| The
spirited provincial capital of Liberia has a distinctively
friendly
and open
feel, its wide clean streets and blinding white
houses the legacy of the pioneering farmers and cattle
ranchers who founded it. At present most travellers use the
town simply
as a jumping-off point for the national parks of Rincón
de la Vieja and Santa Rosa , an overnight stop to or from
the beaches of Guanacaste, or a break on the way to Nicaragua.
It's worth getting to know it better, however, for Liberia
is actually
one of the most appealing towns in Costa Rica.
Sometimes
called the " ciudad blanca " (white city)
on account of its whitewashed houses, Liberia is the only town
in the country that seems truly "colonial".
It has everything you might need for a relaxing stay
of a
day or two
- well-priced accommodation (although not much choice),
a very helpful tourist office and a couple of nice places
to
eat and
drink. This may all change, of course, if the nearby
international airport ever starts delivering passengers
in large numbers,
but for now Liberia is still the epitome of dignified
(if somewhat static) provincialism, with a strong identity
and atmosphere
all its own.
Liberia
also boasts several lively local festivals , the most
elaborate of which
is on July 25, El Día de la Independencia
, celebrating Guanacaste's independence from Nicaragua
with parades, horseshows, cattle auctions, rodeos,
fiestas and
roving marimba bands. If you want to attend, make bus
and hotel reservations
as far in advance as possible. The last week in September,
the Semana Cultural Liberia Ciudad Blanca , offers
similar goings-on but without the wild patriotic revelry
of July's
celebration; there's no need to book buses and hotels
in advance during this period. Hostels in Liberia |
ROOMS COSTA RICA
