Liberia is a large town in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. If you’re planning a vacation in the part of Costa Rica with the best beaches, it’s likely you’ll be landing in the nearby international airport. Liberia is a hub of activity and opportunity, with many restaurants, shopping and things to do.
Got a long wait before your flight home? The airport has a lounge now. Here’s my Pura Lounge review, with the $45 day pass (August 2026) and the 9-to-5 hours.
Before you book your flights to Costa Rica, check out our Packing List. These are things that I find useful when I’m travelling around Liberia and Guanacaste Province.
Great Shopping
North of San José, there aren’t many towns with the variety of stores like Liberia. You’ll find many large department stores like Walmart and Pequeno Mundo. There’s a Pricemart, a members-only store like Costco. You can also find a store that I like, El Rey. This store has lots of different things like clothing and food at a very low price. The El Rey in Liberia is located in the middle of town.
The downtown area of Liberia is very walkable and has loads of things to see. You can find shops for just about any purpose, like electronics and swimwear. While you’re walking there’s a lot of restaurants and snack shops. There’s even a McDonald’s standalone ice cream stall.
In the walking video posted below, we’ll begin at the corner of Av 1 and Calle 1, which has the Central Church of Liberia on one corner. We’ll check out the Church and Welcome to Liberia sign, then head over to Parque Mario Canas Ruiz.
You’ll notice that Liberia is quite busy, although there are still families and kids walking around. Some of the main roads can be busy with car traffic, but overall it’s a relaxing place to stroll around and hang out.
Museum & Parques!
Across the street from the park, there’s Museo de Guanacaste. If the front door is open you can go in and see if there’s any exhibits. A few streets further west we’ll check out Parque Hector Zuniga Rovira. This is a nice green space with some body weight exercise equipment installed. There’s a grocer at the corner of Calle 8 and Av 1 which has lots and lots of fresh produce. It’s a nice place to stop for a cold drink.
Back towards the main road, Av 25 de Julio, there’s bigger stores and government buildings. Very well kept and clean appearance. There’s cool statues lining the median of the street as well.
Our walk ends when we go under the Inter American Highway. This is a raised bypass highway that is the main conduit from north/south. Around this area, there’s a gas station and many fast food shops you’d be used to seeing in North America (like KFC and Burger King).
I use this sling backpack when I’m travelling in Costa Rica. It has a zipper lock to secure your stuff. I like the sling as I can flip the bag to the front for easy access.
Worth The Trip!
Liberia is a great place to stay if you’re planning on visiting and renting a car. It’s centrally located to both the beaches of El Coco and Tamarindo, as well as National Parks. You can also drive to Samara area or La Fortuna for a bit longer trips.
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Most mornings in Costa Rica start with coffee for me, and 1820 coffee was my daily cup. It’s well priced and delicious. Try it before your vacation, or bring the taste home after.