Liberia, Costa Rica

There’s two ways to get to the town of Liberia when you arrive at the airport 12 km away. One is the taxi at a rate of $20 USD. The other is the local bus for 420 colon which converts to 82 U.S. cents. Why was I the only gringo on the bus? Was I the only one on the airplane thinking like a backpacker?

The flight from Atlanta to Costa Rica felt more like a trip to Hawaii than Central America. The Boeing 757 was loaded with gringo tourists, from all over the USA, ready to take advantage of a robust tourism infrastructure. There are countless options for tours and activities which included everything from wild life sightseeing, surf camps, jungle trekking, yoga retreats, beaches, golf, etc. It all fuels a healthy economy that provides a good quality of life for the Costa Rican people that's far better than other nations within Central America. There’s nothing third world about this country judging by what I’ve seen thus far.

Upon arrival at the newly constructed airport customs and baggage claim were an absolute breeze. Liberia is an easy back door alternative compared to the bustling Capitol City of San Jose. When exiting the Liberia terminal I brushed off taxi drivers and found the only ATM located near the check in area. Right outside the arrival area is the taxi stand. On the other end, near the departure area is a bus stop. That’s where a few locals were waiting for the bus. I joined the locals.

Liberia is a busy small town built around Parque Central which is essentially a town square. The park itself is full of bright yellow painted benches. On the north side of the square is a large somewhat mid century modern looking cathedral that's painted white. The rest of the square is lined with shops, restaurants and a couple of bars. In the evening the square takes on a festive atmosphere as it’s a very popular place for local people to hang out in the evening.

I picked up a bottle of cold water and took a seat at on one of the benches in the park and consulted my Lost Planet Guide (Lonely Planet). Just off the square the book recommended a few cheap places. My general rule, when possible, is to look at 3 accommodation options before choosing. Prices varied from $10 to $20. I chose a simple room with a nice feel and quiet location for $15 or 7,500 colon. Several old 45 rpm records decorate the walls and there’s shared bathroom around the corner. No air con but a good fan. Even though it gets up to 90 during the day and the lows are around 70 there’s a nice wind that makes the air feel dry. Air conditioning really isn’t necessary.

By mid afternoon I was all situated so I just walked around town to get acclimated to the culture and surrounding. By evening I was feeling a little wired from the transition so I found a nice little restuarante with a breezy corner table and ordered a traditional dish while drinking a couple of local beers. The perfect way to settle back into a backpacker lifestyle.