San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) Flights & Information

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the largest airport in Costa Rica. It is located in the country's center in Alajuela, 17km (10 miles) from the capital of San José. The airport's central location makes it an ideal gateway to other destinations in Costa Rica since you can take a short domestic flight in any direction.

SJO airport is busy, serving over 5 million passengers a year. If your end destination is on the Pacific coast, Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), also known as Guanacaste Airport and Liberia International Airport, could be a better choice. It is closer and less crowded. There are fewer flights, but many US and international airlines fly there.

Overall, I find SJO a pleasant terminal to navigate, modern, and with good amenities.

Airlines flying to Juan Santamaría International Airport

SJO is a hub for Avianca Costa Rica, Costa Rica Green Airways, Sansa Airlines, and Volaris Costa Rica. It also hosts other Latin American carriers, including Aeromexico, Arajet, Copa, and LATAM. Many international carriers fly to SJO, including Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Iberia, KLM, and Lufthansa. US majors flying to SJO include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and United Airlines.

Costa Rica Green Airways and Sansa Airlines serve domestic flights.

The 2 terminals at Juan Santamaría International Airport

SJO airport has two terminal buildings: a large international terminal with two levels and a smaller domestic terminal with one level. These modern facilities are about 270 yards apart and connected by an outdoor walkway.

The international terminal can get crowded during peak times. You may find long lines at immigration, but it is orderly. The domestic terminal is easy to get through.

You should remain in the international terminal if you are connecting to an onward flight outside Costa Rica.

Arrivals at Juan Santamaría International

Arriving at Juan Santamaría International Airport is straightforward, thanks to its signage. However, it is a high-traffic airport, and I’ve found there can be some delays in getting out of the terminal building after landing.

During peak travel times, the immigration lines can be pretty long, and the process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour.

Once you clear immigration, you’ll follow the path through a Duty-Free maze to the baggage claim area. Monitors will show which luggage carousel will have the baggage from your flight. There are help desks for lost luggage, restrooms and water fountains, money exchange facilities and another Duty-Free shop in the baggage claim area.

You’ll find luggage cart services available. After collecting your bags, you’ll go through a customs check before exiting the building.

Getting local currency at SJO

Many vendors in Costa Rica accept Visa and MasterCard for payment, though fewer accept American Express. Some shops and restaurants also accept US dollars. Still, get some colones at the airport to cover some of your expenses. While there are currency exchange facilities at the airport, I never use them. The exchange rates are not favorable. ATMs are generally a better option. You’ll find several of these at the airport including one after the luggage carousels at arrivals. I don’t recommend carrying too much cash, only enough to pay for incidentals.

Connecting flights at SJO

If you are arriving on an international flight and connecting to another international flight, you should not go through immigration. However, if you have a long layover, over six hours, you can exit the terminal with a visitor permit to enter Costa Rica.

I don’t recommend leaving the terminal unless you have plenty of time. You would need to clear immigration and security again for your next flight. There are no luggage storage facilities or lockers at the airport, so you might have to do your sightseeing with whatever hand luggage you’ve carried onboard.

The quaint city of Alajuela, near the airport, has some interesting tourist attractions, lovely parks and nice places to eat. However, I suggest only venturing out if your incoming flight arrives in the morning and your next flight departs in the evening.

The international terminal has many shops, restaurants, and lounges where you can pass the time between shorter connections.

If you are connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight, you must clear immigration, pick up your luggage, and go through customs before walking over to the domestic terminal. The walk takes only around five minutes. You can then check in with the airline serving your domestic flight.

Transportation at SJO

Authorized taxis are available just outside the airport. Public buses to Alajuela, Heredia and San José are also available. The information desks at the airport can advise you on the bus connections you may require to your destination. Shuttle Buses are also available to local hotels.

While there is an Uber service in Costa Rica, arranging the pickup point can be tricky. To avoid complications, I would take a taxi.

Car rentals

There are many car rental providers at the airport, including several international brands, such as Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Their service desks are conveniently located at the end of arrivals in the international terminal. They will arrange shuttle service to their on-site offices, where the cars are located.

Costa Rica offers abundant natural beauty, which you can truly enjoy while driving through the country. However, I recommend researching your destination before departing and reserving an appropriate car. Some roads are paved, marked and well-lit, and you can drive in a sedan. Others, including certain more rural and hazardous mountain roads, require extra care.

If you plan to explore Costa Rica by road, I recommend renting a 4X4 vehicle with plenty of clearance. Otherwise, you may get stuck, especially during the rainy season from May to November. Some remote resorts require guests to have these vehicles to safely reach the location. If your flight arrives late, I wouldn’t advise getting on the road at night when driving can be especially tricky. Not all roads in Costa Rica have lights. Instead, I recommend staying at a hotel near the airport overnight and setting off fresh in the morning.

Hotels near Juan Santamaría International Airport

The capital of San José is about a 20-minute drive from the airport, though depending on traffic conditions, it could take longer. Some good hotels near the airport offer shuttle bus transfers and are perfect for an overnight stay. They accommodate a range of budgets and include Country Inn and Suites by Radisson, Courtyard by Marriott, Doubletree by Hilton, Hampton Inn and Suites and Holiday Inn.

Departures at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)

On your return, leave for the airport with sufficient time to clear security. While the airport has implemented self-check kiosks and baggage drop-off to speed things up, I recommend leaving at least 3 hours before your flight. That said, you should confirm with your airline when the check-in opens.

There are Fast Track lines at security, and you should check with your airline to see if you qualify to access them. After security, you will take an escalator up to the gates.

In addition to the central security, some gates have a second security check process to meet the requirements of the flight’s destination country.

Shopping and dining at SJO

There are several shops, bars and restaurants at the international terminal. Many offer souvenirs, gifts, and local products. Just past security, The Britt Shop Costa Rica offers excellent coffee and chocolate to bring home with you. Casa Tica has a great variety of local products and handicrafts. I recommend the Malinche Restaurant near gate 10 for a hearty sit-down meal rich in Costa Rican flavor. There are various good fast-food options, too. And, yes, there is a Starbucks.

The small domestic terminal is more limited in its offering, but you will find a Terra Tica shop that offers souvenirs, coffee, snacks and beverages for your flight, and other travel essentials, including some electronics.

Lounges

The international terminal has two lounges. The BAC Credomatic VIP lounge is open to American Express Centurion Central America cardholders and Dragon Pass holders. It is located on the terminal's upper level, next to gate 19.

A portion of the VIP lounge at the same location is open to some Master Card card holders, Priority Pass Members and business class passengers of select airlines, including Star Alliance airlines. You can also buy a day pass to access the lounge.

A second lounge, VIP Santamaría, is located near gate 5 for business class passengers of Aeromexico, British Airways, Edelweiss, Iberia, and KLM. It is also open to Priority Pass holders and offers a pay-for-access day pass.

Both lounges offer meal and beverage service and comfortable spaces to wait for your flight. In addition to a free buffet selection, the VIP lounges offer a paid table service menu. The lounge by gate 19 offers showers and a nail spa for a fee.

Wi-Fi at Juan Santamaría International Airport

SJO offers free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, so staying connected is easy.