San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) Flights & Flight Status

As the largest airport in Costa Rica, Juan Santamaria International Airport offers nonstop flights to and from North, Central and South America, as well as a handful of European cities. Compared to many capital city airports in Latin America, the San José airport is a manageable size and requires less walking than larger facilities, which makes it an easy-to-navigate option for connecting flights, as well.

The airport is a hub for international connections for Avianca’s Costa Rica-based operations, and you may find yourself connecting on other carriers as well—especially for domestic flights to smaller destinations within Costa Rica.

Arriving at SJO

If you’re making a connection to another international flight, you can proceed directly to the next gate; if you’re connecting to a domestic flight, you’ll most likely have to pass through immigration and customs and leave the building to head to the domestic terminal next door.

If your final destination is San José (or anywhere else in Costa Rica and you’re travelling by land), follow the signs to the immigration and customs processing areas. I’ve found the lines to be excessive at times, so be prepared to spend some time waiting.

Currency exchange

Global Exchange counters are located at the international arrivals area and near the baggage claim; there are also exchange services outside the secure area. I check exchange rates before travelling so I can compare rates, and I often find it more convenient to use the ATM near the baggage claim.

Getting from the airport to San José and beyond

Juan Santamaria International Airport is in the town of Alajuela. It takes at least 20 to 30 minutes by car to reach downtown San José, but many travellers stay at hotels in other parts of the area, so your ground travel time can vary. Many people fly into San José and transfer by land to other parts of Costa Rica, too.

I usually arrange my ground transportation in advance, either through a hotel or a local tour operator, which makes leaving the airport easier. I’ve often found hotels in Costa Rica to be a great resource for information about ground transportation. Some hotels offer their own ground transportation, either for free or at a reduced rate.

Taking a taxi

You can reserve a taxi before arrival with companies including Coopetranstura and Taxis Unidos. If you haven’t made a reservation, head to the taxi kiosk just outside the exit from the customs area. Taxis travelling within the San José metropolitan area charge based on the metered fare, but if you’re headed outside of the area, you’ll pay a flat rate.

Uber and other ride share apps are not allowed to operate at the airport. Even if you see Uber cars available on the app, they may ask you to go up to the departure level or even leave the airport property to get picked up. It’s best to stick with approved taxis and other ground transportation options—although you can use Uber to get back to the airport when flying out (just don’t be surprised if the driver asks you to sit in the front seat to prevent the appearance of a ride share service).

Rental cars at the airport

Rental car counters are located outside of the security area; depending on the company, you may need to visit a counter at the airport first or proceed outside to take a free shuttle bus to the rental lot. When comparing rental car prices, be aware that insurance, which is required, probably isn’t included in the initial quoted rates.

Buses and shuttles

Shuttle buses and other forms of group transportation are a popular and economical way to get from the airport to most of the nation’s major tourism destinations. They’re cheaper than taxis or car rentals, although they may make multiple stops and you’ll likely share the vehicle with other travellers.

Shuttle buses pick up passengers outside of the arrivals area; if you arrange this type of service ahead of time, they’ll tell you the exact location (it’s often near El Malinche restaurant). Companies that offer this type of service include Tropical Tours Shuttles and Costa Rica Shuttle, both of which offer free WiFi on board.

Departing from the San José airport

Taxis, Uber drivers and shuttle services drop off passengers in front of the terminal. If you’re returning a rental car, take note of the returns lot location; you’ll likely leave the car and take a free shuttle to the terminal.

If you’re driving your own car to the airport, you’ll find that parking is conveniently close, thanks to the airport’s small size. The onsite lot is expensive if you leave it there for long periods of time, however; offsite lots are cheaper.

Navigating Juan Santamaría International Airport

Juan Santamaria International Airport has two terminals: Terminal A, the main terminal, serves international flights, while the much-smaller Terminal B is for domestic flights.

Terminal A

Terminal A has about 75 self-check-in kiosks, making it easy to get your boarding pass (unless you’ve already gotten your boarding pass through your airline’s app, which is even better). If you need to check baggage or speak with an airline representative, you may need to stand in line at a counter for a bit. I’ve found security screening line length to vary, so be sure to arrive at the airport early. The airport offers free (and generally reliable) WiFi.

Terminal A has a variety of options for food, beverages and shopping. For a traditional Costa Rican meal, stop at Malinche, which is located outside of the security area. There is a Starbucks near gate five if you’re craving a caffeine fix—but you may want to try a local Costa Rican brew; you can also buy Costa Rican coffee to take home at airport stores including the Britt Shop, Casa Tica and Rumbo Pura Vida. Those retailers also stock Costa Rican chocolate and other local items.

The Green Trails Store, located next to gate four, touts the fact that none of its crafts or gift items are made outside of the country (check the labels at other stores before you buy, to make sure they’re truly local).

Lounges and other places to relax

There are three VIP lounges at the airport, and one-time admission fees are reasonable when compared to many other international airports. You can also access some lounges by purchasing a membership or by carrying certain credit cards. If you’re booking a trip with a tour operator like Namu Travel, you may also be able to get lounge access as an additional amenity as part of your travel package, for an extra fee—you may get a better deal that way.

The VIP Lounge near gate 19—which is accessible to Copa and Star Alliance passengers with certain elite frequent-flyer status levels, as well as those travelling in certain fare classes or holding certain types of credit cards or Priority Pass membership—offers free breakfast, lunch and snacks as well as non-alcoholic beverages. For an extra charge, you can order additional menu items and use the shower facility.

Also near gate 19 is the BAC Credomatic VIP Lounge, which offers free breakfast, lunch, beer, house wine and even has a children’s playroom—but access is only for those with black or platinum BAC Credomatic cards.

The best bet if you don’t have automatic access to a lounge is the VIP Santamaría Lounge, which is near gate five and offers free breakfast, lunch, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, wine and domestic beer. It also has an à la carte menu for an extra charge. You can access this lounge through Priority Pass, with certain types of credit cards or through a reasonably priced day pass (which is about half the price for travellers under age 18).

If you’re looking for a quiet place to relax before or in between flights and you don’t want to visit a lounge, wander toward the departure gates at the far ends of the airport, which tend to be less crowded.

Connecting from an international to a domestic flight

If you’re connecting from an international arrival in Terminal A to a domestic flight in Terminal B, proceed through customs and immigration and head outside. Terminal B is a short walk to the left when you exit Terminal A.

Terminal B

Flying on a domestic flight from Terminal B can mean that your check-in and security processing times may be faster, but keep in mind that most domestic flights within Costa Rica are operated by small, propeller-driving aircraft that often have far stricter weight restrictions for baggage, so allow extra time for possible baggage weighing (and don’t be surprised if they check your weight, too).

The domestic airport is served by smaller airlines including Costa Rica Green Airways and SANSA. The facility is modern and comfortable, although there are fewer services available since it’s a smaller facility—but you can get light food at the restaurant and do some last minute shopping at Terra Tica, the gift shop.