Liberia

Parque Central in Liberia

Liberia is the capital city of the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. It is located about 220 km (138 mi) Northwest San Jose.

After Mexico's War of Independence from Spain, the settlement of Guanacaste, as Liberia was known then, transitioned from being a town in the Partido de Nicoya of the Federal Republic of Central America to being part of Nicaragua and then Costa Rica. Even though this happened later than the annexation of the rival town of Nicoya on July 25th, 1824, Liberia celebrates that day annually as it became the primary settlement of the Guanacaste province.

Liberia's economy centers around agriculture and tourism with the nearby coast and volcanic regions. Even though precipitation is relatively less than other parts of Costa Rica, it can still feel sweltering with an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (is called Liberia Costa Rica Airport LIR  ^IATA) (13 km west of the city). Daily flights arrive in Liberia on several US airlines. Aerobell Airlines, Skyway Airlines and Sansa Air, the domestic airlines also land here. A bus travels between the airport and city center between 06:00-18:00. (updated Jan 2019)

There is an exit tax that must be paid on international departures. You can pay by credit card, but it will be recorded as a cash advance with higher fees.

By bus

A large public bus network services Liberia and connects it with San Jose, the beaches and the Nicaraguan border. From the only stop light in town along the Pan American Highway, go 300 meters north and turn right. There is the Pulmitan de Liberia bus stop with buses going to San José (US$5), and the Terminal Municipal 2 blocks away that will take you to Guanacaste beaches and the Nicaragua border.

Centrocoasting.com is a very useful website for navigating the region by bus. Here you can check the bus schedules from the Municipal Terminal and from Pulmitan Station

By car

Liberia is at the cross section of the Interamericana that stretches throughout Central America and the Route 21 that heads to famous beaches such as Tamarindo.

Get around

Public bus or on foot. Liberia is a small city where everything you are likely to wish to see is within walking distance.

See

• 1 Mario Cañas Ruiz Park. Town square in front of the Central Church of Liberia. (updated Dec 2020)
• 2 Museum Guanacaste, Av 1, Provincia de Guanacaste, ☏ +506 2665 7114. M-F 08ː00-16ː00. Housed in old city barracks, this museum is designed to relate information and history about the area. Kind of modest. (updated Dec 2020)
• 3 Museo de Sabanero (in the Casa de la Cultura). Museum about cowboy culture in Guanacaste province. (updated Dec 2020)

Do

• 1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Curubande, Liberia, Guanacaste (Liberia, head 5 km north (La Cruz) and turn right for 17 km). 07:00-15:00 (Sector Las Pailas); 07:00-16:00 (Sector Santa Maria). Lots of volcanic activity, trails, waterfalls, plenty of wildlife to see. Entrance at Sector Las Pailas is closed on Mondays; the one at Sector Santa Maria is opened every day (including Christmas Day). US$15. (updated Dec 2015)
• Volcanic Mud Springs with Spa, Rincon de la Vieja. Pools with volcanic mud water for bathing, mud springs for mud treatment. At Rio Negro Hot Springs pools with spring water beside Rio Negro are used for bathing. The temperature of the water ranges from 36ºC to 40ºC. Massage service is offered. Admission to the Hot Springs and Mud Springs is US$25. 
• Water Slide at Buena Vista Del Rincon (Rincon de La vieja), Rincon de la Vieja National Park (In Liberia, from Burger King 13 km on the Interamericana road, towards Peñas Blancas, until you get to the entrance of Cañas Dulces), ☏ +506 2690-1414. 08:00-17:00. Longest mountain water slide -- 400 m -- in the middle of the tropical forest. This is done with all the necessary security equipment. US$15. (updated Jan 2019)
• 2 Africa Safari Adventure Park (Ponderosa Adventure Park) (few km south of Liberia), ☏ +506 2288 1000. Daily 09ː00-17ː00. Safari with African species, kayaking, waterfalls, zip-lines. (updated Dec 2020)
• 3 Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño. Home of first division soccer team A.D. Municipal Liberia. (updated Dec 2020)
• 4 Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. (updated Dec 2020)
• 5 Curubanda, ☏ +506 8860 9828. Aerial arts and poledance studio. You can text the studio on Whatsapp beforehand to inquire about class times and let them know that you are coming, but the classes don't seem to require reservation. Instead, this semi-outdoor studio frequented by locals adapts each class to accommodate whoever shows up that night. Classes are in Spanish, but it is easy to follow along even with limited fluency. The instructors are passionate and skilled, but the energy of the class is fun for all levels and non-competitive. In 2022, it was ₡ 5,000 for 2 classes. (updated Feb 2022)

Eat

There are several different options of restaurants in the area, ranging from American fast food chains to local food restaurants like Guanaburger. There are lots of "sodas" (small local restaurants) around Downtown Liberia that serve Costa Rican food, and also several bakeries including Musmanni and Panaderia Alemana (German Bakery).

Budget

In the city center

• 1 Soda El Viajero, Av. 3. Down home cooking. (updated Aug 2022)
• 2 Pizza Andina Liberia, Av. 5. (updated Aug 2022)
• 3 Super Pollo, C. 2. (updated Jul 2022)
• 4 Twenty's, C. 8. (updated Aug 2022)
• 5 Soda Los Comales, C. Central Rafael Iglesias. (updated Aug 2022)
• 6 Guanaburger, Av. 1. (updated Sep 2021)

At the intersection of the two main roads

In this area are chain restaurants like McDonald's, Taco Bell, KFC and Burger King.

• 7 Taquería Mazatlán, Centro Comercial Plaza Santa Rosa Local #39, 1. Mexican restaurant (updated Aug 2022)
• 8 Food Mall. (updated Aug 2022)

Near the city center

• 9 Soda La Macha, Av. 11. (updated Aug 2022)
• 10 Bar La Selegna, C. 6. Bar and grill (updated Jul 2022)

Mid-range

• 11 Masala Indian Restaurant (in Bolbaldi Plaza along Av 1), ☏ +506 4703 0477. Nice butter chicken here. (updated Aug 2022)
• 12 El Callejero (on Calle 8), ☏ +506 2665 4111. 11:00-22:00 closed M. Wraps and fancy salads and heavier things like onion ring burgers if you're ready to kick the low-fat diet your cardiologist probably wanted you to be on. (updated Aug 2022)
• 13 Guacamole, Central Ave. Tex Mex restaurant (updated Aug 2022)
• 14 Don Fran Restaurante, Av. 1. (updated Aug 2022)
• 15 Restaurante Tierra Mar Liberia, Av. 1. Peruvian cuisine (updated Aug 2022)
• 16 Ciudad Blanca Gastro Park, C. 10. (updated Aug 2022)

Drink

• LIB is a second story bar in the Plaza Santa Rosa. Modern design and sometimes modern music.

Sleep

• Hilton Garden Inn Liberia Airport, Ruta # 21 across from the airport, ☏ +506 2690-8888. Built in 2008, the property is in front of Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), it has 169 rooms & suites, signature bedding, LCD TVs, swimingpool, modern fitness room, car rental desk, a restaurant and bar. US$60-129. 
• Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica, Gulf of Papagayo 20 minutes from Liberia Airport, ☏ +506 2672 0000. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Junior suites with private plunge pool. Amazing views US$99-459. 
• Four Seasons Costa Rica, Pagapayo Peninsula, Guanacaste (40 minutes from Liberia Airport). Golf course 18-hole, par-72, Arnold Palmer-designed, ranked in the “Top 100 Courses Outside the United States” by Golf Digest. Check out the impressive ocean views from the back nine. 
• 1 Best Western El Sitio, Hwy 21 (just west of intersection with Hwy 1) (next to Santa Rosa Plaza), ☏ +506 2666-1211. Simple rooms with air conditioning. Gym, casino and pool on site with large area for sun lounging. Double costs US$76 and includes breakfast. 45875 colones. (updated Dec 2020)
• 2 Las Espuelas, Hwy 1 about 2 miles south of city center, ☏ +506 2666 0144. A spacious, tranquil hotel. Pool and all the usual amenities. 40442 colones. (updated Dec 2020)
• Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin, Rincon de la Vieja National Park (Curubande, Liberia, Guanacaste, at the entrance of Rincon de la Vieja National Park), ☏ +506 2666-8075. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The hotel is in a traditional Guanacaste cattle hacienda that dates back to 1800. The national park, with all its beauty and activities, is in its back yard. US$50 per person. 
• Hotel Guanacaste, Calle 12, between 1st and 3rd avenues. (25 m west of the Pulmitan Bus terminal), ☏ +506 666-0085, info@higuanacaste.com. Member of Hostelling International. Close to all bus terminals, clean, nice patio, Internet and Wifi, restaurant, tourism information available. Shared simple from US$8, private small simple from $11. 
• Buena Vista Del Rincon Eco Adventure Park, Hotel & Spa (formerly Buena Vista Lodge), Rincon de La Vieja (Guanacaste), ☏ +506 2690-1414. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. This eco-lodge in a hacienda offers spectacular sunsets and a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean, volcanoes, plains and forests. US$78 double incl. breakfast/taxes. (updated Jan 2019)