thank you for all this information! 
i’ve been looking at both flying into San Jose and Liberia. so far Liberia seems like a better option for me in terms of where i want to go. but i’ll look more into the places you recommend that is all the way south. i guess if i’m going there San Jose will be a better option 

 nicoya and arenal and monteverde and beaches of the northwest are all really great options, so into and out of liberia is the way to go unless you decide you really want to go to the south. still doable from liberia but obviously further to start. there are domestic flights too from either airport.