While large parts of the Guanacaste countryside remain a throwback to the Wild West ideals of ranches and cowboys, the provincial capital and former trade hub of Liberia is the ideal starting point for an exploration of Costa Rica’s many natural marvels. Liberia has all the comforts a Western traveller could want, without many of the tourist traps that sometimes follow. Whether you’re looking for the Guanacaste beaches, the Monteverde cloud forest, or the Arenal Volcano, a cheap flight to Liberia will get you to one of Costa Rica’s most welcoming towns.
Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) is a mere 6 km from the city and served by several international carriers including Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and Continental Airlines. Buses, taxis, and rental cars are easily available, local food is authentic and affordable, accommodation ranges from high-end to small budget-hotels, and you can walk to every place worth seeing within the town.
Visitors to Liberia usually go on to the Peninsula de Nicoya in the west, or the Rincon de La Vieja National Park to the east, where services include spa treatments at the mud springs. The Guanacaste Day festival in July is a good time to hop on a cheap flight and join in parades and street festivities. With a planned expansion of the airport and more hotels opening in the Golfo de Papagayo, the number of Liberia flights is increasing, and so are the great deals on cheap airline tickets to Costa Rica.