Liberia
Guanacaste's capital city.
Why Visit Liberia?
The Guanacaste International Airport (Liberia Airport until 2021) is located outside the city and is Costa Rica's second central arrival/departure point. Most people come out of the airport and turn towards the nearby beaches, but sometimes it's worth heading into town, and checking out a small, provincial capital oozing with languid charm and culture.
Here are some of our favorite reasons to enjoy Liberia:
- The Charm: Liberia has a colonial feel to the place and a hot, languid charm. Enjoy the park at sunset in front of the modern, whitewashed church.
- The Culture: Liberia packs a lot in the way of museums and galleries, highlighting its importance in Costa Rica's history and as a center of agricultural and cowboy culture.
- Easy Access To The Beach: Unlike the cities of the Central Valley, Liberia offers super easy access to the shores of Costa Rica, with the closest ones being less than 30 minutes away.
Where to Stay
Liberia is a small town without many places to stay, although a few downtown hotels exist. You'll find more business and chain hotels near Guanacaste Airport.
Things to Do
We love walking around Liberia, checking out the streets, stores, and some of the museums highlighting the city's history.
Welcome To Liberia!
Liberia is the capital and largest city in the province of Guanacaste, in northwestern Costa Rica. It's located 134 miles from San Jose, on the PanAmerican Highway as it makes its way to Nicaragua. The city is home to the Guanacaste International Airport, Costa Rica's second major airport.
With over 35,000 inhabitants, Liberia is one of Costa Rica's most important cities. It's located on the PanAmerican Highway and is a connecting point between Costa Rica and Central America. It's also a city with easy access to the famous beaches of Guanacaste, including Playas del Coco, Flamingo, Tamarindo, and more.
The city itself is very walkable and easy to get around. It's a quiet city where people sit in the park in front of the cathedral watching parrots fly as the sun goes down, taking the intense heat off the day.
There's a rural feel to Liberia, with the city being the center of Guanacaste's cowboy culture that still shines through even today.
Liberia was founded in 1769 and became part of Costa Rica in 1826, after spending a few years as part of Nicaragua before a congressional dispute annexed Guanacaste province. Since those early days, Liberia has grown. Even if it’s not a tourist destination per se, it’s become a place worth travelers stopping for a day or two before heading to the beaches of Nicaragua.
Best Time To Travel To Liberia
The best time to visit Liberia is undoubted during one of the two main festivals it hosts each year. The Tope de Toros, held in early March, celebrates the city's cowboy culture and features horse parades, bulls, and lots of partying and merriment in the streets.
In July, the Annexation of Guanacaste celebration marked the city and the province's move from being part of Nicaragua to being part of Costa Rica. Expect the same kind of street party as in March.
Outside of these two cultural events, Liberia is a quiet town, and any other time of the year is an excellent time to come and soak in the charm. Weather-wise, we think the best months of the year to visit Liberia are May and November, the cusp months of the calendar, when the seasons are changing from dry to wet and vice versa.
Weather in Liberia
Liberia is a hot, dry city where temperatures rarely drop below 80 F any time of the year. However, like most Guanacaste Province, the city is far less humid than elsewhere in Costa Rica.
It does rain in Liberia, but not like in other parts of the country. The wettest months are September and October, with March and April being the driest.
Is Liberia Safe?
Liberia is as safe as any town of its size in Costa Rica - meaning pretty safe. Don't walk around with valuables and leave nothing in your car. The most dangerous thing in Liberia is the heat, so wear a hat and make sure you have water while walking around.
Top Restaurants in Liberia
Masala Indian Restaurant: There aren't many excellent Indian restaurants in Costa Rica, let alone Guanacaste, but Masala ticks the boxes.
Liberia Social: A hidden gem in the city with a tremendous international menu.
Sabor Porteno: Looking for great seafood and ceviche in Liberia? You'll find it right here.
Tierra Mar Liberia: Another great ceviche specialist with a Peruvian twist.
How To Get To Liberia
Guanacaste Airport (Airport Code LIR) is the closest international airport to Liberia.
Distance & Driving Time to Liberia
From LIR Airport: 8 miles (13 kilometers), about 10 minutes
All Costa Rican Vacations packages include an airport "meet and greet" service and private transfers with English-speaking drivers. This means you're all set when you arrive in-country - just sit back, relax, and our driver will get you to your destination.
If you're driving from Guanacaste Airport to Liberia, it takes about 10 minutes. If you're renting a car at the airport, allow yourself an hour to sort that out.
Head out of the airport onto the main road, and turn left towards the city. You'll hit a major junction at the edge of town with the PanAmerican Highway. Wait for the lights to turn green, head straight over the intersection, and be there in town.