An all-inclusive in Costa Rica works best when you know where the resorts are and what they can’t give you. Almost all of them sit in one dry corner of the country, a long way from the rainforests and volcanoes most people picture.
The best Costa Rica all-inclusive resorts are almost all in Guanacaste, on the North Pacific coast, within about an hour of Liberia’s international airport (LIR). For couples, Secrets Papagayo and Occidental Papagayo are adults-only. For families, the Westin Reserva Conchal, Planet Hollywood Costa Rica and the new JW Marriott Costa Elena lead the list, with Hotel Riu Guanacaste as the big-value option. Outside Guanacaste, true all-inclusives are rare. In Tortuguero and on the Osa Peninsula, remote lodges sell packages that bundle meals, guided tours and transport instead.
This guide covers the main resorts by type, what’s included, when to go and how to fit rainforest time into an all-inclusive trip.
Resort names in the table below link to Booking.com. If you book through these links, Tico Travel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
| Resort | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Westin Reserva Conchal | Playa Conchal | Families, golfers |
| JW Marriott Costa Elena | Playa El Jobo | Families wanting a newer luxury resort |
| Planet Hollywood Costa Rica | Bahía Culebra, Papagayo | Families |
| Hotel Riu Guanacaste | Playa Matapalo | Families on a budget |
| Secrets Papagayo | Playa Arenilla, Papagayo | Couples (adults only) |
| Occidental Papagayo | Gulf of Papagayo | Couples on a budget (adults only) |
| Margaritaville Playa Flamingo | Playa Flamingo | Casual family trips |
| Occidental Tamarindo | Playa Langosta, Tamarindo | Travelers who want a town nearby |
| Azura Beach Resort | Sámara | Couples (adults only) |
Where they are
Why Most Costa Rica All-Inclusive Resorts Are in Guanacaste
Guanacaste is the driest, sunniest part of the country, with long beaches, calm bays and an international airport in Liberia. That combination drew the big resort brands, and most of them cluster around the Gulf of Papagayo, 20 to 30 minutes from LIR, with a second group farther south around Playa Conchal, Flamingo and Tamarindo, about an hour away.
The trade-off is distance. Guanacaste is tropical dry forest, not rainforest, and it turns brown in the dry season. Arenal Volcano and Monteverde are each about three hours away by road. If you fly into San José instead, the drive to the Papagayo resorts takes four to five hours, so book a flight into Liberia. Our Costa Rica airport guide explains the difference.
For couples
Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts
Secrets Papagayo
The most polished adults-only choice, on Playa Arenilla in the Gulf of Papagayo. Guests must be 18 or older. It has two pools, one with a swim-up bar, a spa with outdoor couples’ massage rooms and about seven places to eat, with no reservations required. Tips and taxes are included. The beach is a small, sheltered cove rather than a long stretch of sand, which suits swimmers more than beach walkers.
Occidental Papagayo
An adults-only resort on the Gulf of Papagayo, usually cheaper than Secrets. The trade-offs are fewer dining choices, a small beach and a hillside layout with plenty of stairs. Playa Hermosa, a longer public beach, is close by.
Azura Beach Resort, Sámara
The one adults-only option outside the Guanacaste resort belt, in the laid-back beach town of Sámara on the Nicoya Peninsula. You get a quieter town and calmer water, but the drive from Liberia takes more than two hours.
For families
Best Family All-Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica
The Westin Reserva Conchal
A large Marriott resort inside the gated Reserva Conchal development, near the crushed-shell beach at Playa Conchal. It has around 400 rooms, several restaurants, a spa and a championship golf course, though golf costs extra. It’s about an hour from Liberia, the longest transfer of the main Guanacaste resorts. Golfers can compare other courses in our Costa Rica golf guide.
JW Marriott Costa Elena
Costa Rica’s newest big all-inclusive and JW Marriott’s first, above the bay at Playa El Jobo in far northwestern Guanacaste. It took over the former Dreams Las Mareas site and opened in fall 2026 with 415 rooms, 15 restaurants and bars, and a kids’ club. It has the newest facilities on this list but the shortest track record, and it’s a long way from inland sights.
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica
A themed family resort on Playa Manzanillo in Bahía Culebra, about 30 minutes from Liberia. It has a kids’ club, several restaurants and a spa. The movie theming has nothing to do with Costa Rica, which matters to some families and not at all to others.
Hotel Riu Guanacaste
The big-value option on Playa Matapalo. It reopened in 2025 after a full renovation, with six pools, several themed restaurants and a children’s area, and guests get access to a water park shared with its sister hotel. With more than 1,000 rooms, expect crowds at the buffets and the pools.
Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo
A casual, family-friendly resort at Playa Flamingo, with multiple pools and swim-up bars. It isn’t beachfront: a road separates it from the sand. It also sells more than one rate type, so confirm you’re booking the all-inclusive plan.
Occidental Tamarindo
A mid-range resort on Playa Langosta, just south of Tamarindo. The rate covers the buffet, snack bars, drinks, a kids’ club and entertainment. The à la carte restaurant, imported drinks and excursions cost extra. Its big advantage is location: Tamarindo’s restaurants, surf schools and nightlife are a short ride away.
On the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Barceló Tambor is another older all-inclusive, on the quiet beach at Tambor.
Beyond the beach
All-Inclusive Lodges in Tortuguero and the Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica’s most remote nature areas don’t have resorts, but they have something close: lodges that sell packages covering meals, guided tours and, often, transport in and out. Drinks and some tours usually cost extra, so check what each package includes.
- Tortuguero: Reached only by boat or small plane, Tortuguero is famous for its canals and turtle nesting. Lodges such as Pachira Lodge, Evergreen Lodge, Laguna Lodge, Tortuga Lodge and Manatus sell two- and three-day packages. Our guide on how to get to Tortuguero explains the trip.
- Osa Peninsula: The gateway to Corcovado National Park. Lapa Rios and Bosque del Cabo sit near Cabo Matapalo on the peninsula’s southern tip. Casa Corcovado and Águila de Osa serve the Drake Bay side, which is mostly reached by boat or small plane.
Is it worth it?
Is an All-Inclusive Worth It in Costa Rica?
It depends on how much of the country you want to see.
- Book one if: you want a beach week with little planning, you’re traveling with young kids, or you’re celebrating and want everything handled.
- Skip it if: wildlife, volcanoes and rainforest are the point of your trip. You’ll spend long days on the road for each tour, and Costa Rica’s local restaurants, the sodas, are cheap enough that paying for unlimited food saves less than it would elsewhere.
- Split the trip: many visitors spend a few nights in La Fortuna or Monteverde, then end with four or five nights at a Guanacaste resort near the airport. See our family itineraries for routes that work.
Read the fine print
What’s Included, and What Isn’t
- Usually included: buffet and some à la carte meals, house drinks, pools, non-motorized water sports, kids’ clubs, entertainment and, at most resorts, taxes and tips.
- Usually extra: premium drinks and some specialty restaurants, spa treatments, golf, off-site tours and airport transfers.
- Tips: even where tips are included, many guests leave a little extra for staff who go out of their way. Our tipping guide covers local norms.
- Transfers: most resorts don’t include the ride from Liberia. Book a shuttle or a private transfer ahead of time.
Timing
Best Time to Book an All-Inclusive in Costa Rica
Guanacaste’s dry season runs roughly from mid-December through April. It brings the most reliable sunshine and the highest prices, especially around Christmas, New Year’s and Easter week. The green season, from May through November, brings lower rates and greener scenery, with rain that usually comes in the afternoon. September and October are the wettest months. See our guides to the best time to visit Costa Rica by region and the advantages of green season travel.
Good to know
Costa Rica All-Inclusive FAQ
Where are the all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica?
Almost all are in Guanacaste on the North Pacific coast, mainly around the Gulf of Papagayo and near Playa Conchal, Flamingo and Tamarindo, within about an hour of Liberia’s airport.
Which airport is closest to Costa Rica’s all-inclusive resorts?
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia. The Papagayo resorts are 20 to 30 minutes away. San José’s airport is four to five hours away by road.
What is the best adults-only all-inclusive in Costa Rica?
Secrets Papagayo is the most polished. Occidental Papagayo costs less, and Azura in Sámara is the quieter option away from the main resort area.
What is the best family all-inclusive in Costa Rica?
The Westin Reserva Conchal, JW Marriott Costa Elena and Planet Hollywood Costa Rica are the top family picks. Hotel Riu Guanacaste is the budget-friendly choice.
Are there all-inclusive resorts on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast?
Not in the usual beach-resort sense. Tortuguero’s lodges sell packages that include meals, tours and boat transport, and the southern Caribbean is mostly small hotels.
Is Dreams Las Mareas still open?
Not under that name. Marriott took over the property, and it reopened in 2026 as the JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive.
The short version
Costa Rica’s all-inclusive resorts are almost all in Guanacaste, close to Liberia’s airport: Secrets or Occidental Papagayo for couples, the Westin, JW Marriott or Planet Hollywood for families, and Riu Guanacaste for value.
Fly into Liberia, go in the dry season if sun matters most, and add a few nights inland if you want rainforest and volcanoes.