Why not explore Liberia City while you’re on vacation in Costa Rica? Liberia City resides in the province of Guanacaste, which makes up a good portion of Costa Rica. Liberia City is for many a starting point to take excursions from there to many other points of interest found in the Guanacaste province.
Taking excursions is a breeze because the international airport is located right in Liberia City. The airport is called the Daniel Oduber International and it provides many local flights to connect you with many of the smaller cities that are close by. It’s an excellent way to take a quick hop over to some of the finest beaches in the world.
The beautiful beaches and fascinating volcanoes of Guanacaste attract many tourists to this area for their Costa Rica vacations. Liberia City is a very metropolitan city that provides many amenities such as shopping, quaint restaurants and a good selection of hotels.
When you first arrive at Liberia City, you will be overwhelmed by the sea of colonial styled homes all glistening white in the sunshine. Liberia is called La Ciudad Blanca, which means the white city, making the city apply named for its style of living. They are all made from clay, whitewashed and carry a similar resemblance to what we call an adobe styled home.
Liberia City will provide you with ample opportunity to take in the culture and heritage of the city with long relaxing walks to get a feel for what Liberia is really about. As you walk about you may see some traditional street vendors selling their delightful treats. Take some time to sample some Jugo de Cana, which is sugar cane juice, so delicious on a warm day. Snow cones Costa Rica style is called Copoz and can be purchased in many small shops along the way as well as many tempting ice cream shops.
Another famous attraction to Liberia City is the beautiful central park. It makes a wonderful safe place to take a stroll and take in the night air. While you are out you should stop in at the Pizza Pronto restaurant. It is located just one block east of the central park and two blocks south. Why not enjoy the fine evening weather and sit outside at the tables that they provide in a wonderful courtyard, complete with a fountain. If you have never tasted a wood-fired pizza, I can guarantee you’re in for a big treat, because they are delicious.
Liberia City touts a very proud heritage, celebrating their values and beliefs with a yearly festival, which is called El Dia de la Anexion. It marks the period when the Guanacaste’s province was annexed into Costa Rica. If you can, you will want to attend this festival to really see and feel the heritage of this community. There is singing, traditional dancing and music for all to enjoy and of course plenty of their native food for you to try.
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is located in the northwestern part of Costa Rica near the city of Liberia which serves a hub for that part of the country. Tourists pass through Liberia to get to the pacific coasts and the popular beaches there. Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is one of six active volcanoes in Costa Rica. The volcano is a destination in itself, separate from the rest of Costa Rica. It is located in its own national park.
It is surrounded by lots of lesser volcanic activity, like hot sulfurous springs, boiling mud pits and geysers. Apart from all the geological sights there is also a wide variety of wildlife to be seen on the hiking trails in the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. There are several resorts in the area that cater to visitors to the national park.
About the Volcano
There is a trail up to the peak of the volcano that is best attempted only by experienced hikers. The trail is roughly 5 miles long, going up the side of the volcano and will take hikers to a crater where it is possible to get a good look at the spectacularly desolate, barren landscape if the visibility is right. On the way up it is possible to see the hot pools of bubbling mud on the slopes of the volcano as well as to observe the varied local wildlife. There are several trails within the national park for the benefit of hikers. Important note for first-time visitors: there are high winds at the top and no safety railings, so be careful.
The volcano itself has only had minor eruptions in thousands of years, and none of those have occurred since 1998.
Wildlife
This park is especially interesting to birdwatchers as there are over 300 species of birds inhabiting it. Other wildlife inhabiting the Rincon de la Vieja National Park include sloths, anteaters, and armadillos.
Accommodations
These range from cabins with spas and hot mineral springs, to a traditional cattle ranch that offers white water tubing and horseback rides.