By Angie Rodríguez | Travel & Trends Department
Updated: September 10, 2026
Costa Rica’s lush Pacific coastline is set to welcome a new pinnacle of ultra-luxury hospitality. Global hospitality giant Hilton has officially announced the signing of Maravé Manuel Antonio, LXR Hotels & Resorts, marking the highly anticipated debut of its prestigious LXR luxury brand in the country. Spanning more than 16 hectares of pristine terrain that seamlessly transitions from dense tropical rainforest to over 198 meters of dramatic beachfront, the mega-development is slated to open its doors in 2029.
Positioned just minutes away from the globally renowned Manuel Antonio National Park—one of Central America’s most biodiverse and visited ecological sanctuaries—the project aims to redefine high-end, nature-integrated tourism. Maravé Manuel Antonio will feature 173 meticulously designed accommodations, including hotel rooms, private suites, and fully furnished luxury residences, all poised against sweeping, unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean, rolling mountains, and emerald canopies.
Main Facts: Architecture, Design, and Sustainable Luxury
The architectural blueprint of Maravé Manuel Antonio is as striking as its natural surroundings. Rising seven stories, the low-density complex is engineered to harmonize with the undulating coastal topography rather than overpower it.
Core Components of the Development:
- Hotel Offerings: The hospitality wing will comprise 57 exclusive accommodations, featuring 42 ocean-view rooms and 15 standalone private villas nestled directly into the natural hillside. Each of these private villas will boast its own plunge pool and panoramic vistas of the ocean.
- LXR Residences: Marking the first-ever rollout of LXR Residences in Latin America, the project incorporates 116 fully furnished luxury homes. This residential sector includes 66 private villas, 46 oceanfront apartments, and four sprawling penthouses.
- Architectural Vision: The master design is led by the Costa Rican firm Carazo Arquitectura, renowned for site-sensitive planning that preserves local flora. Meanwhile, interior aesthetics are being shaped by Chicago-based studio Curioso, which relies on an organic palette of natural stone, warm timber, and floor-to-ceiling glass to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Eco-Engineering: In a major milestone for sustainable construction in Central America, Hilton highlights that the development will utilize a massive mass-timber structural framework, which the company claims will be the largest of its kind in Costa Rica, drastically lowering the project’s carbon footprint.
Chronology of Hilton’s Luxury Expansion in Costa Rica
The announcement of Maravé Manuel Antonio is not an isolated venture; rather, it represents a strategic milestone in a multi-year roadmap by Hilton to anchor its ultra-luxury footprint in Central America and the Caribbean.
- Late 2020s (Strategic Vision): Hilton identifies Costa Rica’s burgeoning high-end travel sector as a prime market for immersive luxury, prompting preliminary land acquisition and architectural studies for the Manuel Antonio site.
- 2025 (The Waldorf Astoria Milestone): Hilton officially establishes its ultra-luxury beachhead in Costa Rica with the grand opening of the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, testing the appetite of affluent travelers for high-end, nature-centric properties in the country.
- September 2026 (Official LXR Signing): Hilton formally announces the signing of Maravé Manuel Antonio, LXR Hotels & Resorts, cementing the brand’s debut in Costa Rica and introducing LXR Residences to the Latin American market.
- 2026–2029 (Development & Construction Phase): Over a three-year window, Carazo Arquitectura, Curioso interiors, and construction teams execute the low-impact rainforest integration, utilizing mass-timber frameworks and sustainable building protocols.
- 2029 (Scheduled Grand Opening): Maravé Manuel Antonio is slated to officially open its doors to global travelers and private residence owners, expanding Hilton’s active pipeline in the region.
Supporting Data: Scale and Portfolio Footprint
To understand the magnitude of Maravé Manuel Antonio, one must look at the broader numbers driving Hilton’s regional strategy and the specific metrics of the property itself.
- 16+ Hectares: The expansive land area over which the resort and residences will stretch.
- 198+ Meters: The length of direct Pacific coastline included within the property lines.
- 173 Total Units: Comprising the 57 hotel keys/villas and the 116 branded residences.
- 315+ Hotels: Hilton’s current operating portfolio across more than 35 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
- 150+ Projects: The robust pipeline of properties currently under development by Hilton across the region, signaling aggressive regional growth.
Amenities and Gastronomic Offerings
Beyond its residential and hotel spaces, Maravé Manuel Antonio is designed as a self-contained luxury ecosystem. The resort will feature:
- A sprawling Beach Club complete with multi-tier pools, oceanfront dining, cocktail bars, private cabanas, and sun decks.
- Two Chef-Driven Restaurants merging authentic Costa Rican culinary traditions with international fine dining, utilizing hyper-local farm-to-table and ocean-to-table ingredients.
- The Maravé Bar: An exclusive lounge concept reserved primarily for property residents and their invited guests.
- A world-class Wellness Spa and Fitness Center, offering holistic health programs, outdoor movement classes, and personalized wellness itineraries.
- A dedicated Children’s Club and curated outdoor adventure programs designed to engage families with the surrounding tropical ecosystem safely.
Official Responses: Executive Insights
The announcement has drawn widespread attention within the international hospitality sector, underscoring Costa Rica’s evolution from an eco-tourism backpacker haven into a premier playground for high-net-worth travelers.
Pablo Maturana, Hilton’s Vice President of Development, Architecture, Design, and Construction for the Caribbean and Latin America, emphasized the strategic importance of the signing:
"Costa Rica represents a key market in expansion for Hilton, with a strong and sustained demand for high-end travel experiences deeply rooted in nature. Bringing the LXR brand to Manuel Antonio allows us to merge world-class bespoke service with one of the most ecologically rich destinations on the planet."
Industry analysts note that properties under the LXR banner are handpicked for their distinct local character, meaning Maravé will operate independently while backed by Hilton’s global distribution and loyalty infrastructure. This hybrid approach appeals strongly to affluent buyers looking for branded real estate that retains a boutique, culturally authentic identity.
Implications: Economic, Environmental, and Tourism Shifts
The arrival of a mega-project of this caliber in Manuel Antonio carries profound implications for the local economy, environmental management, and the future of Costa Rican tourism.
1. Economic and Real Estate Impact
By introducing the first LXR Residences to Latin America, Hilton is tapping into a lucrative wave of international buyers seeking second homes in politically stable, environmentally conscious tropical havens. The influx of high-net-worth residents is expected to stimulate local high-end supply chains, luxury retail, private aviation, and high-end charter services in the Puntarenas province. Furthermore, the project will generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs during construction and long-term operation.
2. Environmental Precedents in Luxury Construction
With growing scrutiny over the ecological footprint of coastal developments in sensitive tropical regions, Maravé Manuel Antonio’s reliance on a massive mass-timber structure sets a new benchmark for sustainable engineering in Costa Rica. By minimizing concrete usage and adapting construction to the natural contours of the hillside, the developers aim to prove that ultra-luxury and rainforest conservation can coexist. However, local conservationists will closely monitor the operational phase to ensure that increased tourism density does not strain the fragile ecosystems surrounding the nearby national park.
3. Transformation of Costa Rica’s Tourism Identity
Costa Rica has long championed sustainable ecotourism, but the last decade has seen a decisive pivot toward luxury segments. Following the launch of the Waldorf Astoria in Punta Cacique and now the upcoming LXR property, the country is cementing its status as a dual-threat destination: a sanctuary for wildlife enthusiasts and a haven for luxury connoisseurs. This evolution promises to attract a wealthier demographic of travelers, shifting revenue models upward while challenging local infrastructure to support high-end global standards.
As the 2029 opening date approaches, Maravé Manuel Antonio stands as a litmus test for how high-end global hospitality brands can successfully scale within ecologically sensitive biodiverse hotspots without losing their environmental integrity.
