Juan Santamaría International Airport

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) serves San José, Costa Rica's capital and largest city. Located 20 km northwest of San José in Alajuela, it's Costa Rica's main international gateway and the primary entry point for the country's famous ecotourism.

The airport has a single terminal that underwent renovation. Modern facilities handling the majority of Costa Rica's international traffic.

Note: Costa Rica also has Liberia (LIR) airport for accessing the Pacific coast and Guanacaste.

Key airlines: United, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Avianca, Copa, and various carriers.

SJO is northwest of San José:

• To San José city center: 20 km, 30-45 minutes
• To Alajuela: 3 km, 10 minutes
• To La Fortuna (Arenal): 130 km, 2.5-3 hours
• To Manuel Antonio: 180 km, 3-3.5 hours
• To Monteverde: 150 km, 3.5-4 hours

Traffic around San José can be challenging.

Uber operates in Costa Rica.

• To San José center: $20-30 USD
• To Alajuela hotels: $10-15

Official orange taxis from the rank:

• Regulated rates
• To San José: $30-40

Both options are reliable.

Bus

TUASA buses to San José:

• Route: Airport → San José (Avenida 2)
• Journey time: 30-45 minutes
• Frequency: Every 15-20 minutes
• Cost: ₡700 (~$1.30)

Buses are cheap but can be crowded with luggage.

Shuttle Services

Shared shuttles to popular destinations:

• Book through Interbus, Grayline, or hotels
• La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde

Rental Car

Rent a car: Recommended for exploring Costa Rica. Multiple agencies at the airport.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Short-term	$25/day	Terminal adjacent
Long-term	$15/day	Shuttle

SJO has decent dining:

Terminal:

• Costa Rican restaurants
• International fast food
• Coffee shops (Costa Rican coffee!)

Try gallo pinto before leaving.

Network: SJO Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Adequate
• Registration may be required

SIM cards from:

• ICE, Kolbi shops
• Prices: $10-20 for prepaid with data
• Coverage can be spotty in remote areas

ATMs in the terminal. Get colones and/or USD.

Currency: Costa Rican Colón (₡/CRC). Approximately 510 CRC = 1 USD.

USD widely accepted throughout Costa Rica, especially in tourist areas.

• Duty-free
• Costa Rican coffee (excellent)
• Chocolate and souvenirs
• Handcrafts

VIP Lounge

• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or purchase
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi

Copa Club

• Access: Copa business class, Star Alliance Gold

Hotels in San José or Alajuela near the airport for early departures. Most visitors transit quickly to destinations.

Costa Rica is the ecotourism capital of the world—rainforests, volcanoes, beaches, and incredible wildlife in a stable, welcoming country:

Key destinations (with travel time from SJO):

• Arenal Volcano/La Fortuna: 3 hours—iconic volcano, hot springs, adventure
• Monteverde Cloud Forest: 4 hours—famous cloud forest, hanging bridges
• Manuel Antonio: 3.5 hours—beaches and national park
• Tortuguero: 4 hours—canals, sea turtles
• Rincón de la Vieja: 4 hours—volcanic national park

Pacific Coast beaches (consider flying into LIR for these):

• Tamarindo: Popular, surfing
• Nosara: Yoga, wellness, surf
• Santa Teresa: Trendy, surf culture
• Jaco: Closest to SJO, busy

Caribbean Coast:

• Puerto Viejo: Afro-Caribbean culture, beaches, chill vibe
• Cahuita: National park, snorkeling

Wildlife you'll see:

• Sloths: Common in many areas
• Monkeys: Howler, spider, capuchin, squirrel monkeys
• Toucans: Colorful birds throughout
• Quetzals: Monteverde and highlands
• Sea turtles: Tortuguero nesting (seasonal)

Food & drink:

• Gallo pinto: Rice and beans, breakfast staple
• Casado: Traditional plate with rice, beans, meat, salad
• Ceviche: Fresh seafood
• Patacones: Fried plantains
• Coffee: Costa Rica grows excellent coffee—drink it everywhere
• Imperial beer: Local lager

Local tips:

• Pura Vida: The national philosophy—"pure life," used for everything
• Rent 4x4: Many roads are rough, especially to beaches
• Dry vs wet season: December-April dry; May-November wet (but cheaper)
• No army: Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948
• Protected land: 25%+ of land is protected
• USD accepted: Dollars work almost everywhere
• Green season: Rainy afternoons but lush landscapes, fewer crowds
• Book Monteverde: Hanging bridges, night tours in advance
• The country punches way above its weight in biodiversity
• San José is usually just a transit point—get to nature quickly