Guanacaste Airport (LIR), officially Daniel Oduber Quirós, is Costa Rica's second international airport, 11 km west of the town of Liberia. It is the closest airport to the beaches of Guanacaste, from Playas del Coco and Papagayo to Tamarindo and Nosara.
Before you land
You need a passport and proof that you will leave the country: a return or onward ticket by air, by bus or on a cruise ship. Immigration can ask for it, and airlines often check it before you board.
Getting online
Adding an eSIM from a QR code needs a connection, so plan where you will add yours. Once the eSIM is on your phone, turn its line on after landing and choose it for mobile data (switch it on after landing).
From the airport to the beaches
Shuttles. Pre-booked shuttles wait outside the terminal exit, with drivers holding a sign with your name. Book ahead in the dry season, December to April, when same-day seats are scarce.
Rental cars and taxis. Car rental companies and taxis serve the airport. Tamarindo is about 65 to 75 km away, around an hour and a half by road.
Bus. Public buses leave from the town of Liberia, not from the airport. Buses to Tamarindo go from the municipal bus terminal and take about 2.5 to 3 hours; buses to Playas del Coco go from the Pulmitan station nearby and take about an hour.
Good to know
- Time. Costa Rica is on UTC-6 all year, with no daylight saving time.
- Emergencies. Call 911, the national number for police, fire and ambulance.
