Flying into Guanacaste Airport (LIR)
Entry, exit tax, customs and routes, quoted from the airport's own site.
Arriving: entry requirements
Have your valid passport, the exact address of your accommodation, and your return or onward travel ticket readily available.All visitors must meet the following requirements: Onward travel ticket or return ticket to the country of origin. Passport in good condition and valid according to nationality group. Address of accommodation.Passports must be in good condition and valid for the minimum period required by nationality group: First group: up to 1 day Second group: 3 months Third and fourth groups: 6 monthsFirst and second groups: do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica. Third group: nationalities that require a consular visa. Fourth group: countries whose nationals will require a restricted visa.To consult the official and updated list of countries by visa group, click on this link(We always recommend verifying information with official Costa Rican government sources)These are the airport's summary of the rules, not a ruling on any traveler's eligibility. The country list by visa group is on the Costa Rican government page the airport links to.
Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on Guanacaste Airport: Immigration requirements; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Arriving at LIR, in short
The essentials from LIR's own pages fit in three checks. For arrival, the airport lists a valid passport, the exact accommodation address and an onward or return ticket among its requirements, and its passport-validity periods depend on nationality group. On departure, the $29 exit tax is usually already in the ticket price, and if it isn't, the airport says it can be paid at the Bank of Costa Rica desk in the lobby before check-in.
The destination list repeats some city and code entries. With repeats removed, our tally shows 21 airport codes for 20 US cities, 6 airport codes for 6 Canada cities, 2 airport codes for 2 Europe cities; the extra US code is Houston, listed with both HOU and IAH. The list is as the airport's page showed it on the date in each quote's caption.
Our explanation of the quoted facts on this page; it adds no facts of its own.
Health notices for travelers
There is an outbreak of chikungunya in northwest Costa Rica.There is an outbreak of hepatitis A (HAV) in Costa Rica.CDC's linked page provides the precautions and any vaccine information; notices may change after the date we checked.
Leaving: the departure tax
The fee is $29 USD per person. Please check if it is included in your ticket price.Most airlines already include this amount in the ticket price. If not, you must pay $29 USD per person.You can pay it directly at the Bank of Costa Rica located in the airport lobby before checking in.Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on Guanacaste Airport: Departure tax; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Customs
Declaration of assets, items, or cash with a value equal to or greater than USD $10,000 in cash or its equivalent in another currency. Consequence: Confiscation of undeclared belongings pursuant to Article 35 of Law 8204.Prohibited or restricted items. Drugs, weapons, ammunition, explosives. Plants, seeds, fresh food, or agricultural products without a phytosanitary certificate. Chemicals, pesticides, cosmetics, or supplements without authorization from the Ministry of Health.Check before you go. Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm on Guanacaste Airport: Customs and Guanacaste Airport: Immigration requirements; we last found these words there on October 16, 2026.
Getting away from the airport
When arriving at Guanacaste Airport, we recommend using only authorized transportation services. Easily identify them by their official credentials and company uniforms.Where LIR flies
Destinations from Guanacaste Airport (LIR) All (28) United States (20) Canada (6) Europe (2)| Region | Cities (as printed) | Airport codes (our count) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 20: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Rockford, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington | 21: ATL, BWI, BOS, CLT, ORD, DFW, DEN, FLL, HOU, IAH, LAX, MIA, MSP, BNA, JFK, EWR, PHL, RFD, SFO, SEA, IAD |
| Canada | 6: Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg | 6: YYC, YUL, YOW, YYZ, YVR, YWG |
| Europe | 2: Katowice, Zurich | 2: KTW, ZRH |
Atlanta ATL Baltimore BWI Boston BOS Boston BOS Charlotte CLT Chicago ORD Dallas DFW Denver DEN Denver DEN Fort Lauderdale FLL Houston HOU Houston IAH Los Angeles LAX Los Angeles LAX Miami MIA Minneapolis MSP Minneapolis MSP Nashville BNA New York JFK New York JFK New York JFK Newark EWR Philadelphia PHL Rockford RFD San Francisco SFO San Francisco SFO Seattle SEA Washington IADCalgary YYC Montreal YUL Montreal YUL Ottawa YOW Toronto YYZ Toronto YYZ Toronto YYZ Vancouver YVR Winnipeg YWGKatowice KTW Zurich ZRH