The new highway from San Jose, Costa Rica to Caldera on the Pacific coast cuts at least an hour from the driving time and eliminates the sharp curves and one lane bridges. Most people focus on getting to the central Pacific towns now in an hour and a half – it also reduces the driving time from San Jose to Guanacaste (northwest Pacific coast) to about 3 and 1/2 hours.

But – the section from Atenas to Orotina is temporarily closed. Improvements need to be made to the sides of the highway in some cases, to avoid potential rocks and slides coming down onto the highway. Estimates are from a few weeks to a few months closed – in Tico time.

Yesterday I was asked about flights from Chicago to Liberia International Airport in Guanacaste Costa Rica and how long a trip it was.

There are three major airlines that fly between Chicago (ORD) and Liberia (LIR) and all of them require a change of planes. Delta connects through Atlanta and the minimum trip time is 6 hours and 40 minutes.  Continental connects through Houston and their minimum trip time is also 6 hours and 40 minutes. American connects through Miami and the minimum trip time for them is 8 hours and 15 minutes.

The Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport of Liberia is close to many Guanacaste beach communities and resorts on the northwest Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is less than a 30 minute drive to Playa del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Ocotal, Playa Panama and the Papagayo Peninsula. You should plan about 1 hour and 15 minutes for a shuttle to Playa Flamingo or Tamarindo.

These resort areas would be a 4 to 5 hour drive from San Jose Costa Rica (SJO) which has many more international flights than Liberia.

Flight stats for San Jose Flight stats for Liberia

Liberia Costa Rica airport

The Liberia airport in Costa Rica is a good choice if you’re staying in Guanacaste on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It’s just 15-20 minutes from Playa Panama and Playa Hermosa and an easy drive that has no traffic. Thanks to the advice from a friend in Costa Rica, we learned how to do this: the tour buss crowds start arriving about 2 hours before the flight, so get to the airport about 2.5 hours early. Park your car just outside the gates, free, take your bags and check in. At this hour there are no lines to pay your exit fee/tax or to check in your luggage.

That done, get back in your car and drive to Liberia to get your on-flight meals, for instance at the Subway in Liberia and shop for last minute gifts of coffee or chocolate at the Jumbo supermarket in Liberia, and then perhaps go to the Hilton Garden Inn

Ice cream near the Liberia airport in Costa Rica

across from the airport for some delicious ice cream.

Finally, return your rental car (we like Poas, which is right across from the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Aiport of Liberia) and have them drive you back to the airport. Then you can sit for a few minutes in the open air reception area before boarding your flight back to the US.

Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia Guanacaste Costa Rica

The Liberia Airport in Guanacaste Costa Rica had over 51,000 passengers traveling through in January 2010. This was an increase of 21.7% over January 2009 and 10.4% over January 2008.  The Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) is very close to many Guanacaste resorts – Playa Hermosa is just 20 pleasant minutes from the airport. International flights started in 2002; now you’ll find American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, US Airways – even Finnair. About 30 different airlines fly into Liberia. If you’re heading for the Papagayo Peninsula or to Tamarindo, you’ll save a 4.5 hour drive from San Jose by flying into Liberia.

On Wednesday the new Costa Rica highway from San Jose to Caldera on the central Pacific Coast opened, after 34 years of planning. This 77 kilometer highway cuts the time for the trip from San Jose to Caldera from 90 minutes to 45 minutes, a major time saver. Various sections are two lane, three lane and four lane, with shoulder lanes.  This opening is long awaited good news for the area. We’ve driven on some sections of the new road and the positive difference is amazing! Much better driving conditions, but still offering great views of the Costa Rican countryside.

Most businesses in Costa Rica shut down from December 18th to January 4th. Not just government offices, but most businesses! Tourism businesses remain open, but the rest of the country can relax and enjoy the season with their family and friends.

Tents along Manuel Antonio Park beach in Costa Rica

A year ago the beach approach to Manuel Antonio Park was lined with sidewalk vendors and there were tents and clotheslines on the adjacent beach.

Sidewalk vendors near Manuel Antonio Park

Today all that is gone. With the approaching opening of the new marina in Quepos and the importance of tourists at Manuel Antonio Park, the government has been effective in cleaning up this area and making it more easily accessible.

Beach near Manuel Antonio Park in Costa Rica

We learned this week through del Pacifico’s post on Facebook that the new Parittas bridge is open – the last one lane bridge between del Pacifico and Manuel Antonio Park. Though the ride across the bridge itself is only 2 minutes (the length of the YouTube video linked above), the wait on either side could be 1.5 to 2 hours at busy times. In the video you can see the new bridge on the right (if you take your eyes off the bridge ahead). The bridge looked and felt pretty rickety but we figured if the big 18 wheelers could make it across, so could we. We’re looking forward to crossing the new bridge when we’re there in January.

View YouTube video here.

Ocaso Cerro B&B site in Costa Rica

Soon there will be a new bed & breakfast in Tres Rios de Coronado in Costa Rica. Our clients, Chuck & Debbie Knight, bought land south of Dominical a few years ago, with plans to build a home and a B&B on their ocean view land. Their soon-to-be Costa Rica B&B has both a website and a Facebook page. You can watch the construction progress on either of these sites. Tami and I have visited several areas of Costa Rica, but are waiting for this B&B to be finished before we check out the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

On a “small world” note – when we were last having lunch with Chuck & Debbie at Diner 437, we suggested they contact Charles Zeller of Ship to Costa Rica, whom we recently met in San Jose, about shipping their household goods – only to discover that Zeller had already visited them at their St Pete Beach condo!