JW Marriott Costa Elena is located above Playa de El Jobo on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast. The resort introduces what the brand describes as an all-immersive approach focused on well-being, connection and local experiences. The property forms part of Marriott Bonvoy and brings together accommodation, dining, wellness and cultural programming.
“The opening of JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa represents more than our entry into the all-inclusive category, it introduces a new expression of the JW Marriott brand,” said Bruce Rohr, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott. “From the beginning, our vision was not simply to create an all-inclusive resort, but an all-immersive experience rooted in well-being, presence, and meaningful connection. At JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, we saw an opportunity to reimagine what an all-inclusive experience can be through the lens of JW Marriott, where thoughtful design, enriching experiences, and intuitive service come together to create a more intentional way to travel. The result is a resort that invites guests to slow down, embrace the beauty of the present moment, and leave feeling renewed by both the destination and the experiences they shared while there.”
415 rooms and next-generation Griffin Club
JW Marriott Costa Elena features 415 rooms, including guest rooms, suites and Presidential Suites with separate living areas. The accommodation has been designed with a residential, villa-inspired approach and generously sized terraces.
The resort also includes JW Marriott’s signature Mindful Rooms and Suites, designed around rest, reflection and well-being. Select ground-floor suites provide direct access to semi-private swim-out pool areas.
Guest room (Photo: Ellen Hebrand)
The property also debuts the brand’s next-generation Griffin Club, positioned as a private resort-within-a-resort concept. Guests receive a pre-arrival consultation with a dedicated well-being concierge covering dining, wellness, activities and in-room preferences. The experience includes a private arrival lounge, personal assistant services and access to well-being guides.
Select Griffin Club accommodation includes swim-out access. The Griffin Club Presidential Suite provides extensive indoor and outdoor living areas with coastal views. The club also includes a 24-hour lounge, dedicated pool with concierge service and a private beach area.
A Yámi Companion service assists guests with unpacking, laundry and turndown arrangements. Other benefits include dedicated family programming and priority access to dining reservations and pool cabanas.
The resort’s design was led by Phiba by DCM alongside local architects, artists, artisans and international design partners. The design draws inspiration from Guanacaste and the legend of Sibü in Bribri and Cabécar Indigenous traditions.
A handcrafted walnut Lobby Oculus was conceived as the “aura of Sibú”. Open-air spaces and framed views connect the property with the surrounding landscape at Playa El Jobo. An art collection curated by Indiewalls incorporates locally inspired materials and handcrafted works reflecting Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
15 dining venues and Costa Rican influences
The resort has 15 dining and bar venues, combining Costa Rican culinary traditions with international influences.
Its food programme uses locally sourced ingredients alongside concepts inspired by Costa Rican, Italian, Mexican and Japanese cuisine.
Leal is an immersive culinary venue inspired by Guanacaste traditions. Guests can roast coffee and take part in a seven-course tasting journey inspired by Costa Rica’s provinces.
Casado is a wood-fired coastal grill, while Puerto Limón draws on Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean heritage.
Luciano combines Italian pasta-making traditions with Costa Rican craftsmanship.
Santos focuses on Mexican cuisine using techniques including nixtamalisation and wood-fire roasting.
Borbón offers a botanical-focused mixology programme.
Namuyaki combines Japanese techniques with local ingredients and features chef-led teppanyaki.
Boga serves raw and coastal-inspired dishes with Japanese influences.
LaGloria references J. Willard Marriott’s first business venture, a nine-seat root beer stand opened in Washington, D.C. in 1927.
The venue offers artisanal root beer, craft sodas and classic comfort food.
The resort also features the brand’s JW Garden, producing herbs, edible flowers, fruits and vegetables.
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| (Photo: Ellen Hebrand) |
Produce from the garden is incorporated into menus, chef’s table dinners, private dining experiences and cocktails.
Wellness, recreation and Costa Rica’s largest poolscape
JW Marriott Costa Elena includes a 16,000-square-foot wellness destination centred on the natural environment of Guanacaste.
The facility combines the brand’s first Mindfulness House, Spa by JW and a fitness centre. Its wellness concept draws on Sibü and four guardians associated with earth, water, fire and air. The resort also references the nearby Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone and its associations with longevity. Spa by JW uses ingredients including volcanic clay and native cacao alongside treatments influenced by local traditions. Experiences include a four-element Sibú ritual, hydrotherapy journeys, sunset sound baths and cacao ceremonies. The Mindfulness House sits beside forest beneath a native Guanacaste tree. Programming includes sound healing, Reiki, cacao ceremonies and self-guided mindfulness practices.
The resort also offers family and adult activity programmes. The Family by JW Club provides nature walks, creative activities and hands-on discovery for younger guests. Children’s yoga, storytelling, guided meditation, mandala-inspired art and family movie nights are also included. Adult programmes combine movement-based activities, water sports, meditation and sound healing.
A weekly night market brings together local artisans, traditional food, music, dance and storytelling.
Off-property experiences include sunset hikes, kayaking, private yacht charters, deep-sea fishing, nature treks and diving. The property also features what Marriott describes as Costa Rica’s largest poolscape, comprising 17 pools. These include an oceanfront infinity pool.
More than 9,000 square feet of event space
The resort offers more than 9,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Facilities include an oceanfront ballroom and open-air venues overlooking Playa El Jobo. The spaces are designed for meetings, retreats, celebrations and other events.
Group programmes can include wellness sessions, private chef-led dinners and artistic or cultural activities. The resort also offers the Sacred Fire Soiree, a sunset gathering inspired by Costa Rica’s natural elements
Federico Greppi, President of Marriott International, Caribbean and Latin America, said: “Costa Rica has become one of the most compelling luxury destinations in Latin America, making it the ideal setting for such a significant milestone for JW Marriott. The opening of JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, the brand’s first all-inclusive resort worldwide, strengthens our presence in the region and reflects the evolving preferences of today’s luxury travelers, who are seeking more immersive and meaningful experiences.”
“JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa represents a defining moment for both Mullen Hospitality Management and the continued evolution of luxury all-inclusive travel,” said Javier Coll, President of Mullen Hospitality Management. “The category has evolved tremendously, and today’s luxury traveler expects far more than the convenience traditionally associated with all-inclusive. They want exceptional culinary, wellness and hospitality experiences with a genuine connection to Costa Rica’s culture and natural beauty. We are proud to bring Mullen Hospitality’s decades of all-inclusive expertise to this milestone opening and help shape what the next generation of the category can look like.”
Tags: Javier Coll, Mullen Hospitality Management Bruce Rohr JW Marriott Costa Rica