inclusives and the first JW Marriott all-inclusive anywhere. At launch, points-focused coverage noted that award-night redemption rates weren't yet loaded, so cash bookings may be the only option initially; check award availability before assuming you can redeem.

Is JW Marriott Costa Elena family-friendly or adults-only?

Family-friendly. It runs the Family by JW program with a dedicated kids club, kid-friendly spa treatments, and family suite configurations. Adults and VIP groups wanting more seclusion can book the 45-suite Griffin Club, a hotel-within-a-hotel with private check-in, butler service, and exclusive pool and beach access.

How much does JW Marriott Costa Elena cost per night?

Introductory all-inclusive rates have been quoted around $900 per night for double occupancy, with some sample dates from October 2026 showing lower entry pricing in the $577-per-night range. That's roughly double what the property charged as Dreams Las Mareas and positions it at the top of the Guanacaste all-inclusive market. The rate covers meals, drinks, entertainment, non-motorized water sports, kids' activities, taxes, and gratuities.

How far is JW Marriott Costa Elena from the airport and Costa Rica's attractions?

The resort sits at Playa El Jobo in La Cruz, far northwest Guanacaste — about 1.5 hours by road from Liberia International Airport (LIR). Like its Dreams predecessor, it's remote: Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, and La Fortuna are multi-hour road trips, so most guests treat this as a stay-on-property beach resort rather than a touring base.

Restaurants (7)

Type	Restaurants
Mexican	Santos
Italian	Luciano
Japanese & sushi	Boga
Asian	Namuyaki
Seafood	Puerto Limon
International & fusion	Mercado Central, Casado

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

What's nearby

More things to do (14)

La Cruz · town35 min drive · 12 mi
Playa Jobo · beach4 min drive · 0.9 mi
Playa Bolaños · beach5 min drive · 1.1 mi
Isla Bolaños seabird boat trip · excursion5 min drive · 1.1 mi
Playa Coyotera · beach12 min drive · 2.8 mi
Playa Copal · beach15 min drive · 4.1 mi
Kitesurfing in Bahía Salinas (November to April) · excursion15 min drive · 4.1 mi
Playa Rajada · beach20 min drive · 3.9 mi
Playa Puerto Soley · beach30 min drive · 8.5 mi
La Cruz lookout over Bahía Salinas · viewpoint35 min drive · 12 mi
Bahía Junquillal Wildlife Refuge · nature40 min drive · 11 mi
Playa Piñuela · beach45 min drive · 15 mi
Cuajiniquil fishing pier · marina50 min drive · 14 mi
Boat trip to the Santa Elena Peninsula beaches from Cuajiniquil · excursion50 min drive · 14 mi