Liberia, Costa Rica Travel Guide

As one of the most popular provinces in Costa Rica, Guanacaste has gained a name for itself as a tropical paradise with a pristine shoreline, beautiful mountain ranges, and a number of volcanoes. Visitors are drawn to the long summer days, active culture, and unparalleled wildlife. Located in the far northwest corner of Costa Rica, Guanacaste’s geographical features are diverse and exotic. As Guanacaste’s capital city, Liberia is the province’s regional economic and urban center. Once a small cowboy town, this city has maintained its native Tico atmosphere while providing plenty of accommodations for travelers.

The city of Liberia, the charming capital of Guanacaste is often used as the jumping-off point for visitors with easy access to national parks and Costa Rica’s most famous beaches, but the city itself definitely deserves a few days of your time.

Liberia has grown considerably since the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) opened and continues to do so. As a city where the traditional cowboy meets the modern city dweller and whitewashed colonial architecture meets modern conveniences,  Liberia offers the best of both worlds. Coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques are popping up like mushrooms to accommodate an ever-growing middle class as well as the leisurely lifestyle Costa Ricans so love to embrace. Even though the happiest country in the world can be described as hospitable in any region you may visit, the smaller cities like Liberia carry the Pura Vida lifestyle closest to its heart.

Liberia has come a long way from its former reputation as a dusty little cattle town and has fully embraced modern life. But with a history dating all the way back to 1769, colonial buildings are still scattered across the town and bring a rather nostalgic atmosphere to an otherwise colorful city. Take a casual stroll east from the central park known as Parque Mario Cañas Ruiz and feel how every step brings you further away from the bustling center and closer to the colonial past.

Liberia is the perfect starting point for your next adventure. Some of Costa Rica’s most iconic beaches are in close proximity as well as a handful of national parks and canopy tours. If you love to surf, consider a visit to Playa Grande or Samara. Samara, you can also combine with a great tour of the tropical dry forests surrounding the area. For the best locations combing gorgeous beaches with a great dining experience or perhaps a lovely night out, you are sure to have a great time at Playa Tamarindo or Playas del Coco. But if you want to marvel at the sheer beauty of the Guanacaste beaches, spend a day or two at Playa Conchal. This little gem with crushed-shell sand and sparkling clear water offers a charming and relaxing retreat as well as popular snorkeling and scuba diving destination. If you favor the calmer beaches, you can find these at the Gulf of Papagayo. Beaches like Playa Hermosa and Playa Panama are perfect for a family vacation away from the bustle and dangerous waves. Playa Panama is the best beach for safe swimming and Hermosa will show you why the beach is named Beautiful.