Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport or more commonly known as Guanacaste Airport (formerly known as Liberia International Airport) is the second main international airport in Costa Rica.
It is in the Guanacaste province near Liberia city and this is the airport you should fly into if you plan to visit the Guanacaste province.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the Guanacaste Airport, otherwise known as Liberia Airport.
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Location
Since it is less than an hour away from popular tourist attractions and best beaches in the Guanacaste province, the Guanacaste Airport is the ideal airport for those wanting to visit the Pacific coast, the Guanacaste mountain corridor and the Nicoya Peninsula.
Guanacaste Airport is 11.5 kilometers (7 miles) from Liberia, the capital city of the Guanacaste province.
It’s 30 minutes from the Gulf of Papagayo beaches of Coco, Hermosa, Ocotal and Panama and 1.5 hours approximatley from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal. It is 2 hours from Samara and Nosara.
The Guanacaste Airport code is LIR.
Should I Fly Into San Jose or Guanacaste Airport?
- Fly into Guanacaste Airport for these beach towns: Conchal, Flamingo, Tamarindo, Avellanas, Grande, Brasilito, Potrero, La Cruz, Samara, Nosara, Ostional, Playas del Coco, Gulf of Papagayo, Hermosa, Ocotal, Riu, Four Seasons, Westin)
- You can also fly into Guanacaste Airport for Montezuma, Paquera, Tambor, Mal Pais and Santa Teresa.
- For those going to Rincon de la Vieja, Bijagua, Nuevo Arenal or Nicoya, Guanacaste Airport is best.
- Going to Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Puerto Viejo, San Jose, Tortuguero, Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal, Puerto Jimenez, Sarapiqui, Bajos del Toro, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon or Drake Bay? Fly into San Jose International Airport as that is closest.
- If you’re going to La Fortuna or Monteverde, then you can fly to either airport. The driving time is the same for both airports, around 3 hours.
There are some pros and cons to flying to SJO and LIR Airport however
San Jose International Airport is right by San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. This is where most of the country’s population lives and works so the traffic is terrible.
It is a lot more hectic and stressful to drive in San Jose than Liberia as there aren’t nearly as many people and the roads are well paved.
*During high season months December through April, particularly in the mornings and at noon, the intersection in front of LIR Airport can get extremely backed up and traffic accidents occasionally occur there. Drive safe!*
SJO Airport sometimes may be cheaper than LIR. Check for both airports first.
As for hotels, there aren’t many hotel options by Guanacaste Airport. For Liberia, there is the Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport that has a free shuttle and is only a two minute drive away. There is also a Hampton by Hill Guanacaste Airport two minutes away with a free shuttle.
However, the closest beach town to the airport, Playas del Coco is only about a 25-30 minute drive so you can definitely stay there for your last night before your departure instead of near the airport.
Read more about which international airport in Costa Rica you should fly into.
About Guanacaste Airport
This airport is not as busy as the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San Jose but it is a full airport with duty free stores, car rentals, pet relief area, souvenir shops, one airport lounge and food. They curretnyl have 10 gates and are slowly expanding to add more services.
Local airlines such as Sansa fly into Guanacaste Airport and their check in is inside the same terminal as the international terminals. You can read more about taking local flights in Costa Rica here.
Guanacaste Airport Food, Shopping, Duty Free, Currency, Services
Inside the airport but not past security, there is a mini market and cafe. If you need to wait for other people in your group to arrive, you can hang out at the cafe.
Although it closes at 7 PM, they have chairs outside the cafe, on the main sidewalk of the airport that you can use.
In the departure terminal, there are several souvenir shops, a jewelry store and an art gallery. There is also the duty free store inside Guanacaste Airport that sells alcohol and normal duty free items.
For food, there isn’t a whole lot. There is a cafe, bakery, a bar, ice cream stand, a small pastry/sandwich stand and two small restaurants.
Food is VERY expensive in this airport, so if you can, buy snacks and food from the outside before arriving.
Wifi is free inside the airport terminal.
Most seats now have charging hubs and there are dedicated working stations. There is even an eco-friendly paddle your own power bikes!
Arriving to Guanacaste Airport
When you land at Guanacaste Airport, you will need to follow the signs to go through immigration and customs. Immigration is for people and you will go through immigration first.
They will ask your full name, occupation, place you’re staying in Costa Rica, how long you’ll be in Costa Rica and proof of exit. If you’re bringing more than $10,000 USD in cash, you’ll need to declare it.
If everything is on the up and up, the agent should stamp your passport. In addition, they will write how many days you can legally be in the country for.
For Group 1 countries like Canada, USA, Spain and UK, it is 180 days. But the officer can give you any amount of days they feel like.
In the immigration hall, there are bathrooms (3-4 stalls per gender). There are also bathrooms in baggage claim, but that hall does not have air conditioning.
Then there are bathrooms in the main terminal of the airport, on both ends.
Then after passport control, you will then go to baggage claim to collect your luggage and go through customs.
When you go through customs, make sure to put EVERYTHING in the scanner including backpacks and purses, laying down flat. Do not put duty free.
After customs, pick up your luggage and exit through the double doors into the airport. Then straight ahead through the glass double doors, you can find your tour company/hotel/car rental agent/driver/etc.
Guanacaste Airport has implemented something called VPass (www.vpassguanacaste.com), which is a VIP fast track through immigration and customs, in addition to expedited security screening, baggage handling and private meet and greet service.
Per adult, costs $150 plus tax USD. children under 8 are free. You can purchase per way or round trip.
Read more about going through customs and immigration at San Jose and Liberia Airport here.
There is a duty free and currency exchange right after you finish immigration. You will see both places when you are at immigration.
At the duty free, they told me foreigners can buy up to 8 bottles of alcohol and they have all sorts. There is an official taxi stand outside the airport.
Parking at Guanacaste Airport
This airport has its own parking lot but it is not covered under roof at all nor has any facilities. It’s completely open with no shade.
The two sections are for car rentals, tour companies, hotels and private shuttles only. The next paved section is general parking which costs around 1300 CRC per hour (~$2.75 USD).
The unpaved parking section in the very back is closed.
Guanacaste Airport Arrivals Video
We made a short video tour of Guanacaste Airport which you can watch below. *Taken in 2021, so they have added a couple of things, but it’s essentially the same.*
Transportation from Guanacaste Airport
Public bus: The Liberia public city bus between the airport and Liberia runs every hour on the hour from 5 AM to 9 PM. From the bus station in Liberia, you can take a bus to the border, San Jose, Playas del Coco and other destinations.
There are a couple of public buses that pass right by the airport (Tamarindo/Nosara) but not many of them. You most likely will need to walk out to the main road Route 21 where the bus stop is to flag down your bus (~30 minute walk).
Read more about taking the bus in Costa Rica here.
Private shuttle: You can book a private shuttle to meet you at LIR Airport. Private shuttles will meet you outside the airport when you land and take you directly to your destination. This is a good option if you’re not renting a car and coming in a large group.
Contact us if you’d like a private airport shuttle!
Shared shuttles: You can also take shared shuttles but they can’t meet you directly at the airport. They will request you to go to the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel down the street for pick up.
Shared shuttles have limited schedules and cannot wait for you if you are late so make sure you have plenty of time between landing and your shuttle pick up time. Get 10% off your Interbus shared shuttle here!
You can read more about taking shuttles in Costa Rica here.
Taxis: There will always be orange airport taxis waiting outside the arrival gate at the official airport taxi stand. Remember that generally, taxis are going to be more expensive than shuttles.
Read about taking taxis in Costa Rica here.
Ride share: Unfortunately Uber are not common at Guanacaste Airport and police are constantly looking to catch Uber drivers. Do not count on using ride shares at this airport.
Here are our articles on how to get to destinations from Liberia Airport.
How to get to Playas del Coco/Gulf of Papagayo from Liberia Airport
How to get to Tamarindo from Liberia Airport
Guanacaste Airport Car Rentals
If you are renting a car in Costa Rica, you will find car rental company counters inside Guanacaste Airport. They will be in the baggage claim area and you can find companies like Alamo, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Thrifty and more.
However, since Guanacaste Airport is too small for the car rental offices, companies will shuttle you to their airport office close by.
We have a partnership with Adobe Rent a Car who has an office ten minutes away (8.2 km or 5 miles) from Guanacaste Airport. We offer dive discounts and lots of extra benefits (free cooler, free SIM card, free surf racks, etc.).
You can check out our Costa Rica car rental discount here.
You can also watch in the video below the process of picking up the car from Guanacaste Airport. See what the airport looks like and if you’re renting a car with Adobe Rent a Car, what the process is to meet the team.
We highly recommend reserving a car in advance instead of booking at the airport since you will be able to research about the insurances, fees and taxes.
Please note that the general public is not allowed inside the airport to wait for guests, they must wait outside. The Adobe agent will be waiting for you outside the exit.
Guanacaste Airport Hotels
If you need a place to stay close to the airport, there are two hotel chains just a 2 minute drive from the airport, the Hampton by Hilton Guanacaste Airport and the Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport. Both offer free airport shuttle.
Want to read about other options? Click here to read our article for best hotels near Liberia Guanacaste Airport.
Other Important Information
You no longer need to pay the $29 exit tax, it is included in *most* airline tickets. There is a payment office just in case some airlines do not include the tax in the plane ticket price.
The intersection outside the airport is constantly backed up during the high tourism season of December to April. If you are landing around noon to early afternoon, plan for lots of traffic.
If your departure flight is around 11 – 2 PM, make sure to leave your hotel with plenty of time to account for traffic and get there around 2.5 hours before your flight departure.
Read more Costa Rica travel tips below!
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica. Get 10% off your Airalo eSIM package with our promo code “mytanfeet”
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels. Save more money with our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Mel says
Is there a safe lot to park a car for a week?
Sammi says
Liberia Airport doesn’t have a long term parking lot and I don’t recommend leaving it there for a week at all. You can contact your car rental company if you’re renting a car if you can leave it or I know some people have left it at the Hilton Garden Inn by the airport but they were guests. You can reach out to them and see if they have any options for non guests and see how much it costs.
Tara says
Can you please tell me what the arrivals duty free hours are? As well can you recommend a cheap shuttle to Tamarindo?
Sammi says
I am not sure what the hours are, but I have been there at 6 AM and it wasn’t open yet so maybe it opens around 7. You can email our friend who runs a tour/transportation in Liberia for a quote to Tamarindo: shamantours@live.com
Abbie says
Hi guys! So happy to have stumbled upon your blog, I think I’ve read every word on all the Costa Rica posts! We are coming down from Seattle in 2 weeks! Looking for current concrete advice that there is a kiosk to purchase SIM cards for our iPhones when we arrive at LIR? I’ve been searching everywhere to make sure.
Thank you for all your posts and great info! I’m loving it all, especially from a fellow PNW kid!
Ben says
Since noone else has replied, when you arrive, can you let me know if there is a kiosk to purchase the SIM cards? We will be traveling in Feb and I want to verify. May of 2013 was our last trip and there was not a Kiosk at that time – we had to ask the shuttle driver to stop on the way to our resort.
Sammi says
Yes, there should be one. Last time I was there (2014) there was.
Ben says
Thanks Sammi!
Sammi says
Hi Abbie, yes there is a kiosk when you leave customs. Have a great time in CR and enjoy the fall in Seattle for me, I miss it terribly!
Loren Reed Brothers says
Thanks Sammi for your reply to Nancy. I assume your friend Randall can provide transportation for 2 to Casa Conde del Mar? Is that $50 for one way? I will probably drop him an email. 🙂 I also want to clarify that there is no public transportation directly from the LIR to the coast? We are working on a tight budget (oh BTW Go Huskies! We are up in Concrete, WA in the North Cascades.)
Sammi says
Hi! Yep he can, it’s $50 one way and feel free to shoot him an email for all the details. There is a public bus that goes from LIR to the beaches like Coco but I don’t think there is one directly to Playa Panama where Casa Conde Del Mar (I’m not positive). I do know there is 3 (I think) buses a day that go through Hermosa/Panama area.
Ohh a Husky fan!! I miss UW so much. Go Huskies!! 🙂
Nancy says
Hey guys,
Thanks for the awesome website! We are arriving at LIR on October 2 and heading to Vista Perfecta in Coco. We would like to pre-book a shuttle. Is there a company you can recommend, and what should we expect to pay? We are a family of four.
Sammi says
Hi Nancy! We always use Shaman Tours, it is run by a Costa Rican and they do tours, shuttles, etc. It is $50 for four people, his email is shamantours@live.com and his name is Randall. Let me know if you have other questions!
Nancy says
Thank you so much for getting back to me! We will email him for sure and we’ll let you know if we have any more questions.
Liz says
Great information – it has been soooo helpful to us! We are set to arrive at Liberia airport on July 5 and will go to Villa Serena. We have a pickup scheduled to take us there but thought their rates were pretty high – $50 plus tip in cash. Is this normal and is it ok to pay in US dollars? Would a taxi be more economical?
Thank you for your info and thank you for elevating our excitement for this trip with all the wonderful information you provide!
Liz
Sammi says
Hi Liz! That’s the right price. It’s usually about $50 if you hire a shuttle and it’s OK to pay in dollars. It is a bit expensive :/ Hope you have a great time here!
Dave says
Does anyone know the names and phone numbers of the two jewelry stores in Liberiia LIR airport terminal in Costa Rica?
Keith says
United Airlines flys direct from Chicago on Saturday and Sundays in high season.
Sammi says
Awesome! Thank you, I’ll add that to the list.
Costa rica girl says
I LOVED the old airport, so much fun to watch people come in with “deer in headlights” syndrome. Had so much more character….
yeison says
Hehehe yes I remember that … One time I saw a person getting out of the airplane with rubber boots, and a Poncho … ready for the jungle!
Thanks for stopping by.
Pura vida
Lindsey Monge says
When we landed in Costa Rica, we arrived at Liberia airport, but this was before the new renovation. I was afraid because it was only my second flight ever and they parked the plane on the runway and had us comb down and walk the pavement toward the main building. It was my first time physically on a runway and there were security guards with big guns. It’s kind of funny now looking back on it though 🙂
Sammi says
I remember the first time I ever got to walk on the runway (in Bahamas) I was SO excited but at least I didn’t have men with guns haha. The new airport is super nice now and was a much needed upgrade from the old one.