Leg 113 MROC - San Jose (Costa Rica) to MRLB - Liberia (Costa Rica)
MROC - Airport Info
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ICAO code: MROC
Airport name: San Jose - Juan Santamaria Airport
Location: San Jose
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
San Jose Info
San José (Costa Rica), city, capital of Costa Rica and its San José Province, on the central plateau of the country. Situated at an altitude of about 1170 m (about 3840 ft), it is the nation's largest city and a commercial, manufacturing, transportation, and cultural center for the surrounding agricultural region, in which coffee, sugarcane, and livestock are raised. Government activities and tourism are also important to the city's economic base. San José, which contains a mix of colonial Spanish-style structures and modern architecture, is the site of the University of Costa Rica (1843), which includes the Tropical Studies Organization and the Latin American Demographic Center; the National Library; and the National Archives. Points of interest include the National Museum, featuring displays of art and natural history materials; a museum with exhibits of religious art and artifacts; an 18th-century cathedral; and the National Theater.
Established in 1736 as Villa Nueva (New Town), the settlement was selected as the nation's capital in 1823. During the 19th century San José developed as a center for coffee production, and it became a major manufacturing city in the mid-20th century. Population (2000) 309,672.
MRLB - Airport Info
ICAO code: MRLB
Airport name: Daniel Oduber Quiros Intl Airport
Location: Liberia
Useful information
Airport elevation: '
Time zone: UTC-
Lighted runways : Yes
Maximum runway length: '
Runway surface : Asphalt
Instrument approach (ILS, LOC, LDA, and SDF):
Liberia Info
Liberia is similar to most towns in the plains. Born around a farm and a farm-house. It was around the eighteenth century, when the village started to take shape at a short distance from the river Liberia, which gave the people the necessary water. A resting place for the long trips between Nicaragua and the towns of Costa Rica ( Bacaces among others ) started growing and already in the 1801 with the so called annexation of Guanacaste, the village counted with 912 habitants of which were 45 of Spanish origin, 47 indigenous, 30 ladinos and 790 mulatos, zambos and pardos. In 1836 there were 1866 inhabitants in Guanacaste and in 1864 there were already 4007 of which 421 lived in the city and the rest on farms.
In 1856 Liberia was an important center in the war against the filibusters and since then is also called the white city. And as a homage for the then president Juan Rafael Mora, who guided the troops of Costa Rica against William Walker, the name was changed to Moracia, but a few years later this hero fell in disgrace and the name was changed again to Liberia.
It was also in this town, where at different times, 1919, 1948, 1955 troops concentrated. Liberia gained importance for being at an almost identical distance from the peninsula and the rest of the province. First it became capital of the department and later of the province.
Situated in the great plains of Guanacaste the land is of volcanic origin. Liberia is a typical town of the plains, with wide roads and old adobe buildings and paved as well as dirt roads. It has good public buildings like the archaeology museum that shows the collection of ex-president Daniel Oduber and was constructed during the administration of León Cortés ( 1036 - 1940 ), a very modern church, a nice park with a place where following an old tradition, the city band will play at different days of the week. The land of the Liberian people shows the main occupation of the habitants that for generations were cattle farmers. At the far horizon one can see the majestic volcano Rincón de la Vieja, which has been active during all our history. There are beautiful rivers, like the Tempisque with lots of farms where Cowboys ( Sabaneros ) live, that are part of the many colorful personalities of this land with a big array of folkloric traditions.