All-Inclusive Resorts in Guanacaste

The Westin Reserva Conchal is the best all-inclusive in Costa Rica for most travelers. Its dual-section design separating a Family Club from an adults-only Westin Club makes it work for couples and families alike — and the combination of a Robert Trent Jones II golf course, 9 fully-included restaurants, and one of the country's finest crushed-shell beaches is unmatched. The long airport drive and lack of ocean-view rooms are real downsides, and golfers need to budget an extra $200+ per round on top of already-premium rates. But if you want the full Costa Rica experience — wildlife, championship golf, white sand, and Marriott Bonvoy points — nothing else in the country competes.

• + Playa Conchal is one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches — crushed-shell white sand and turquoise water
• − 75-90 min from Liberia airport (LIR) — one of the longest airport drives in Costa Rica

Hotel Riu Guanacaste is the best-value all-inclusive in Costa Rica and the only property in Central America that genuinely competes with Mexico and Dominican Republic mega-resorts on scale and amenities. The 2025 renovation transformed it from an aging 701-room property into a fresh 1,041-room resort with new restaurants, swim-up rooms, and rebuilt family facilities. The food will not win awards, the beach is volcanic black sand, and crowds can be intense — but at $200-400/night in a country where competitors routinely charge $500 or more, the value equation is hard to argue with.

• + Largest all-inclusive in Central America after 2025 expansion — 1,041 rooms, 7 restaurants, 6 pools, Splash Water World
• − Black volcanic sand beach heats up intensely May through November — bring water shoes

Secrets Papagayo is Costa Rica's best adults-only all-inclusive — but that distinction comes with context. The Hyatt-quality rooms, excellent teppanyaki and Italian dining, premium spirits, and boutique bungalow atmosphere deliver genuine luxury, and the 20-minute airport transfer is unbeatable. The catch: that dark volcanic beach will disappoint guests expecting white Caribbean sand, and the hilly layout demands physical mobility. For couples who want a relaxed, nature-wrapped adult escape with World of Hyatt points redemption and don't need a postcard-perfect beach, this is an exceptional choice. Upgrade to a Preferred Club Plunge Pool suite for a true honeymoon-grade experience.

• + Only Secrets-brand adults-only luxury all-inclusive on the Papagayo Peninsula — genuine Unlimited-Luxury in a destination with very few options
• − Beach is dark volcanic sand, not the white Caribbean sand most travelers expect — the single biggest disappointment in guest reviews