Liberia, Costa Rica
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Liberia is the capital of the Guanacaste province in Costa Rica and is located roughly four hours from San José by bus. Over 33,000 people live in the city, though small by North American standards, the city is quite large in comparison to its Guanacastecan neighbors to the southeast, Santa Cruz, and Nicoya. The town center features a modern-style church, as many Costa Rican towns do, facing a plaza surrounded by locally-owned shops and restaurants.
Tourists may find their way to Liberia en route to such beaches as Playa del Coco or Playa Hermosa, though most will simply grab a bite to eat at one of the American fast food restaurants located at the city's main crossroads and continue on their way.
Rincón de la Vieja national park is located just to the northwest of Liberia. Located along the park's many kilometers of hiking trails are such volcanic wonders as hot springs and bubbling clay pots as well as numerous waterfalls and rivers.