Hotel Liberia

Hotel Liberia is set in a lovely colonial-style building that has served as lodging for almost a century. The hotel’s unassuming exterior gives way to a delightful open-air lobby with original adobe walls, tiled flooring, and wooden rocking chairs. A restaurant is found along one side of the narrow lobby. It features wooden tables and chairs with burnt-orange cushions, as well as a mosaic tiled floor. Its scuffed wooden support beams lend the space a cozy, authentic vibe, while colorful artwork and pottery brighten things up. The lobby also leads to a tiny garden and the newer Tower building.

Guests are a fairly even mix of couples, groups of friends, and solo travelers. The vibe is relaxed, and the low room rates favor a youngish, backpacker crowd. The bells of the nearby church can often be heard chiming throughout the day. Travelers would be hard pressed to find a better value option in downtown Liberia, with the hotel’s historic setting giving it an edge over comparable budget properties. 

Hotel Liberia is located on Calle Real, the town’s main street, which is lined with beautifully crumbling historic homes and other hotels. Parque Central (also known as Mario Cañas Ruiz Park), one of Liberia’s primary gathering places, is located at the end of the street along with the pretty Parroquia de La Inmaculada Concepcion (Central Church of Liberia). Both can be reached in less than five minutes on foot.

There are several grocery stores and banks located within a 10-minute walk, as well as restaurants ranging from local joints to a Pizza Hut. It’s also a 10-minute walk away from the Ermita de la Agonía chapel, a simple Colonial-era structure. Rincón de la Vieja National Park, with an active volcano and hot springs, is an hour’s drive away. The airport can be reached in 15 minutes by car, and the hotel can arrange transfers for a fee. 

Guest rooms at Hotel Liberia are basic but tidy. Rooms are divided into two areas: The Casona Rooms are set along the hallways of the original colonial building; and the Tower (Torre) Rooms are found in a newer addition that faces toward the hotel’s small courtyard. Casona Rooms are generally a bit larger and furnished with two double beds. Tower Rooms include dorm rooms with shared bathrooms, as well as private rooms with either two single beds or a single bed and a double bed.

Rooms in both areas of the hotel feature dark wood furnishings, and firm beds with deep, primary-colored bed runners and pillows. Muted green-gray walls are decorated with a subtle piece of artwork or two. It's a simple, timeless look that pairs well with the historic setting.

Rooms tend to lack ventilation and have no air-conditioning -- only ceiling fans -- and no closets. Some rooms have a few shelves, while others have small TV tables. Rooms also include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and two-cup coffeemakers, along with single-serve packets of coffee. 

Bathrooms have pedestal sinks and showers with only cold water. Towels, bars of soap, and small bottles of off-brand shampoo are provided 

The hotel’s breezy restaurant is open for breakfast (for a fee), lunch, and dinner. Like the rooms, the restaurant exudes an unfussy charm. It's set in the hotel’s open-air courtyard, with a few tables spilling outside into a small garden. Dishes are international with Costa Rican influence. Water, wine, beer, soda, and a small selection of other drinks are sold in the lobby. 

Free Wi-Fi is offered throughout and there’s free parking on-site. The front desk is open 24 hours and can help with the arrangement of tours and airport transfers. Currency exchange and laundry services are also available.