JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa

The short version

Brand-new name, familiar spot: the former Dreams Las Mareas on Playa El Jobo in La Cruz, Guanacaste, was set to reopen on 10 September 2026 as the JW Marriott brand's first all-inclusive. The converted resort has 415 rooms, including 45 Griffin Club rooms, and 11 restaurants and bars. The trade-off is distance, with the drive from Liberia Airport around 90 minutes. Look here if you like the idea of a newly converted resort and don't mind a longer transfer.

Best for Couples Families with teens Big-resort variety

Good to know

• The Tico Times reported in May 2026 that it would reopen on 10 September 2026 as JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive, on Playa El Jobo in La Cruz, Guanacaste.
• 415 rooms, 45 of them Griffin Club rooms, plus 11 restaurants and bars. It is the first all-inclusive under the JW Marriott name.
• The property opened in November 2014 as Dreams Las Mareas, the first Dreams resort in Costa Rica.
• As of May 2026, Costa Rica no longer appears on the Dreams brand's destination list, so look for this resort under its new name.

Before you book

• Plan on roughly a 90-minute drive from Liberia Airport.
• The resort changed brands and was due to reopen in September 2026. Ask me to confirm it is open and what the plan includes before you settle on dates.