Route Pura Vida

San José to Guanacaste Airport (LIR)

223 km (138 miles)

Cityscape of San José, Costa Rica
From

San José

Costa Rica's capital and cultural hub — markets, museums, and the country's best food scene.

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Guanacaste Airport (LIR) terminal, Costa Rica
To

Guanacaste Airport (LIR)

Liberia's international airport, closest to Guanacaste's beaches and the Nicoya Peninsula.

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Transportation Options

Rental Car

Distance: 223 km (138 mi)
Duration: ~4.5 hours

From San José, take Caldera Highway (Route 27) for 88 km, Pan-American Highway (Route 1) for 119 km, then Nicoya Peninsula Highway (Route 21) for the final 10 km into Guanacaste Airport (LIR).

Highways used

  • Rt 27 Caldera Highway 88 km · 1 hour 34 min
  • Rt 1 Pan-American Highway 119 km · 1 hour 55 min
  • Rt 21 Nicoya Peninsula Highway 10 km · 13 min

Note: Costa Rica traffic, weather and road conditions can greatly increase your drive time. It's always best to check with Waze before heading out. Read more on how to drive in Costa Rica.

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Shuttle

Duration: ~5 hours

Shared shuttles available multiple times daily. Private transfers offer door-to-door service.

Note: Shuttles come in shared and private flavors with different costs and trade-offs. Read more on taking a shuttle in Costa Rica.

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Flight

Route: SJO → LIR
Duration: 45 minutes

Note: Domestic flights in Costa Rica are short hops on small turboprops, with strict baggage limits and early check-in. Read more on flying in Costa Rica.

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