← Liberia Marathon·1 night

Libassa Ecolodge: A Night Where the Lagoon Meets the Atlantic

One night at a family-run forest lodge on the Marshall Highway, where a lagoon meets the Atlantic, close enough to the airport to fly out the next day.

Duration1 night
TransitPrivate car, about 30 minutes from Monrovia and the airport (operator estimate)
DepartsSKD Sports Complex, Paynesville

After the Liberia Marathon: Libassa Ecolodge

The Route: Paynesville → Libassa Ecolodge, Kpan's Town → Roberts International Airport (ROB) Logistics: Private car both ways. The lodge quotes about 30 minutes from the airport and from Monrovia, which is the operator's own figure, so allow more on a busy road. Marathon Month: November Duration: 1 night

SKD Sports Complex ──(private car, Marshall Highway)──> Libassa Ecolodge ──(private car)──> Roberts International Airport (ROB)

Libassa sits in what its owners call original tropical forest, at the point where a lagoon runs out into the Atlantic. It is family-owned and built to fit its surroundings, and it is the easiest overnight in this guide because it keeps you near the airport.

November in Liberia. The dry season begins in November and runs to April, so the roads are firmer and the days are warmer and brighter than in the rains. Coastal showers are still possible. The race itself is hot and humid, and a night near the water is a gentler way to cool down.

The night at Libassa

The lodge lists forest walks, the beach, the lagoon, pools, botanical gardens and the local wildlife. For post-marathon legs the pools and a slow turn round the gardens are the sensible choices. Forest paths can be uneven, so ask staff about gradient and surface before you set out, and take a bottle of water. The lodge also takes day visitors from 08:00 to 20:00, which tells you it is used to guests arriving mid-morning and leaving in the evening.

Room types, prices and meal arrangements are not published on the lodge's website. Book in advance by contacting the lodge directly, ask about dinner and breakfast when you book, and confirm a late checkout if your flight is in the evening.

The beach and lagoon are the main draw. Check conditions with the staff before swimming in the sea, as currents on the Atlantic coast can be strong, and do not swim in the lagoon unless the lodge says it is safe.

Where to stay

Libassa Ecolodge is the obvious choice and the reason for the trip. For a second option, the Farmington Hotel stands opposite Roberts International Airport, which works if you prefer a conventional hotel on the night before a flight. It is not on the coast and offers none of the forest and lagoon setting.

Getting to Roberts International Airport (ROB)

Roberts International Airport, known as Robertsfield, is the main international gateway. The lodge says it is about 30 minutes away. Arrange a car with the lodge or your hotel the day before and leave extra time for the check-in queue. The Foreign Office advises booking airport transport in advance.