This webpage provides information about the option to fly to Liberia (LIR) instead of Managua (MGA). Regulations & procedures may change from the time of this writing.

2 Options: Managua, Nicaragua OR Liberia, Costa Rica

To get to San Juan Del Sur, travellers have 2 main options for airports to fly into:

1. Land in Managua, Nicaragua (MGA): Managua is a 2.5-hour drive from San Juan Del Sur, with no land border to cross.
2. Land Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR): It takes about 3 - 3.5 hours to get from the Liberia airport to San Juan Del Sur (2 hours driving, plus about 1 - 1.5 hours to cross the land border, depending on how busy it is at the border).

Why fly to Liberia, Costa Rica, instead of Managua, Nicaragua?

To get to San Juan del Sur, most guests will fly to Managua (MGA). However, some prefer flying to Liberia (LIR), Costa Rica. For example, guests from California sometimes have non-stop flights to LIR and decide to go with that option.

• If you decide to land in Managua we will send a driver to get you at the Managua airport (MGA), and bring you to our villa (a 2.5 hours drive, no borders to cross).
• Landing in Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) is a bit more of a journey to get to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. It usually takes 3 - 3.5 hours with the time spent at the borders. However, for some guests with much better flights to LIR, it might be worth it.

Going from Liberia Costa Rica to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

• You will need to cross the land border which is 1 hour North of the Liberia airport. This process can be a bit complicated and take some time if there are line-ups. For this reason, we collaborate with a transportation company that has employees in both countries.

How It Works:

• Land in Liberia: a driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals with your name on a board.
• You will then travel 1 hour to the land border.
• At the land border, you will need to exit your shuttle and cross on foot. (Shuttle vehicles do not cross borders). Your Costa Rican driver will introduce you to our agent who will be helping you cross the border to Nicaragua by clarifying the paperwork.
• If you need help with your luggage, you can hire out the guys with the 3-wheel bicycles, our agent will help hire them. An appropriate tip is $12USD per bicycle.
• Once you’ve crossed to Nicaragua, a Nicaraguan driver will take you directly to our villa in San Juan Del Sur.
• Make sure to have some cash money (USD). There is a Costa Rican exit fee, and a Nicaraguan entry fee. Both are about $10 - $15 USD.