Chicago has two airlines flying nonstop to Liberia airport (LIR), both from O'Hare. Neither flies daily all year, so the day of the week matters: Saturdays are covered almost year-round, and most days of the week from mid-December through March, Guanacaste's dry season.
Checked September 24, 2026. Dates, times and frequencies are from the airlines and their filed schedules. Winter timetables can still change, so confirm with the airline before you book.
Which airlines fly nonstop from Chicago to Liberia?
| Airline | Season | Frequency | Lands in Liberia | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United | From September 26, 2026; filed into August 2027 | Saturdays in the fall; almost daily mid-December–March; Saturdays and Sundays in April; Saturdays in summer | About noon to 1 p.m. (2:40 p.m. over the holidays) | ~5 h 10 |
| American | From November 21, 2026; filed into August 2027 | Saturdays in late November, January–February and summer; daily December 17 – January 5 and March 4 – April 5 | About 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. | ~5 h 15 |
Schedules after April 2027 are the airlines' early filings and can still change.
When do the flights run?
United flies every Saturday from September 26, 2026, and almost every day from mid-December through March. American starts on November 21, flies daily over the Christmas holidays and again for spring break in March, and on Saturdays in between. Both have Saturday flights on file for summer 2027.
Which airport do you fly from and land at?
Both airlines fly from O'Hare (ORD) to Liberia airport (LIR), branded Guanacaste Airport, 12 km west of Liberia town. It has one passenger terminal: immigration, baggage claim, customs, then out to the curb where drivers, shuttles and taxis wait.
Tips for flying from Chicago
- Build the trip around Saturday. Outside the peak, Saturday is the only day with a nonstop, so Saturday-to-Saturday trips are the easy fit.
- Saturday means busy. High-season Saturdays and Sundays are Liberia's busiest arrival days; allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours from gate to curb, against 30 to 90 minutes on a quiet day.
- No nonstop that day? Connect. Houston (United), Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami (American) and Atlanta (Delta) all have daily Liberia flights for most of the year.
- Book spring break early. March 2026 was Liberia airport's busiest month on record, with 297,850 passengers.
After you land: how far are the beaches?
| Destination | Distance | Drive from Liberia airport |
|---|---|---|
| Playas del Coco | 20–35 km | 30–45 minutes |
| Papagayo Peninsula | 25–45 km | 30–60 minutes |
| Flamingo & Conchal | 45–70 km | 1 hour – 1 hour 30 |
| Tamarindo | 65–77 km | 1 hour 15 – 1 hour 30 (up to 2 hours in peak traffic) |
| Nosara | about 100 km | 2 – 2 hours 30 |
| Sámara | about 105 km | 2 – 2 hours 15 |
| Santa Teresa | 150–220 km | 4 hours 30 – 5 hours 30 |
It gets dark around 6 p.m. all year, and the roads to Nosara and Santa Teresa are unlit, with rough final stretches. Our Liberia airport guide covers immigration, customs and where your driver waits, and Liberia airport transportation compares taxis, shuttles, rental cars and private drivers.
Insider tip: the United flight that lands around 1 p.m. in winter gives you enough daylight for Nosara or Sámara on a normal day. On a busy Saturday, with a long immigration line, I'd pick Coco, Flamingo or Tamarindo for the first night instead. — Erick
Landing at Liberia? Your driver will be waiting
- Your driver meets you as you walk out of Liberia arrivals, with a sign bearing your name.
- Safe, friendly, English-speaking drivers with the credentials for tourist transport, arranged by Anywhere Costa Rica (IATA and ASTA accredited).
- Modern, spacious, air-conditioned vans.
- Up to an hour of stops is included: groceries, cold drinks, photos or lunch on the way.
- 24/7 in-country support by phone, text and WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct flight from Chicago to Liberia, Costa Rica?
Yes. United flies nonstop from O'Hare (ORD) to Liberia (LIR) on Saturdays for most of the year and almost daily from mid-December through March. American flies daily over the holidays and from March 4 to April 5, 2027, and on Saturdays at other times in winter and summer.
How long is the flight from Chicago to Liberia?
About 5 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes southbound. Costa Rica is on the same time as Chicago in winter and one hour behind in summer.
Which days do Chicago flights to Liberia fly?
Saturday is the one day with a nonstop almost all year. From mid-December through March, United flies most days (no Tuesdays in January and February), and American adds daily flights over the holidays and in March.
What time do Chicago flights land in Liberia?
Around midday to mid-afternoon: about noon to 1 p.m. on most winter and summer flights, and about 2:15 to 2:40 p.m. over the holidays.
Should I fly from Chicago to Liberia or to San José?
Liberia if you're staying in Guanacaste: Playas del Coco is 30–45 minutes from the airport and Tamarindo 1 hour 15 – 1 hour 30 (up to 2 hours in peak traffic), against roughly 4 to 5.5 hours from San José. See Liberia vs San José airport.
What if there's no Chicago nonstop on my day?
Connect. United connects through Houston (IAH), American through Dallas/Fort Worth or Miami, and Delta through Atlanta; all four hubs have daily Liberia flights for most or all of the year.