Cafe Tio Leo, Liberia

14 Unique Things To Do In Liberia Costa Rica

Are you wondering what fun things Liberia Costa Rica has to offer? If so, this article’s for you.

Liberia is a small city in northwestern Costa Rica with its own international airport. It’s around a 3.5 hour drive from San Jose, and only a half hour drive from the beautiful beaches of the Guanacaste region. 

I recently stayed in Guanacaste, and spent 3 days exploring around Liberia. This article will cover all of the best things to do in the city, from volcano mud baths to waterfall hikes, coffee tours, and more.

Here are 14 fun and unique things to do in Liberia.

Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste

This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through these links we may earn a commission. This helps keep our content free, at no additional cost to you. 

14 Unique Things To Do In Liberia

1. Hike At Rincon de la Vieja National Park

Rincón De La Vieja National Park
Rincón De La Vieja National Park

Rincón de la Vieja is a spectacular 34,000 acre national park with volcanoes, hot springs, and waterfalls, just 40 minutes outside of Liberia. 

Las Pailas Trail, Rincon de la Vieja
Las Pailas Trail, Rincon de la Vieja
Boiling mud pots, Rincón De La Vieja National Park
Las Pailas Trail

I hiked the Las Pailas trail (2 miles roundtrip), and got to see boiling mud pots, milky sulfur ponds, and many interesting volcanic features!

To enter the park, you must purchase entrance tickets online at SINAC ($16.95 USD/nonresident). There’s a large free parking lot and restrooms on site. 

Before you reach the park entrance, you’ll pass right by the Rio Negro Hot Springs. These are 10 heated natural hot springs and a volcano mud bath, owned by Hotel Guachipelin. Entrance to the hot springs is $30/person for a 1.5 hour pass. 

2. Go Ziplining, Horseback Riding, and River Tubing

Beyond hiking at Rincon de la Vieja, you can go on a full day excursion with Hotel Guachipelin, located just outside of the national park.

On this excursion, you’ll get to go ziplining, horseback riding, and river tubing in the rainforest.

You’ll also get complimentary access to the Rio Negro Hot Springs, where you can soak in natural hot springs and volcano mud baths!

3. Go On A Coffee Tour

Cafe Tio Leo, Liberia
Cafe Tio Leo

Head to Cafe Tio Leos to go on a coffee tour. Cafe Tio Leos is a small coffee farm in Liberia that offers 4 in 1 coffee and cultural tours.

On their tour, you’ll get to learn how coffee, chocolate, and empanadas are made, while enjoying tons of samples, and learning about the culture. 

They’re located right next to the airport in the heart of Liberia, and they have a large coffee cup in front of their store. 

4. Go Swimming In Nearby Waterfalls

There’s many amazing waterfalls within a 30 minute drive from Liberia, including the La Leona and Llanos de Cortez waterfalls.

La Leona is a gorgeous turquoise blue waterfall tucked inside of a canyon that’s only accessible by guided hiking tour. It’s a 3 mile round trip hike that requires you to climb up ladders and swim to get to the waterfall.

Llanos de Cortez is a beautiful 70 ft waterfall with a large natural pool that you can swim in. It’s very easily accessible, and just a short 10 minute hike from the dirt parking lot. Entrance to the waterfall is $7/nonresident. 

5. Visit The Rio Celeste Waterfall

Rio Celeste Waterfall, Costa Rica
Rio Celeste

One of Costa Rica’s most beautiful waterfalls, the iconic Rio Celeste, is located just over an hour drive from Liberia.

It’s nestled in Tenorio Volcano National Park, and easily accessible by a 3.7 mile round trip hike. You cannot swim in the waterfall, but it’s incredibly beautiful and worth seeing in person.

To visit, you must purchase entrance tickets beforehand at SINAC ($12/nonresident). There’s a $3-$4 parking fee at the national park so just remember to bring cash.

5. Go Swimming at Poza Los Coyotes

Poza Los Coyotes is a hidden natural swimming hole, just 20-30 minutes north of Liberia. It’s a clear blue natural river with rope swings and a waterfall you can swim in.

They charge an entrance fee of $5–$6, and have a large free dirt parking lot. They also offer safety buoys for a few dollars, which I recommend renting for the day, as the river current can be strong. 

6. Have A Beach Day In Tamarindo

Tamarindo Beach
Tamarindo Beach

Tamarindo Beach is a popular surfing beach town, around 1.5 hours from Liberia. It has a long stretch of sandy beach lined with restaurants, bars, and surf shops.

Tamarindo Beach
Tamarindo Beach

It has a lively atmosphere and is one of the best beach towns in Guanacaste for tourists.

On the beach, you can take surfing lessons, go horseback riding, or rent out lounge chairs and umbrellas to sunbathe. 

7. Go Horseback Riding In Playa Conchal

Go horseback riding on Playa Conchal, one of Guanacaste’s most serene beaches.

Playa Conchal is a beautiful golden sand beach with a shore made of tiny seashells, and unbeatable sunsets.

It’s located on the Westin resort, so it’s only accessible by a 20 minute walk from Brasilito beach if you’re not staying at the hotel.

However, you can go on a horseback riding tour with Pacific Horses to ride along the shore, and admire the beautiful sunsets. 

8. Visit Rescate Las Pumas Wildlife Center

Rescate Las Pumas is an amazing animal sanctuary in Cañas, just a 40 minute drive from Liberia.

They rescue pumas, ocelots, jaguars, and everything from monkeys to macaws. Entrance to the animal sanctuary is $15/nonresident. 

9. Hike At Palo Verde National Park

Palo Verde National Park
Palo Verde National Park (Photo by Linda Roisum)

Palo Verde National Park is a 49,000 acre national park of tropical dry forests and wetlands, around an hour south of Liberia.

This is an amazing national park to spot a variety of bird species, and everything from deer to iguanas.

Just remember to wear bug spray, as the wetlands are swarmed with mosquitos. There’s an entrance fee of $12/nonresident.  

10. Ride ATVs Along The Coast

Tamarindo Beach
Tamarindo Beach

If you’re up for an adventure, explore the rugged coastline of Tamarindo on an ATV tour.

You’ll get to go off-roading, cross over rivers, and visit hidden beaches with a local guide who knows all of the best routes.  

11. Go On A Mangrove Boat Tour

Go on a mangrove estuary tour in Tamarindo Bay (1.5 hour drive from Liberia). This boat tour takes place in Marino Baulas National Park, which is home to everything from crocodiles, sloths, monkeys, and more.

You’ll get to float down the river, and be pointed out wildlife in the mangrove swamps from a naturalist guide. 

13. Go On A Safari At Ponderosa Adventure Park

Go on a wildlife safari at Ponderosa Adventure Park, just 20 minutes south of Liberia. They offer safari tours where you’ll get to feed zebras, giraffes, and ostriches in the back of a 4×4.

They also have ziplining, horseback riding, lazy river tubing, and a waterfall with a natural pool that you can swim in. 

14. Visit A Local Brewery

Volcano Brewing Company, Tamarindo Beach
Volcano Brewing Company

Liberia is known for having some of the best breweries in the country. If you love beer, stop by Numu Brewing Company, Maderos Brewery, or Papagayo Brewing Co. for high-quality craft beer.

If you’re staying in Tamarindo, the Volcano Brewing Company is another popular brewery located right on the beach. 

Liberia Attractions

Summary

If you’re staying in a beach town on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, Liberia is the best airport to fly into.

It’s less than an hour’s drive from many beautiful beaches that are dotted with upscale resorts, restaurants, and surf shops. If you want to stay in a lively beach town, I recommend staying in Tamarindo or Playa Samara.

Tamarindo is the most popular touristy beach town (1.5 hr from Liberia), whereas Playa Samara (2 hr from Liberia) is a more family-friendly and relaxed surfing beach town.

There are also a variety of upscale resort options if you’re looking for somewhere luxurious to stay, including the Westin on Playa Conchal and Four Seasons on Peninsula Papagayo.

And for more ideas on what to do around Liberia, check out our list of the best things to do in Guanacaste!

Related articles you may be interested in: