If you are looking at car rentals from Liberia Airport (Guanacaste Airport), you have several options.
We’ll talk about the best car rental companies from Liberia Airport, how airport pick up works, the best type of car for your trip, rental car insurances and how to return your car to the airport.
For general advice, check our “renting a car in Costa Rica” post for more detailed information.
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Car Rentals from Liberia Airport Quick Info
We have a partnership with Adobe Rent a Car, a locally operated and owned Costa Rican car rental agency that’s been in business for over 30 years, offering all-inclusive pricing and easy to understand insurances.
Get our Costa Rica car rental discount and freebies with Adobe in the link!
Airport code
LIR. The airport’s official name is Guanacaste Airport and Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport.
Are the Rental Cars Directly at the Liberia Airport Parking Lot?
No. You will not pick up your rental car directly at the Liberia Airport.
The airport is too small to fit the rental car offices and does not have a dedicated rental car parking terminal.
The rental car companies have off site offices, about a 5-15 minute drive away which is where you will pick up your car and complete the paperwork.
Car rental companies from Liberia Airport have shuttles running between the airport and the office for clients.
Are There Car Rental Counters Inside the Terminal?
Yes, for major international companies like Dollar, Thrifty, National, Budget, Enterprise, Economy, Hertz, Europcar and Alamo.
They have counters in baggage claim and a meeting area in the hall after you complete customs and go through the double doors.
Budget, Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, Enterprise and National can help you make a reservation at their baggage claim counter if you do not have one. You still need to take the shuttle to their office to pick up the car.
Smaller agencies and Costa Rican car rental companies like Jumbo, Adobe Rent a Car and Vamos do not have a counter inside Liberia Airport. Their agents wait outside the airport for their clients.
Rental Car Company Shuttle Pick Up Process
If your rental car company has a counter in baggage claim, check in with them. Companies like Alamo, Enterprise and National offer a host service to assist you in the pick up process.
After picking up your luggage and going through customs, you will go through a set of double doors out into the airport terminal.
Walk straight through the glass doors by the mini mart, and look for the agent holding a sign with the car rental company name on it.
That agent will then bring you to the company shuttle to take you to their off-site office to collect the car and complete your payment and paperwork.
Some companies charge for this meet and greet, specifically the ones that have the airport counter (normally included in the taxes and fees).
Other companies, like Adobe Rent a Car, include the meet and greet as a complimentary service.
Rental Car from Liberia Airport Pick Up With Adobe Rent a Car
Here is our video of the meet and greet process with Adobe Rent a Car. This is ONLY for Adobe Rent a Car, no other car rental agency.
With our partnership with Adobe, this meet and greet is complimentary.
Don’t forget to get our Costa Rica car rental discount and extra freebies!
IMPORTANT: Go straight to the Adobe agent. If you cannot find them, please seek the airport help desk agents for assistance, do not ask other agents or drivers you may see standing around. They may not tell you truthful information and try to mislead you.
How Long is the Rental Car Pick Up Process from Liberia Airport ?
How long it will take for you to get your rental car from Liberia Airport depends on what time of year and what time of day your flight arrives.
The busiest time of year is mid December through March and busiest time of day is from 11-1 PM. Many flights land at the exact same time, so immigration and customs may take awhile. Furthermore, there may be a lot of traffic.
If you are coming at the busiest time of day and year, we recommend to account for at least 2 hours for immigration, customs, shuttle, rental car collection, and paperwork.
In the lowest tourism season months, it can take around 30-40 minutes from landing to driving to your next destination.
How to Return Your Rental Car to Liberia Airport?
You’ll return your rental car to the agency office and then the rental car company will shuttle you to the airport.
Please make sure to arrive at the rental car office with plenty of time to be at the airport around 2.5 hours in advance.
Returning the car does not normally take very long, around 10-15 minutes if no incidents arise.
Is Early Morning Rental Car Return Available?
Yes, most car rental offices open around 5 AM. You can return the car around 450 to 5 AM and then get shuttled to the airport.
If you need to return the car before 5 AM, or do not wish to deal with that so early in the morning, you can return your car the day before and arrange your own transportation to the airport.
You can watch a video and get more information on this early morning return at Liberia Airport here.
Should You Have a Car Rental Reservation?
Yes, in the high tourism season. Availability is extremely limited so there is no guarantee there will be cars available and if there are, they will most likely be very expensive.
High tourism season is December to April. The busiest times are the weeks of Christmas, New Years and Easter. Please book your rental car at least a few months out.
We also recommend to make a reservation for low season, so that you are able to comparison shop and research about insurances before you arrive. The low season is from May through November, but June, July and August are a mini high season and are very busy.
Make reservations at least a month or so out for June, July and August.
Since insurances vary widely among different rental car companies, it is best to do your research beforehand to learn about how they work, rather than trying to figure it out on the spot.
Recommended Car Rentals from Liberia Airport
Each car rental company in Costa Rica operates their own way, especially when it comes to insurance pricing and deposits.
You need to do your research beforehand to check what is included in the rate you are quoted.
That is why we recommend to only book with companies who provide all-inclusive pricing, so that you are 100% clear on exactly what you are paying for and how much your security deposit will be.
We prefer to recommend Costa Rican companies to support highly rated local businesses, such as Adobe Rent a Car (which we have a discount for) and Vamos.
Though a worldwide corporation, Alamo is also a highly rated car rental company from Liberia Airport. They have a huge fleet of cars, particularly Toyotas and offer all-inclusive pricing.
Alamo, Adobe and Vamos rental car companies all accept credit card rental car coverage as well.
Have a question about car rentals from Liberia Airport? Feel free to contact us with any questions you have and we will be happy to help out!
Save Money On Your Car Rental from Liberia Airport!
Get our Costa Rica car rental discount with Adobe Rent a Car in the link. Mytanfeet readers receive a minimum 10% off the rental car rate and freebies such as 2 free additional drivers, free child seats, free surf racks, free cooler and much more!
You’ll also receive Mytanfeet premium customer service, with a guarantee 24 hour response time. We are happy to help our readers with their rental car to make sure it’s perfect and to answer any question you have, so you have a safe and stress free time in Costa Rica.
Private Car Rentals from Liberia Airport
There are some private car rentals from Liberia Airport. You might see their ads on Facebook. Some advertise they can have your car ready directly at Liberia Airport, and they may have cheaper prices, but there are some caveats.
- Many do not have an office.
- Most do not offer any type of emergency assistance or a 24 hour assistance line.
- Some do not have their own customer service department, and may be difficult to contact.
- Their vehicles may not be well maintained and may be much older with a lot of mileage.
- They may not be licensed, insured or registered companies in Costa Rica.
- They may accept cash and offer a discount by not paying the VAT tax (13%). **
- Many may not provide any support or assistance if you get into an incident.
Please DO NOT give business to “pirate” businesses who are not licensed to be tourism rental car companies.
**Please do not support the practice of not paying the 13% VAT tax, as they are avoiding to pay the sales tax and not be truthful on their business taxes.
It is completely your choice who to rent from, but we highly recommend to book only with licensed and registered car rentals from Liberia Airport.
Is It Easy to Drive to Liberia Airport and Surrounding Roads?
Yes. The Liberia Airport is off a main highway, so it is easy to drive to and from there. Liberia city is only a ten minute drive away.
However, there may be a lot of traffic during the high tourism season, so please pack your patience if you are.
How is the Road to La Fortuna from Liberia Airport?
The main route from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna is a paved highway and a very beautiful drive. The most common route is on Route 142, going through Cañas, Tilaran and going around Lake Arenal.
The section going around Lake Arenal is extremely curvy with no painted lines, street lights or raised pavement markets, so we do not recommend driving this route if you will be landing after dark.
It gets dark by 6 PM every day in Costa Rica.
You do not have to have a 4×4 from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna, but depending on your other destinations, a high clearance SUV or 4×4 may be required or highly recommended.
You can check our in-depth guide on the drive from Guanacaste to La Fortuna and watch our video, and get our recommended stops in the post.
Get our Costa Rica car rental discount here!
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List and Mytanfeet Amazon storefront for our personal recommendations
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Sammi says
Hi Lorrie (Sorry I just saw you left the comment on LIR Airport). If you are planning to pick up your rental car when you land at LIR Airport, at least our partners Adobe REnt a Car will wait for you at the airport so you can pick up your car when you land.
Lorrie says
Hello! We’re having difficulty getting answers about a car rental. We arrive at 8pm if we’re on time and worried that they will be closed. We’re driving to Tamarindo so can’t take ground service, too far. Are all of the rental options open until pick up?
Thanks!
Lorrie
Nikki Stovall says
We arrive at 258pm on Sunday. Rented a regular car to drive to Arenal Observatory Lodge. Others are now saying we should stay elsewhere first night vs drive last part in the early dark but we’ve only got two nights at AOL so that would be a big wrinkle. Husband is great driver and we can take it slow. We only have carry ons and are sitting closer to front of the plane and will hustle through airport, rented from Dollar and will bring snacks so we don’t have to stop on the drive. Seasoned travelers familiar with defensive driving in other countries. Are we totally insane or are the concerns of TA posters exaggerated in this scenario?
Sammi says
Depending on what time of year you are visiting, the drive is doable at that time. Just make sure to use a GPS and go slow because the section around the Lake Arenal is very curvy and windy so you need to go slow. If you’re landing in SJO, it may be better to stay a night in San Jose because there is always a lot of traffic in that area and you need to give yourself at least 1 hour more for stops, traffic, etc. You can leave early the next morning, especially if you have a long flight. If you land in Liberia, the drive is much easier without traffic. Just remember it does get dark here by 6 PM everyday.
Also the immigration lines during this time of year are taking a lot longer because many planes are arriving at once so depending on which airport you’re flying into, give yourself around 1 hour to go through immigration/customs.
It is a long drive so even if you’re a seasoned traveler with driving experience, the time may be the deciding factor because it is going to be around a 3.5-4 hour drive (maybe even more going from SJO Airport because of traffic).
Dharmender singh says
I see most of the rental companies with open time of 5:00AM to 6PM, some are open till 10:30pm. My flight will reach LIR at 10PM, and customs etc will take another 1 hours.
So the questions are below:
1. Can I get a rental car at 11:30PM or so from LIR? otherwise what you suggest?
yeison says
Hi!
Most car rentals will stay until the last client shows up, with our partner Adobe we have had clients arriving after midnight and no problem they always stay.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Ryan says
How do you get your credit card company to write this magic letter that rental car companies need to see? I’ve rented cars in Costa Rica maybe 5x so far and I can’t get them to waive this fee despite having the same card that you reference above.
When I call Chase they tell me that they don’t write letters and all I have to do is show the rental car company a printout of their policy. I’ve done this and showed them the coverage with relevant parts highlighted and they’ve told me that isn’t enough.
So what gives? How can someone decline this coverage?
Thanks!
Ryan
Sammi says
Hi Ryan, I have a Chase Sapphire credit card and I called the number on the back of my credit card to get the letter. They sent it to me to my email and it has my name, last 4 digits of my CC and it states that their cc car rental insurance will cover this and so on. Car rental companies in CR do need the actual letter and not just the policy. Hope this helps!
Erica Davis says
Hi i am a woman traveling alone to Liberia and may drive into playa conchal and Tamarindo, do you think driving conditions are safe for me alone? I have driven in countries like Mexico, Egypt and Panama for example with no issues I dont think I have problems with crazy drivers, but I have never driven in a rough terrain truly unpaved roads
Sammi says
Hi Erica, that route from Liberia to Conchal/Tamarindo are actually all on paved roads and it is a very popular route for tourists so I don’t think you’ll have a problem. I actually drive alone from Liberia – Tamarindo quite often and it’s like 4 turns and easy.
Jody says
Hello! First timer here too, coming with daughter next weekend, landing in San Jose, getting rental car and staying overnight and driving first thing in morning to my Airbnb in UvitA and one in Dominican. Any info or scoops with the drive there to be concerned about? Exchange $ at airport, etc, thank you !
Sammi says
Check with your AIrbnb and Dominical if you need a 4wd/4×4, many rentals are up in the mountains and it is absolutely necessary to have one. You need to pay some toll roads from San Jose to Uvita, so bring either a few small USD bills like $5 or $1, or exchange $5 at the airport. Have a great time!
Rhea Olson says
We are flying into Liberia on March 20 2020. We have the first two nights booked at Blue River Resort. Do you think we need a 4×4 to drive there? Thanks
yeison says
Hello Rhea,
Last time we drove close to the Blue River Resort a 4×4 was not required, however, I would recommend you to get in contact with the hotel one month before arrival just in case and be 100% sure 🙂
James says
Is there a mileage limit or charge for mileage on the rental cars from Adobe?
Sammi says
Yes! Unlimited kilometers except for rentals over 1 month.
Carl DeAbreu says
Hi,
Need a small SUV (Suzuki Jimny or similar) Sep 3rd to 15th 2019. Can I pick up/Drop off at Riu Palace/Guanacaste?
Sammi says
Hello Carl, yes our partner can drop off and pick up the car at Riu with no extra cost. We’ll be emailing you some options soon