Hilton has announced the signing of Maravé Manuel Antonio, LXR Hotels & Resorts, marking the brand’s debut in Costa Rica and a further step in the strengthening of Hilton’s luxury portfolio across the Caribbean and Latin America. The project, developed in partnership with local developer Ocean Cove MA Development One S.A., is due to open in 2029.
The complex will occupy a nearly 16-hectare titled beachfront estate, descending from a rainforest ridge to roughly 198 metres of Pacific coastline. It sits just minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park, the country’s most-visited natural site, in a region already well established with international luxury travellers.
Architecture designed around local topography and biodiversity
The resort’s design has been entrusted to Costa Rican firm Carazo Arquitectura, with the ambition of following the site’s natural topography rather than working against it. The release states that the main building, planned across seven storeys, is expected to be the largest mass-timber structure in Costa Rica — a claim the editorial team should verify before publication. Interiors have been entrusted to Chicago-based studio Curioso, which favours natural stone, raw wood and expansive glazing that blurs the line between indoors and outdoors.
Pablo Maturana, Vice President of Development, Architecture, Design and Construction for the Caribbean and Latin America at Hilton, said Costa Rica represents a key growth market for the group, driven by strong demand for upscale, nature-immersed travel. He noted that Maravé Manuel Antonio will introduce a destination-led approach distinctive to LXR, built on personalised service, immersive cultural connection and experiences rooted in the spirit of Manuel Antonio.
A mixed-use programme of 173 hotel and residential units
The complex will comprise 173 units split between hotel and residential offerings. On the hotel side, 57 keys are planned: 42 ocean-view rooms and 15 private hillside bungalows, each with its own infinity pool and unobstructed sunset views.
The residential component, Maravé Manuel Antonio, LXR Residences, will comprise 116 fully furnished units with Pacific views, split between 66 private villas, 46 beachfront condominiums and four penthouses. The release presents it as the first LXR Residences offering in Latin America, positioning the project as one of the few branded luxury residential opportunities available in Costa Rica.
Bruce Begia, President of Ocean Cove MA Development One S.A., said the project aims to create a destination connecting guests and residents with Costa Rica’s natural environment, while delivering a high-end standard of service and comfort.
LXR and branded residences: two growth pillars for Hilton
The signing forms part of the broader momentum behind branded residences in hospitality, a segment in which Hilton has stepped up recent announcements across Latin America and the Caribbean. LXR Hotels & Resorts, a collection of independent properties launched in 2018, continues its international expansion, as illustrated by the recent reopening of Sandblu Santorini in Greece, the brand’s first address in the country.
Maravé Manuel Antonio adds to an already substantial regional pipeline for Hilton, which reports more than 150 projects in development across the Caribbean and Latin America. The opening timeline, set for 2029, and the investment figure associated with the project were not disclosed in the release; both remain to be confirmed before publication.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Brand debut: First LXR Hotels & Resorts property in Costa Rica
Location: Manuel Antonio, near Manuel Antonio National Park, Pacific coast
Scale: 173 units – 57 hotel keys (42 ocean-view rooms, 15 private bungalows) and 116 LXR Residences (66 villas, 46 condominiums, 4 penthouses)
Site: nearly 16-hectare titled beachfront estate, from rainforest ridge to Pacific shoreline
Design: architecture by Carazo Arquitectura, interiors by Chicago-based Curioso
Developer: Ocean Cove MA Development One S.A.
Opening: anticipated 2029
