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The province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica is home to the city of Liberia. The city is known as La Ciudad Blanca because.
of all the whitewashed buildings that can be found there and the white gravel that was initially used on its roads (the white city).
Given that one of Costa Rica‘s two international airports located there, there is a good chance that you will pass by it when travelling.
Even if you don’t want to stay in the city proper, this is a great place to start your tour.
Due to its convenient position and the number of nearby day activities that are simple to reach, Liberia makes a fantastic starting point for seeing Costa Rica’s breathtaking natural beauty.
There is much to keep you occupied whether you arrive here at the beginning or finish of your journey, allowing you to squeeze in one more excursion.
I’ve listed my top activities in Liberia to help you with your travel planning. A breathtaking waterfall in Costa Raca is featured in the excursions.
A little safari, amazing craft breweries, and a stunning art gallery are all conveniently accessible from Liberia. You should use this as motivation to plan your own breathtaking trip to Costa Raca.
The top 11 things to do in Liberia, Costa Rica, are listed below.
The Rincon de la Vieja national park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is boiling over with mud.
The magnificent Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park is 60 kilometres (37 miles) away from Liberia and can be reached in about one hour and fifteen minutes.
It is the location of the active Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, as suggested by the name. However, the sizable (35,000-acre!) park also has hiking trails, hot springs, and waterfalls.
An adventure tour that lasts the entire day is among the greatest ways to experience this region. For this excursion, transportation is provided.
Along with incredible excursions like ziplining through the forest, you can also go to a spa resort with hot springs and a mud bath, go horseback riding, go on water slides, and even have lunch there.
It is advisable to follow the short 20-minute route to the Las Pailas (boiling mud pots), a unique feature of the area where the mud is so hot that it literally bubbles in small pools.
if you want to go hiking. The three-mile roundtrip Catarata La Cangreja trail is another fantastic climb that leads to a stunning waterfall.
If you don’t already have a tour scheduled, the park is open from Tuesday through Sunday and charges $17 USD for adults and $5.60 USD for children (closed on Mondays). Despite the fact that you can go to this park on your own, tours are very common there.
One of the best things to do in Tamarindo is to visit Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park.
Mario Caas Ruiz Park, No. 2
Mario Caas Park, Jr. Thank you to pxhidalgo and Depositphotos for the photo.
The Liberian neighbourhood of Old Town is where the Parque Mario Caas Ruiz is located. Find the red-roofed gazebo with the white stone fountain nearby!
Because it frequently offers live music performances on the central stage, features street vendors, and food trucks.
it’s a great spot to visit to get a feel for the neighbourhood. Visitors and residents frequent the region.
Additionally, the Central Church of Liberia is located in the park (pictured above.) This intriguing church stands out thanks to its distinctive design and all-white exterior.
Parque Mario Caas Ruiz is a great area to get something to eat and unwind on one of the nearby seats both during the day and at night.
3. Visit a local brewery
The Numu Brewing Company sells cold beer. Source of the picture: Numu Brewing Co.
Nothing makes me happier than sampling great craft beer and getting a sense of the neighbourhood. In Liberia, there are two breweries that are worthwhile rest breaks.
Enjoy a cold beverage while you wait for your flight. If you enjoy it that much, you might choose to purchase some cans to use while visiting Costa Rica or carry back with you!
The Numu Brewing Company is located close to the airport in a business park. Tropical fruits and strong flavours can be found in their beers.
are impacted by the climate of Costa Rica. Buy some cans to take with you or try a few of the many beers that are served on tap. One of the favourites around here is the Liberiana Kölsch.
the Chorotega IPA, which mixes a distinct hop flavour with flavours of tropical fruits, and which has a delicate maltiness and fruity undertones.
Close to the airport in Liberia is the modest but expanding microbrewery Captain J Match Brewing Company.
The beer here makes an effort to capture the peculiar flavours of the Guanacaste region of the nation.
The Flamingo Mosaic Pale Ale and the energising San Juanillo Summer Ale are also recommended. Excellent proprietor who will walk you through each beer’s brewing process.
Additional local breweries to visit are listed under the best things to do in Montezuma, which is recommended reading.
The Secret Garden Gallery, number 4.
The image was taken at Hidden Garden Art Gallery.
The largest art gallery in Costa Rica may be found in Liberia, which is just five minutes from the airport. The Hidden Garden Art Gallery’s 15 rooms showcase works by a range of regional artists.
The exhibition displays the amazing natural beauty of Costa Rica as it has been captured by sculptors and painters.
Every room has its own distinctive design; some have more geometric art while others have breath-taking underwater photos.
With artwork that will serve as a keepsake of your journey, this is a great place to bring a little bit of the country home. People frequently come here just before departing to find art to take home.
The proprietors have years of experience protecting artwork on lengthy flights home. You don’t need to have a large budget because there are things available starting at $50 USD and going up to over $1,000.
Unquestionably, one of the nicest things to do in Liberia is to visit this art gallery.
And last, Ponderosa Adventure Park
at Ponderosa Adventure Park, the giraffes. Ponderosa Adventure Park provided the image.
In Liberia, Ponderosa Adventure Park is a great destination to take the whole family, and it’s only a short drive from the city centre.
The safari tour with giraffes and zebras is the main draw, but there are also zipline and waterfall tours.
It is mandatory to do the safari tour if you visit Ponderosa. Get at least two bags of carrots for less than $2 apiece from the front desk before you leave.
As your safari vehicle travels over the savannah for 90 minutes, you will have the opportunity to feed giraffes and zebras.
You may go kayaking, ziplining, horseback riding through a tropical jungle, swimming close to the La Perla waterfall, and more here.
might be finished in a one day. I advise paying the $66 USD for a full day pass if you intend to make multiple excursions.
With the exception of horseback riding, which must be paid for separately, all activities are included in that.
The adventure park is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm.
6. Hike to La Leona Waterfall
One of the best things to do in Liberia is to get up close to a magnificent waterfall, so make sure you do it while you’re here. However, on occasion, it is.
With a journey like the La Leona Waterfall Hike, it’s ideal to remove the element of surprise because it might be challenging to locate waterfalls or the roads can be too bad for a rental car.
One can reach the magnificent La Leona Waterfall after a three-hour journey through the jungle on trails that round the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. The best part is swimming right up to the waterfall and taking pictures while you’re there.
The tour’s optional stops, like a stop at a neighbourhood café for coffee and fruit before the trek and a trip to Poza La Pipa.
a hidden swimming hole with turquoise-blue waters where the Colorado and Blanco rivers converge, are its most notable features.
7. Palo Verde National Park
One of the best places to watch wildlife, particularly birds, is this national park. Palo Verde, which covers more than 45,000 acres, is one of Central America’s most densely inhabited migratory bird habitats.
During the rainy season, floodwaters from the Tempisque River form extensive wetlands here, attracting a wide range of animals. The marshes contract during the dry season, forming tiny water pockets all around the park.
Normally, this lasts from December until May. The dry season is the ideal time to explore this area because particularly severe rains may render the roads utterly unusable.
Pick one of the smaller bodies of water and wait there to see the most species. There will probably be a lot of birds nearby, and with any luck, you might even get to see them.
Howler or Capuchin monkeys. Instead, wander the 20-meter boardwalk at Laguna Palo Verde, a great place to see the wildlife that calls this place home.
You may reach here from Liberia in approximately an hour by taking the main Inter-American highway to the city of Bagaces, where you will turn onto a dirt road and travel for about 20 minutes.
The distance to the park’s entrance is 12 miles or kilometres. There is also a bus service from Bagaces to the park. You can then travel along the gravel road in an Uber or cab.
8. Tio Leo Coffee Tour
It takes work to grind the cocoa.
Tio Leo is a fantastic spot to visit when in Liberia because it is so much more than a coffee shop. Although coffee may be bought here.
the three-hour tour, which educates tourists about the numerous products grown here, including coffee beans, is the main attraction.
The tour is led by Tio Leo himself and includes a stroll through a coffee farm, glimpses into the processes used to roast coffee and extract sugar from sugarcane .
a brief cooking lesson to make empanadas, and a trip to a chocolate factory where you can grind your own cocoa beans to make chocolate milk!
Excursions for adults cost $39 USD, $20 USD, and $20 USD, respectively, for kids under five. In addition to additional trips beginning at 3 pm throughout the summer,
daily tours begin at 8 am and 12 pm. For the tour, remember to pack hiking boots, bug spray, and sunscreen.
If you live close to the airport, getting to Tio Leo Coffee is very simple because it is only a short car or taxi ride away. It’s the ideal place to visit before taking off or as one of your first stops after leaving Liberia.
9. Hike waterfalls at La Vieja.
Take a hike to La Vieja Waterfalls!
Everyone visiting Costa Rica must experience at least one waterfall (or two or three!). A tour is unquestionably your best option if you don’t.
want to rent a car or if you don’t feel confident going in search of secret waterfalls on your own. To view two waterfalls in one morning, do the La Vieja Waterfalls Hike trip!
The journey starts in Liberia with a pickup and a brief 25-minute drive to a small rural coffee shop for a quick coffee and breakfast stop. After about ten minutes.
you will arrive at the first waterfall, the majestic La Oropendola Waterfall on the slopes of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano.
You can satisfy your yearning to swim near to a waterfall here. The 82-foot waterfall will wash past you while you swim in the gorgeous turquoise pool.
The second waterfall is accessed after a brief trip along a nearby route that requires some scrambling and cave crossings.
The La Leona cascade will be seen after a little swim to get there! Then, you’ll take a little detour to Poza La Pipa,
a swimming area where two rivers meet and carve out breathtaking gorges. Eat a Cosa Rican dinner in the centre of Curubande after the journey.
Given that it includes transportation and even meals, the tour is still a fantastic bargain even though it costs $145 USD per person.
It’s quite helpful to have a guide who is knowledgeable with the area so you won’t have to worry about attempting to find the waterfalls on your own.
Poza Los Coyotes 10.
Reputable blue water may be found in Poza Los Coyotes!
Locals enjoy visiting this gorgeous Costa Rica hidden gem, which is approximately 20 minutes from Liberia. The release date is set for 2020.
Poza Los Coyotes is accessible for less than $2 USD and has natural lakes, a cave, a canyon, and a waterfall.
Spend around 10 minutes on the main highway before turning onto a dirt road to complete the short trip there.
You don’t need an SUV or truck because several types of vehicles are allowed on the road. From Liberia, you can alternatively take an Uber or a cab.
You must rent a tyre when you get there in order to use the natural ponds or to float through the cave. You’ll only have to pay a little under $2. Bring a blanket or towel as well in case you want to sit down once you’re done swimming.
Because of all the minerals in the water from the mountains surrounding the Rincón de la Vieja volcano, the water is a gorgeous hue of blue here.
In the surrounding natural waters and around the cave, you can swim or float on a tyre. Swimming is not recommended due to the strong river current,
but the canyon and waterfall location allows for spectacular photo opportunity. Prepare to stay here for two to three hours, or perhaps the entire day if you’d like!
11. Private Tour with Rain Forest, Wildlife, Waterfall, and Chocolate
This tour is a terrific option if you want to see several of Costa Rica’s finest attractions all at once! The Llanos de Cortés waterfall is magnificent,
and the adventure includes a visit to a local farm that makes chocolate and the opportunity to see sloths and other wildlife up close.
This six-hour full-day tour starts early in the morning with pickup at 7:30 am. Although it is more expensive ($250 USD), the tour includes lunch and transportation in addition to some amazing activities (guided by a knowledgeable guide).
First, go to a farm that makes tree chocolate. In addition to getting to see every stage of the production process, from selecting the fruit to tasting the delectable organic chocolate, you’ll learn a little bit about the history of cocoa and chocolate.
After that, take a stop to observe the gorgeous water curtains flowing over the rocks at the Llanos del Cortés Waterfall. You can swim right here to cool down, or you can visit a nearby beach to take in the scenery.
Finca Verde Lodge, a gorgeous nature reserve at the base of Tenorio Volcano, is your last destination. You might see butterflies, tree frogs, toucans, sloths, and toucans on the short trek into the rainforest. Lunch is also served here so you may have extra time to take it all in.
Day outings from California’s San Jose
Accommodations in Liberia, Costa Rica
The Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport is listed as the source of the photo.
There aren’t many hotels in Liberia from which to pick. The fact that you can’t find a fantastic spot to stay before or after your vacation speaks against it. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised with the excellent accommodations in Liberia!
Hostel Dodero is most likely the best option for vacationers on a restricted budget. The hostel is conveniently located, clean, friendly, and bookable on HostelWorld and Booking.com. It also has excellent reviews.
The adjacent Best Western El Sitio Hotel & Casino is a great choice for those on a tight budget. The hotel offers breakfast, features a fitness centre, a pool, and contemporary rooms.
There aren’t many options in Liberia if you’re searching for luxury. The Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport, on the other hand, is a nice hotel that is close to the airport in Liberia. It has all the amenities and services one would expect from a Hilton Hotel.
Pure Life!
Thank you for reading!
Even if you’re simply passing through Liberia after arriving in Costa Rica, there are some amazing things to do while you’re here, even if only for a brief length of time. Consider using the local tours and hidden gems described above before moving on to your next location.
I hope my blog has given you some inspiration as you spend your time in stunning Costa Raca. Also, be sure to read some of our other blogs, like:
