Guanacaste’s main international airport in Liberia just posted the strongest first quarter in its history, another sign that Costa Rica’s Pacific gateway is carrying a larger share of the country’s tourism traffic. Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport handled 793,075 passengers from January through March 2026, up 12% from the same period last year and the busiest quarter ever recorded at the airport.
The increase was driven mostly by international traffic, which reached 773,973 passengers in the quarter. Domestic traffic also climbed sharply, with 19,100 travelers using local flights, a 25% jump from the first quarter of 2025.
March set the pace. The airport recorded 297,850 passengers during the month, the highest monthly total in its history, along with 918 international flights. Average load factor hit 88%, the highest level reported in the last 18 months, showing planes were operating close to full during the peak of the high season.
The heaviest day came on March 21, when the airport moved 14,967 passengers across 60 commercial flights, setting a new single-day record. The quarter also included the three busiest days ever registered at the airport, with March 21, March 14, and January 3 all landing at the top of the list.
A big part of that surge came from Canada. The Canadian market grew 27% and now makes up 26% of the airport’s tourist traffic, reinforcing Guanacaste’s growing dependence on that segment. Earlier this year, Liberia Airport confirmed that its Toronto route would continue year-round in 2026 instead of ending with the traditional peak season, and the airport listed six direct Canadian connections: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Calgary.
For Guanacaste, the numbers show more than a strong high season. They point to an airport that is still gaining ground as one of Costa Rica’s main tourism entry points. With the busiest quarter, busiest month, and busiest single day already on the books before midyear, Liberia enters the rest of 2026 with unusual momentum.
