Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Liberia Airport (LIR): what you need to know
The average length of a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport is 6 hours 15 minutes.
Liberia is one hour ahead of San Francisco and observes the UTC-6 timezone.
Give yourself enough time to make your SFO to LIR flight. As a general rule, turn up at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as August, it's a good idea to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight when you fly during peak periods in general.
Jetting into Liberia (and then discovering more of Costa Rica!) is a cinch with United Airlines. This popular carrier has direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport.
United Airlines is the most frequently booked airline on this route.
The carrier with the top on-time arrival performance for SFO to LIR flights is United Airlines.
We make it a piece of cake to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Top stopovers between SFO and LIR include:
Los Angeles International Airport
Denver International Airport
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Liberia Airport (LIR)
188 € is the lowest price for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport flight. Return flights start at 449 €. These fares may change based on availability and demand.
To secure cheap tickets from SFO to LIR, book your trip six months ahead of your departure date.
The cheapest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest airfares if you have flexible travel dates.
You won't have to check back in every day to find out if fares have gone down when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment there's a new deal on cheap flights from SFO to LIR.
Discover the right flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by arrival and departure times, airline, and journey duration.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Of the departures from San Francisco International Airport, 77.36% arrive on time at their destination.
To reach San Francisco International Airport from central San Francisco, it'll take around 20 minutes if you're going by car. Of course, this depends on traffic conditions. It's approximately 21 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
The journey when using public transport takes about 45 minutes.
Booked an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by picking one of these hotels close to SFO:
Arriving at Liberia Airport (LIR)
If you're landing on a late San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport flight, nothing beats the convenience of being near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be resting not long after at one of these options near LIR:
Get on the fast track to adventure by picking up a Liberia Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Avis, Europcar or NU Car Rentals and explore beyond Liberia's usual tourist stops.
Reserving your vehicle from Liberia Airport about two weeks ahead boosts your odds of scoring a great price.
Getting from Liberia Airport (LIR) to central Liberia
Liberia Airport to central Liberia has a drive time of about 20 minutes. It's approximately 13 kilometres away.
When to fly to Liberia Airport (LIR)
The quietest month for a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport is May, while January is the most popular. Choose the ideal time to go to Liberia based on whether you prefer a more relaxed vibe or a faster pace.
Book your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Liberia Airport for April if you want to visit Liberia during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 22ºC (72ºF) and 35ºC (95ºF).
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SFO to LIR in November. Average temperatures are between 21ºC (70ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF) then.
Explore more of Costa Rica
San Jose is just one of the many places in Costa Rica waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of Liberia. Around 161 kilometres away to the south-east, popular attractions include Teatro Nacional Costa Rica, National Park (Parque Nacional) and Plaza de la Cultura.
Limon is another favourite destination in Costa Rica and is around 274 kilometres east of Liberia. No journey is complete without dropping by Veragua Rainforest Park, Playa Bonita and Cruise Pier Puerto Limon.