Liberia

Liberia is the capital of Guanacaste and known as the white city for the pale adobe and lime-washed houses of its old quarter, single-storey buildings with corner doors, tiled roofs and interior courtyards, of which a number survive along Calle Real and around the old church of La Agonia. It was a cattle town at the centre of the sabanero culture of the Guanacaste plains, and the Guanacaste Museum in the old jail covers that history. Most visitors pass through: the international airport is here and serves the northern beach coast, and the town is the last stop for services before the coast or Rincon de la Vieja.

What you actually see

• Calle Real - the street of surviving white adobe houses.
• La Agonia church - the old church at the end of the street.
• The Guanacaste Museum - the sabanero and regional history collection.
• The central park - the square at the middle of the town.

When to go

December to April in the dry season, when Guanacaste is at its hottest and driest; the town is very hot in March and April. Mornings are the only comfortable time to walk. Guanacaste Day in July brings celebrations.

Honest expectations

Most of the town is modern and the historic quarter is a few streets. Heat in the dry season is severe. The museum is small. It functions mainly as a transit and services stop.

Nearby

Rincon de la Vieja lies northeast; the Papagayo coast is west.