A good share of the all-inclusive guests who land at Liberia are heading for the Westin Reserva Conchal, and the first thing many of them ask us is whether it is in Tamarindo. It is close, but not in it. The resort sits inside its own gated reserve about an hour from the airport, with the small village of Brasilito at the gate and Tamarindo twenty minutes further down the coast. Knowing that ahead of time makes the week easier to plan, so here is the drive, the fare and the geography.
Quick facts
| Distance from LIR | 60 km (37 mi) |
| Drive time | 65–70 min, paved the whole way |
| Private transfer, 1–5 passengers | $130 per vehicle, fixed |
| Private transfer, 6–9 passengers | $165 per vehicle |
| Private transfer, 10–12 passengers | $220 per vehicle |
| Included | Taxes, tolls, flight tracking, child seats, one stop for groceries |
| Gated access | Yes, the driver has to be registered in advance |
Where the hotel is
The Westin Reserva Conchal is the largest resort in Guanacaste. It is all-inclusive, has a Robert Trent Jones II golf course and a very large free-form pool, and opens directly onto Playa Conchal, whose sand is made of crushed white shell. The hotel sits inside Reserva Conchal, a 2,300-acre gated development between Brasilito and Flamingo. From Liberia Airport the drive is about 60 km on paved road: Route 21 south to Belén, west through Huacas, then north past the village of Matapalo to the reserve gate. It takes 65 to 70 minutes.
The drive from the airport
Your driver waits at the arrivals exit holding a sign with your name. We track the flight, so if it lands early or late the driver is still there when you walk out, and you leave as soon as you have your bags rather than waiting for a van to fill. The road is paved from start to finish and you never go through Liberia town, since the airport sits west of the city and Route 21 heads straight for the coast. The range we give for the drive time comes from daytime traffic at the junctions along the way, nothing more. If you need to stop for groceries, cash or a pharmacy, tell the driver; the vehicle is yours for the trip.
Live prices and booking are on the LIR to Westin Reserva Conchal route page.
What the security gate needs
Reserva Conchal has a security gate at its entrance, shared with the W and the residential villas inside. The guard asks for the guest name and takes a look at the vehicle. It is a lighter process than at Papagayo or Hacienda Pinilla, but a driver who has been registered gets through faster, so we send the Westin your driver's name and vehicle details when you book.
What is around the Westin Reserva Conchal
Just outside the reserve gate is Brasilito, a small fishing village with a couple of sodas, a mini-market and a public beach. It is a nice place for a walk but not somewhere you would go for dinner. Flamingo, ten minutes north, has a short strip of restaurants by the marina. When Westin guests want a proper evening out, they go to Tamarindo, twenty to twenty-five minutes south, which has the best restaurant scene on this stretch of coast. Inside the reserve, the Westin's restaurants are included in your stay and the W's are a short shuttle ride away.
If you want to see how this hotel fits with the rest of the coast, and which beaches have a town you can walk to, our guide to the best hotels in Guanacaste by zone covers all of them.
Ways to get there from LIR
| Option | Time to the hotel | Cost | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | 65–70 min, direct | $130 fixed for 1–5 passengers | Driver registered at the gate, flight tracked |
| Hotel car service | Same drive | Premium rate through the concierge | Usually the most expensive option |
| Rental car | Same drive plus pickup paperwork | $40–90 a day plus mandatory insurance and a deposit | Only pays off if you leave the resort every day |
| Shared shuttle | 1.5–2.5 h with stops | About $25–35 a person | Does not enter the gated estate and drops you at the nearest town |
| Airport taxi | Same drive | $100–150, negotiated on the spot | An unregistered vehicle is held at the gate |
For two people a private transfer costs about the same as a taxi and takes the guesswork out of the arrival. For a family of four it works out cheaper per person than a shared shuttle and takes less than half the time.
A few things our drivers would tell you
- There is a supermarket in Huacas on the way to the resort and a larger Automercado in Tamarindo. Stopping at either is free on a private transfer.
- A popular evening is a private round trip that stops at the Flamingo viewpoint for sunset and then continues to Tamarindo for dinner.
- Playa Conchal is a public beach and fills up with local families on weekends, mostly at the Brasilito end. The stretch in front of the resort stays quiet.
Booking
The Liberia Airport to Westin Reserva Conchal private transfer can be booked online in a couple of minutes at a fixed price per vehicle, with the flight tracked, the driver registered at the resort and child seats included. If you would rather ask something first, write to us on WhatsApp and one of the drivers will answer.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Westin Reserva Conchal from Liberia Airport?
About 60 km, a drive of 65 to 70 minutes on paved roads via Belén and Huacas.
How much is a private transfer from LIR to the Westin Conchal?
Ruta Pacifico charges a fixed $130 per vehicle for 1 to 5 passengers, $165 for 6 to 9 and $220 for 10 to 12, including taxes, flight tracking and child seats.
Is there a town near the Westin Conchal?
Brasilito, just outside the gate, is a small village with a few sodas and a mini-market. For restaurants and nightlife, Tamarindo is 20 to 25 minutes away by car.
Does the Westin Conchal have an airport shuttle?
The resort sells private transfers through its concierge. Ruta Pacifico offers the same door-to-door service with flight tracking and gate registration at a fixed per-vehicle price, usually lower.
Book your private shuttle
Door to door anywhere in Costa Rica at a fixed price, with flight tracking and free child seats.