Central America - Good scenery between SJO and LIR?

We're in the process of booking flights to visit Costa Rica for the first time and have a couple flight options available and would appreciate some input.

First, we're staying in Guanacaste and will be renting a car. We have the option of flying into Liberia or San Juan, and only flying out of LIR. Obviously the shorter drive to the hotel would be from LIR (which is inconsequential to us from a time perspective since we will be here for 4 days). However, this will be our first time here and since we love scenic areas, open fields, tall mountains, and hiking all of the same, I would like to found out if we were to fly into LIR instead of SJO would we miss out on a lot of good views and scenery? We have traveled around most of the world with no problems, so I'm not concerned about renting a car in itself...just that I would like to make sure that we're not missing out on some nature's beauty that we may not see for a considerable time to come.

Thank you for any comments.

or San Juan
First of all, SJO is San Jose. San Juan is in Puerto Rico. :)

If you're staying only in Guanacaste, then fly into and out of LIR. You're not missing any stunning scenery on the drive between SJO and LIR. Driving in Costa Rica can be kind of tedious, so if you can avoid having to cover long distances, so much the better. ^

Now if you're interested in seeing other parts of the country, that's a different case, but from the way you're describing things, I gather you're not.

LIR's spanking new terminal is scheduled to open on Nov. 17.

its mostly rolling hills/cattle farms then a road through the mountains which is not spectacular at all

I suggest you stick to LIR and include Rincon de la Vieja national park

Thanks both of you. And, yes, I know it's San Jose...apparently I was a little too tired when writing that post! :)

Oh, that's fine, Scotty. I do hear that mixup all the time: San Jose ... San Juan. Costa Rica ... Puerto Rico ... "Costa Rico" ... "Costo Rico" ...

I have talked to so many tourists over the years here in Costa Rica who tell me (I kid you not): "We just love it here on the island," or even, "It is so much fun here in Puerto Rico." :D