Rockford Illinois Flights to Costa Rica Start 5 February

COSTA RICA · FLIGHTS

Chicago Rockford International Airport lists Friday flights to Liberia, Costa Rica, from 5 February to 2 April 2027. The flights are sold through Apple Vacations.

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) in Illinois lists Friday flights to Liberia, Costa Rica, from 5 February to 2 April 2027. The first is on Friday, 5 February 2027, and the airport’s own airline page names Apple Vacations as the seller.

Liberia is a gateway to Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, served by Guanacaste Airport. Prices were not published, so check with Apple Vacations before you plan.

The Route and the Schedule

RFD’s airline page lists Liberia Guanacaste (LIR) with Friday departures from 5 February to 2 April 2027. By those dates that is nine Friday departures.

Guanacaste Airport’s announcement of the route says the flights are seasonal and run once a week. TUI Airways, a British charter airline, operates them with 189-seat Boeing 737-800NG jets, it says.

Marcos Borges, executive president of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), said charter flights suit seasonal demand. He said they complement regular scheduled flights.

RFD announced the flights on Thursday, 21 May 2026, together with Cancun and Punta Cana service. Its airline page still lists the same Friday schedule.

Tickets and Packages

The airport’s announcement says the flights are sold by Apple Vacations and its sister companies. Buyers can choose flight-only seats or full vacation packages.

Neither the airport nor the Costa Rican announcements give a fare, a package price or a flight time. This guide therefore gives no price and no US$ estimate.

Check what is included before you pay, because the flights are charters and conditions can differ from scheduled airlines. Ask about baggage, seat choice and refunds in writing.

Getting to Rockford

Since Monday, 26 October 2026, RFD offers ticketless drive-in, drive-out parking from the company Metropolis. Travelers sign up once, and payment is processed automatically, the airport says.

Reservations through AeroParker, a Metropolis company, let drivers enter without scanning a QR code. Parking rates were not checked for this guide, so no cost estimate is given.

The airport sits at 60 Airport Dr. in Rockford, Illinois. It lists Allegiant Air as its scheduled airline.

Why Liberia Matters

Costa Rica’s airports received 1,853,430 international tourists from January to July 2026, the ICT says. Guanacaste Airport accounted for 67.2 percent of the net growth in international air arrivals.

The United States remains Costa Rica’s main source of tourists, the same release says. Guanacaste Airport belongs to the network of VINCI Airports, a French airport operator.

Entry Rules for US Visitors

The US State Department says US citizens need no visa for a tourist stay under 180 days. It adds that a return ticket is required for stays under 180 days.

Costa Rica’s immigration directorate published new visa guidelines in La Gaceta, the official gazette, that took effect on 17 November 2025. The visa-free group may stay up to 180 days with a passport valid for at least one day.

The border officer sets your days, so check the stamp you receive. Your February to April dates fall inside the rules in force since November 2025.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an order for flights to the United States from 3 November 2026. Passengers must sign that they were not in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 21 days before boarding.

Safety and Costs

The US State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, for crime, in an advisory dated 1 April 2026. Petty and violent crime affect tourists, so keep valuables out of sight when you travel.

Prices for hotels, transfers and rental cars were not checked, so this guide gives no estimate. Ask Apple Vacations what a package includes before you compare it with booking separately.

What It Means for You

If you live in northern Illinois or southern Wisconsin, the Friday flights offer a beach trip that starts close to home. Book only through Apple Vacations, the seller named on the airport’s page.

If you plan to go, ask about return days before you pay, because only the Friday departures from Rockford are listed. Carry a passport valid for your whole stay and keep your return ticket handy.

What Is Not Known

Fares, package prices, flight times and the return days are not published in the sources read. Baggage rules and refund terms for these charters were not checked.

The Apple Vacations booking pages could not be opened. The schedule rests on the airport’s own page, and the aircraft details rest on the Guanacaste Airport announcement.

The CDC page gives no end date for the attestation, so whether it applies on 2027 flights is unknown. No prediction market on this route was found.

What Comes Next

The first flight leaves Rockford on Friday, 5 February 2027, which is 94 days from today. The last listed departure is on Friday, 2 April 2027.

Connected Coverage

For the country, start with the Costa Rica hub and the San José expat city page. Flights from five other US cities are in the high-season flights report.

Another Liberia route is covered in United Flies Dulles to Costa Rica From 17 December. Packing and timing tips are in the Costa Rica Weather Guide 2026 for Expats, Region by Region.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the Rockford to Costa Rica flights start?

The first flight leaves Rockford on Friday, 5 February 2027. The last listed departure is on Friday, 2 April 2027.

How do I book Rockford to Costa Rica flights?

Apple Vacations sells the flights, as seats only or as packages, and the airport points travelers there. Fares were not published.

Do US citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?

US citizens need no visa for a tourist stay under 180 days, the US State Department says. A return ticket is required.

Sources: Chicago Rockford International Airport, airline information (Apple Vacations flights); Chicago Rockford International Airport, 2025 year in review; Chicago Rockford International Airport, ticketless parking release (13 October 2026); US State Department, Costa Rica country information; US State Department, Costa Rica travel advisory; US CDC, attestation order (all accessed 3 November 2026).