One of my favourite destinations is now a lot easier to reach for Canadian travellers. The Costa Rica Tourism Board and Porter Airlines announced new non-stop flights from Toronto’s Pearson airport (YYZ) and Ottawa (YOW) to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Guanacaste.
Service begins on December 4, 2025 from YYZ to LIR, operating three times weekly, and begins on December 17, 2025 from YOW to LIR, twice per week.
William Rodriguez Lopez, Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister, confirmed that interest in the country is growing among Canadians, and these new routes will provide more opportunities to discover its natural and cultural riches.
“The arrival of Porter Airlines to Guanacaste is the result of ongoing efforts to strengthen the relationship between Costa Rica and Canada,” the tourism minister said. “[T]hese new routes from Toronto and Ottawa represent opportunities for more Canadians to discover the natural and cultural riches of Guanacaste and the rest of the country.”
Porter announced the new destination among four other sun destinations, across 13 routes, including Cancun, Mexico (CUN), Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR), Nassau, The Bahamas (NAS), Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM), and Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR). The flights will operate on Porter’s 132-seat Embraer E195-E2.
What makes Guanacaste and Costa Rica so special?
The new flights land visitors directly in Guanacaste, one of Costa Rica’s most ecologically and culturally significant regions. It boasts over 400 miles of coastline along the Pacific and covers 5,921 square miles. This region is a biodiversity hotspot, featuring a wide network of protected areas encompassing diverse landscapes, tropical dry forests, lowland mountain forests, pristine beaches, and volcanic terrain.
Visitors to Guanacaste can explore highlights from the stunning beaches, like Playa Conchal, Playa Flamingo, and Tamarindo, to Rincón de la Vieja and Santa Rosa national parks, and historic towns.
For unique resort experiences, I love both El Mangroove Hotel, which is close to Liberia, and Punta Islita Hotel.
Thanks to sustained investment, Guanacaste is also one of Costa Rica’s most developed and visited tourism regions, with a number of luxury, eco-conscious, and family-friendly accommodation options.
Visitors to Costa Rica can also explore a number of the nearby regions that offer so much more. From Costa Rica’s Northern Plains, with wildlife and the Arenal Volcano; to Puntarenas Beaches, and the islands and park reserves.
For more information and to explore the “Pura Vida”, head to the Visit Costa Rica site.
