Liberia Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The Capital of Guanacaste Province is the growing city of Liberia, now complete with an international airport that accepts charters flights from different northamerica, Europe and Nordic countries. Overlooked as a tourist destination, the dusty colonial town is a center for the many ranches and farms in the mostly agricultural area. The sun shines more in Guanacaste especially in the dry season, but even iin the rainy season when things are green, you get more sun time here. The year-round weather down on the plains is hot and hotter, but the town offers some respite in its cool, shady central square and mercado.

Liberia is a colonial town. Spanish architecture survives in corner homes that have puertas del sol; clean, straight streets lined with flamboyant trees; brilliant whote-washed walls; adobe and stucco; brown tile roofs; wooden porticos; birght color trim; and bougainvillea peeking over garden walls. All these elements combine to make a pleasant stroll in the early morning or late afternoon.