LiberiaCosta Rica

Liberia is a colonial city situated between a volcanic national park and a coast lined with pristine beaches. The municipality gives an insight into the local culture with its churches and museums. Explore the charming city center on foot before taking trips to the otherworldly environs of the park.

Learn about the country’s cowboy heritage at the Sabanero Museum. Browse its collection of authentic lassos, saddles and other rancher items. The cowboy life is still one of the most common ways to make a living in the Guanacaste province.

Visit the oldest church in the city, the Iglesia de la Agonia. This religious site, which dates back to 1825, has a colonial-style design and an art gallery.

Dine at of the “sodas”, which are small restaurants serving local cuisine. Dishes from this area generally feature rice and beans, paired with fruit juices.

Many travelers use Liberia as a base to see Rincon de la Vieja National Park, a large region of eerie terrain. See the bubbling mud baths, gas-oozing craters and hot springs that make this park so fascinating. Gaze up at the main volcano and its nine craters before delving deep into the dry tropical forest.

Liberia is also famous for its proximity to some of the country’s most scenic beaches. Take a bus to the small beach towns of Coco Beach and Hermosa Bay Beach, which are about 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) west of Liberia.

Liberia International Airport is 8 miles (13 kilometers) west of the city. Take a bus to the city center and explore on foot. San José, Costa Rica’s capital city, is 168.3 miles (271 kilometers) southeast of Liberia.

Stay in Liberia for a slice of Guanacaste culture before hiking through the rainforest and volcanic terrain of the national park.