Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews 2023

Costa Rica is an amazing destination that’s perfect for adventurous honeymoons or romantic trips. From lush jungles and incredible beaches on either the Caribbean or Pacific coast to delicious cuisine and a laid-back, carefree vibe, Costa Rica delivers something for everyone. It’s easy to decide to visit here; the hard part is choosing where to stay. 

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica offers access to the country’s natural beauty plus luxurious amenities, fun activities, and friendly, world-class service–for one all-inclusive rate. Keep reading to learn all about Dreams Las Mareas to see whether it is the best resort for your Costa Rican honeymoon or vacation. 

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Overview

Dreams Las Mareas is the resort chain’s only presence in Costa Rica. Unlike many of Costa Rica’s all-inclusive resorts, Dreams Las Mareas is somewhat remote, far away from other large hotels and major tourist attractions. This can be a con to some, but it’s a huge draw for many travelers looking for a place to rest and recharge. 

While the resort is family-friendly, its distance from larger towns and airports means it doesn’t get many families with young kids. Older kids and teenagers, newlyweds, older couples, and groups of friends make up a majority of the clientele. There’s also an adults-only pool, which also helps make this an attractive resort for couples.

The vast majority of Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews on Google are 5 and 4 stars, with guests praising the property, the nature surrounding the area, service, fitness facilities, and food and drink. Many people found the staff to be extremely friendly and helpful, and most loved the secluded and beautiful location (although a few noted that there is a lot of walking involved, as the resort is spread out). Quite a few reviews mentioned how much they enjoyed seeing the monkeys that live on the property and feeding them from their balconies.

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Rooms & Suites 

The accommodations at Dreams Las Mareas have a beach-meets-forest vibe. Costa Rica’s green mountains come through in the wooden furniture and the shades of milky-chocolate brown and golden beige, while the sea is represented by aquamarine, teal, and white.

There are 447 rooms at Las Mareas. One side of the grounds houses mountain-view rooms. Directly across are the ocean-view rooms and suites. Preferred Club Suite buildings are scattered throughout the grounds. 

As part of the all-inclusive package, all suites at Dreams Las Mareas come with a fully stocked minibar that is refreshed each day plus 24-hour room and concierge service. Each spacious room features a large private and fully furnished balcony or terrace. Standard Junior Suites come with two double beds or one king-sized bed and a small private hot tub. 

Preferred Club Junior Suites feature mountain or ocean views and come with a private outdoor hot tub. Ground-floor Junior Suites have swim-out entrances and tropical views of the lush green garden. Master suites have a separate dining room plus a balcony or terrace with a hot tub or a swim-up entrance. Presidential Oceanfront or Swim-up Suites have a large living room and dining room, plus a walk-in closet and separate workspace. Oceanfront suites also come with a hot tub.

In addition to larger, nicer suites, Preferred Club members get in-room upgrades like premium minibar choices and luxury bath products as well as access to exclusive areas.   

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews found the rooms to be large and beds to be very comfortable, but some guests thought the decor was a bit basic. Others mentioned some issues with noise.

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Food & Drinks

The Barefoot Grill and Barracuda Bar are located right by the infinity pool and serve classic grilled favorites right off the BBQ and refreshing cold drinks. Coco Cafe is open from 6:00 a.m. till midnight, serving freshly made cups of coffee, snacks, and sandwiches. 

If you want an a la carte meal for lunch you can head to the Seaside Grill, which becomes Oceana later in the day, an upscale restaurant that hugs the shoreline and serves fresh seafood. Other dinner options include El Patio, which is a traditional Mexican restaurant; Himitsu, which serves Japanese, Chinese, and Thai cuisine; and Portofino, an elegant Italian eatery. The World Cafe is the main buffet restaurant that puts out a great spread of local and international favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Many of the Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews say that the food is very good. Some mentioned having long waits (only one restaurant takes reservations). Guests also point out that a few of the restaurants require nicer clothing, so be sure to check that on the Dreams website before you pack.

You can grab a drink right after you check in at the lobby bar, Rendezvous, head straight to the beach for a fruity cocktail from Sugar Reef, or go to the pool for a drink from Tortuga, the pool bar. While in the pool, you can swim up to Manatees. After dinner you can head to Desires, a music lounge that becomes a full-on nightclub as the evening carries on. There’s also a bar in the spa called Revive where you can relax after a treatment and enjoy a glass of champagne or a fruit smoothie. 

Preferred Club guests also have access to their own exclusive lounge, simply called the Preferred Club Bar. It is located next to reception. 

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Beaches

The beach at Dreams Las Mareas is quiet and secluded. The water is calm enough to swim in, yet the current is strong enough for watersports like boogie boarding. Like all beaches in Costa Rica, this one is open to the public, so while the location is quite remote, it attracts locals and vendors. 

However, the beach isn’t crawling with other tourists, since there are very few other resorts in the area, so the location is great for travelers who want to practice their Spanish with the locals. 

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews found the beach to be very beautiful.

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Pools

The resort has 3 pools that intricately snake their way through the grounds, offering plenty of access points. The main pool is divided into an upper and a lower portion. The upper infinity pool faces the beach and provides a great view of the ocean. It’s the perfect place to watch the sun sink on another day in paradise. 

Below the infinity pool, the main pool makes its way away from the waterfront back toward the accommodations buildings. A second, adults-only, pool is in the middle of the property in front of the World Cafe. Off to the side is the resort’s 3rd pool, a small kiddie pool with a tall yellow waterslide. 

Some Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews state that it can be hard to get a lounge chair by the pool.

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Activities

A long list of on-site activities is included in your rate, and there are lots of options available for an additional cost as well. Visit the resort’s 24-hour concierge to book an excursion off-site to some of Guanacaste’s most popular tourist activities like zip-lining through the rainforest, white-water rafting, horseback riding, or ATV-ing.

Note that most places are really far from the resort and at least 2 hours of driving are required to get anywhere. (A few Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews note that the excursions can be very expensive.)

Many guests are happy to spend their days at the beach. The water is calm and Las Mareas guests can borrow non-motorized watersports equipment like kayaks, snorkels, and SUPs from the watersport shack.

There’s also a beach volleyball court for a game in the sand. If you’re into nature, there’s a daily wildlife walk led by a naturalist who can educate guests about the local flora and wildlife (especially monkeys!) that call the resort home. 

For guests traveling with kids, Dreams Las Mareas has plenty in store for them as well. The Explorer’s Club has a weekly schedule of games, crafts, and activities planned for kids between the ages of 3-12, including a special night of camping on the beach under the stars. The Core Zone Teens Club is for older kids between the ages of 13-17. 

While the kids are busy, parents can enjoy a cooking, cocktail-making, or Spanish class; indulge in a spa treatment; or hit the gym. In the evenings, resort staff hosts movie nights, beach parties, theme nights, and live performances.  

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Romance Packages

Dreams Resorts offer romance packages that vary in price and in what they offer, but are all extravagant and can be custom-tailored to match your vision. A professional photographer will be on hand to capture all your special moments, and a wedding planner will help out with the arrangements for the perfect destination wedding in Costa Rica. Multiple Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews mentioned that they went to the resort for weddings, and found it to be a breathtaking spot for those.

Elopement packages include a photography bundle, a candlelit dinner on the beach, a free visit to the hydrotherapy circuit, mimosas with breakfast in bed, and free nights, depending on how long you book. 

If you’re planning your honeymoon in Costa Rica, Dreams’ honeymoon packages include luxuries like a couples’ massage, champagne, and a flower arrangement, all in a perfectly romantic setting. 

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: What’s Included 

An all-inclusive reservation at Dreams Resorts guarantees their signature Unlimited Luxury experience, which means you can eat and drink to your heart’s content for no additional cost. (In order to get premium spirits, you need to upgrade to the Preferred Club level.) Taxes are included as well.

Most of the resort’s amenities and activities are free for guests, such as the use of the watersports equipment, sports courts, games, fun classes and other daily events, and nightly shows. WiFi is also free.

Some Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews note that tips are not included, so they encourage guests to bring cash for those.

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica Reviews: Location 

Dreams Las Mareas is in the northern province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica. It sits on the Pacific coast, along a lovely public beach called Playa El Jobo. It’s also right on the edge of the rainforest. Guests wake up to the sounds of the sea, the sights of the mountains, and monkeys as neighbors every day. 

However, the experience comes at the cost of being very far away from most major tourist attractions, and at least a 90-minute drive if you come from Liberia Airport. If you land at Juan Santamaria International Airport, the drive will take closer to 4 hours. While the remoteness appeals to guests who are happy to spend their entire vacation at the resort, travelers who want to get out and do some exploring have found it useful to rent a car of their own. 

Some Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica reviews were disappointed at how far away the resort was from other activities, and felt that they got bored after a few days. 

Dreams Las Mareas doesn’t have a shuttle service, but several local transfer companies offer competitive rates to resorts all over Costa Rica, including Dreams Las Mareas. To get the best deal, it’s best to shop around. 

Google Rating: 4.5

Booking.com Rating: 8.5