Liberia is the capital of the province Guanacaste in northwest Costa Rica and a gateway to some of the most beautiful beaches and National Parks of Costa Rica. Currently most travelers use Liberia as a base to visit the nearby national parks or as an overnight stop to or from the many beaches of Guanacaste and on the way to Nicaragua. Travelers also frequently spend a night in the city before or after their flight to the Daniel Oduber International Airport or the Liberia International Airport (LIR).

Liberia's international airport, receives flights from a number of major U.S. cities such as Miami, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. All the major car rental companies have vehicles available just a couple minutes outside the terminal area. There are also many professional drivers available to pick you and your family up and take you to your next destination.

If you choose to fly into the Costa Rican capitol, San Jose, Liberia is usually a 4.5-hour drive along the Inter-American Highway, a145 miles (234 km) trip. In Liberia, bus terminals are numerous, and they offer countrywide transportation throughout the day.

Many popular beaches lie within a short traveling distance from Liberia, as do a number of interesting national parks such as Rincon de La Vieja, Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, Barra Honda, and Palo Verde. It is less than an hour from Tamarindo and Papagayo and only 3 hours to Volcano Arenal and about 3.5 hours to the cloud forest of Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Liberia airport's rapid growth is not only attracting tourists but also international companies. The Ad Astra Rocket Company has already begun operations of its plasma rocket laboratory which they hope will revolutionize space travel, cutting distances and thrusting spaceships faster and farther than even before.

The city of Liberia is quite enjoyable and safe compared to the metropolis of San Jose. Liberia is a friendly and open city compared to other Costa Rican cities of the same size. Locally, the town is often referred to as "la ciudad blanca" (the white city). An appropriate name due to its whitewashed, colonial houses, built with “bahareque” (similar to adobe houses), a type of clay found all around the city with a particularly white color. Liberia is the only town in Costa Rica to which the term "colonial" could be applied.

Throughout the year, downtown Liberia offers good food, bars, entertainment, and accommodations. There are a wide variety of lodging options to meet the needs of any budget. Hotels often fill up during the dry season, so visitors are advised to make reservations several weeks in advance.

The historic church of Iglesia de la Agonia, the town's oldest, is a relic from the past colonial era. Its white exterior is beautifully adorned in typical Spanish fashion, with twin pillars and an arched entrance. Additionally, the Sabaneros Museum (Museo de Sabaneros) pays homage to Guanacaste's cowboy roots, while the surrounding blocks makeup Liberia's oldest neighborhood. The neighborhood is comprised of old colonial style houses that were constructed over a century and a half ago, and it holds no shortage of small architectural gems. You could also visit the new zoo or safari right outside town, Africa Mía.

Many ranches surround the Liberia area, and the town plays a vital role in Costa Rica's cattle industry. It provides a market for farmer's goods, both locally and through international export. With so many ranches, the town's ubiquitous cowboy culture is central to Liberia's identity. Rodeos are a timeless tradition in Guanacaste, and they are the most popular of sporting events. From all over the region, rodeos draw many locals who are intrigued by the chance to see brave cowboys hurled by infuriated bucking bulls.

Local fiestas, the biggest being July 25, "El Día de la Anexion", celebrating Guanacaste's Province annexation to Costa Rica, fill the town with parades, horseshows, cattle auctions, rodeos, fiestas and roving marimba bands. There's also the "Fiestas Civicas de Liberia" in the last week of February and first week of March with Costa Rican style bullfights (1 bull, 300 people and one small bullfighting ring). If you want to attend, make sure you make your hotel reservations as far in advance as possible.

Liberia is a great base to be able to go visit nearby parks and beaches in Guanacaste. In the evening when you come back to town, it is a charming place to enjoy a sunset walk around the central park or just take in the sights of mid-sized Costa Rican city.