Guanacaste will gain a new air connection with the United States during the 2027 tourism season. Starting in February, Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, known as Guanacaste Airport, will welcome a charter flight from Rockford, Illinois, expanding direct travel options between this part of the United States and Costa Rica’s North Pacific region.
The new route will begin on February 5, 2027, and operate until April 2, with one flight per week. The service will be marketed by Apple Vacations and operated by TUI Airways using Boeing 737-800NG aircraft with a capacity of 189 passengers.
A connection designed for the tourism season
The new service will operate for a limited period, covering February, March and the first days of April, coinciding with one of Guanacaste’s busiest tourism periods.
Charter flights can provide targeted connections during specific times of the year, particularly when travel demand is concentrated around a particular season. In this case, the Rockford service will give travelers from this part of Illinois direct access to Liberia without having to connect through another airport.
For visitors planning a vacation in the region, this can make the journey to Guanacaste simpler and more convenient.
The United States remains a key tourism market
The new route comes as the U.S. market continues to play a central role in international tourism.
During the first seven months of 2026, 1,853,430 international tourists arrived in the country by air, according to figures cited by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT). During the same period, Guanacaste Airport accounted for 67.2% of the net growth in international air arrivals.
The importance of the U.S. market is also reflected in the number of connections between Guanacaste and different American cities. The airport currently offers flights to several destinations in the United States and continues to expand its international network.
The addition of Rockford therefore becomes part of a broader effort to connect the region with different U.S. markets, beyond the major cities that have traditionally concentrated much of the international air traffic.
An increasingly connected gateway
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport has become one of the main gateways for travelers visiting the beaches and tourism destinations of the North Pacific.
Located approximately 12 kilometers west of central Liberia, the airport provides access to different parts of Guanacaste and surrounding areas.
From the terminal, visitors can travel to beach destinations, protected areas, rural communities and a wide range of nature and adventure experiences that form part of the region’s tourism offering.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute highlights Guanacaste for its natural and cultural heritage, extensive coastline, diverse ecosystems and numerous protected areas.
More direct ways to reach the region
The Rockford connection is not an isolated development. In 2026, the airport and the ICT also announced new international services, including a connection with Vancouver, Canada, scheduled to operate between December 2026 and April 2027.
At the end of 2025, new routes from Fort Lauderdale and Toronto were also introduced, strengthening connections with the United States and Canada during the high season. These developments show how air connectivity continues to evolve in response to tourism demand and the opportunities presented by different international markets.
An opportunity for the local tourism economy
Every new international connection can have an impact beyond the airport itself. Visitors arriving in Guanacaste need accommodation, transportation, food, activities and a range of other services during their stay.
This creates opportunities for hotels, tour operators, restaurants, transportation companies, guides and other businesses connected directly or indirectly to tourism.
For communities across the region, greater connectivity can also help diversify visitor markets and strengthen links with international travelers.
The arrival of visitors from Rockford therefore represents another opportunity for Guanacaste to strengthen its position as an accessible destination for the U.S. market.
A seasonal route for the 2027 tourism season
The Rockford–Liberia flight will operate once a week between February 5 and April 2, 2027. Although it is a seasonal service, its introduction reflects continued interest from tourism operators and airlines in meeting demand during the region’s busiest travel months.
For Guanacaste, the new connection provides another gateway to an important international market while giving more travelers the opportunity to discover the region’s beaches, natural landscapes and tourism experiences.
