Most visitors to Guanacaste head straight for the coast and never look inland. That is their loss. Curubande, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is a quiet village in the hills above Liberia that offers something the beach towns cannot, and expats are starting to notice.
Where is Curubande?
Curubande is a rural community in the hills above the city of Liberia, the capital of Guanacaste province in northwestern Costa Rica. It sits inland from the popular beaches, on the road toward Rincon de la Vieja National Park. That position, between a well serviced city and a volcano fed national park, is the whole appeal: nature on one side, everyday convenience on the other.
What is the area around Curubande like?
This is the greener, calmer side of Guanacaste. Instead of resort strips you get rolling hills, working farms, big skies, and a genuinely local pace of life. The modest elevation gives the air a fresher feel than the hot coastal lowlands, especially welcome in the dry season. It is the kind of place where the landscape, not the nightlife, is the main event.
How close is it to Liberia and the airport?
Convenience is a big part of the story. Liberia is a short drive away and provides the services that make daily life easy:
- Liberia's international airport, or LIR, with direct flights from North America
- Hospitals and medical care, both public and private
- Supermarkets, hardware stores, banks, and restaurants
- Easy road access toward the beaches and the national park
You get the quiet of the hills without being cut off from the things you actually need.
What is there to do near Curubande?
The headline attraction is Rincon de la Vieja National Park, with its volcano, hot springs, waterfalls, and trails through wildlife rich forest. Outdoor life is easy here, from hiking and horseback riding to nearby adventure parks. And because the Pacific beaches of Guanacaste are within reach by car, you can spend a morning in the cool hills and an afternoon by the ocean. Few places let you combine mountains and coast so easily.
What is daily life like in the hills?
Life here moves at a gentler pace than the resort towns. Mornings often start bright and clear, neighbors know one another, and the soundtrack is birds and breeze rather than traffic. You can keep a garden, watch big sunsets roll over the hills, and still reach Liberia in time for an appointment or a supermarket run. It suits people who want space and quiet without giving up the conveniences of a nearby city.
Is Curubande a good place to build a home?
For many buyers, yes. Building lets you put a right sized, efficient home on a lot that fits your budget, in a setting that feels like the Costa Rica they pictured. An organized community takes much of the guesswork out of services and permits, so you can focus on choosing a design rather than solving infrastructure problems. As always, confirm the specifics of any lot and build with your attorney and builder before committing.
Why are expats looking at Curubande now?
As the coastal towns have grown busier and pricier, buyers have started looking inland for value, calm, and a stronger sense of community. Curubande offers a more local, grounded lifestyle while keeping Liberia's conveniences close. It is exactly the balance many North Americans say they want but struggle to find at the beach. This is the setting for the Harmony Homes community, where you can choose a lot and a home design to build here. You can explore models and estimated pricing on the Build and Price tool.
If your idea of Costa Rica is fresh air, open views, real neighbors, and the ocean and a national park both within reach, this hidden corner of Guanacaste deserves a spot on your list.