Costa Rica’s main international airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport, commonly known as the San Jose International Airport in Alajuela.
It’s much bigger than its fellow international airport, Guanacaste Airport and offers the most international flights.
If you’re flying into San Jose International Airport, check our guide below to help you navigate through the main international airport in Costa Rica.
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Listed prices are quoted in USD and are estimates. More info: Disclosure
San Jose International Airport Location
San Jose International Airport is located in the province of Alajuela, about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from downtown San Jose, Costa Rica.
This is extremely important to know if you are looking to book an airport hotel as downtown San Jose is around a 30 minute drive to the airport without traffic.
If you’re looking for an airport hotel, the closest hotels will be in the Alajuela province. Don’t look for one in downtown San Jose, as that is at least 30 minutes away from the airport.
Check our list of best San Jose International Airport hotels here.
About San Jose International Airport and Airport Code
The name Juan Santamaria is after a drummer boy who died helping Costa Rica prevent getting taken over by the United States in 1856.
The San Jose International Airport airport code is SJO.
IMPORTANT!!! Do NOT get SJO confused with San Jose, California whose airport code is SJC. Or San Juan, Puerto Rico whose airport code is SJU.
In 2024, San Jose International Airport welcomed 2.6 million tourists.
San Jose Airport has 20 gates servicing 24 airlines from North America, Latin America and Europe. They have expansion plans to accommodate the many new flights, especially in high season.
Getting to Juan Santamaria International Airport
That being said, if you are not staying at an airport hotel that offers free airport shuttle, then there are a couple of easy ways to from your hotel to the airport.
Uber: Uber is readily available in the Central Valley cities (Heredia, Alajuela, San Jose and Cartago). We have been able to call an Uber at at all hours of the day to catch a ride to the airport.
However make sure you give yourself at least 20-30 minutes to call your Uber since during rush hour, there is a lot of demand and traffic. I recommend to schedule your Uber the day before if you need to get to the airport for your flight home.
From downtown San Jose, an Uber X costs around 9000 CRC (~$17 USD).
Private shuttle: Book a private shuttle at the time of your choice. Your driver will show up right at your designated time, help your group to load the vehicle and whisk you away straight to the airport departures gates. As a private shuttle, you won’t be waiting around for anyone else.
Contact us if you want to book your private airport shuttle. For up to 8 passengers plus luggage, the private shuttle costs ~$60 USD.
For departures, you should arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before your departure time.
Exit tax: The $29 USD exit tax is now included in most of the airline tickets. Some airlines do not though (some Canadian and budget airlines). You can check the billboard in the check in area to see if you need to pay it.
Arriving at San Jose International Airport
One you land at the San Jose International Airport on an international flight, all visitors must go through immigration and customs. Remember, immigration is for people, customs is for luggage.
You will go through immigration first where you need to supply the officer your details such as name, occupation, length of time in Costa Rica, first destination in Costa Rica and date of departure.
Then you will collect your luggage to go through customs. Put EVERYTHING except duty free on the scanners.
Next to baggage claim 5, there is a Claro SIM card stand in case you need to purchase a Costa Rican prepaid SIM card. Open everyday from 5 AM to 9 PM, sometimes 11 PM on weekends. There is also one 24/7 duty free store with alcohol.
After clearing customs, you will exit the airport terminal where you can then look for your tour company, car rental agent, private shuttle driver or catch your Uber, book a taxi or get picked up.
You can check our customs and immigration at San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport guide for more details.
Leaving San Jose International Airport
From San Jose Airport, you can find many ways to get to your next destination.
Bus: There is a public bus stop down the ramp from arrivals that goes into downtown San Jose. It runs fairly frequently and is very cheap.
If you plan to take this bus, we highly recommend to exchange like $5 USD into local currency at the airport to pay for the bus. There are ATMs at baggage claim and a money exchange.
Private shuttle: If you pre-booked a private shuttle, your driver will be waiting for you outside the airport terminal, holding a sign with your name on it.
Shared shuttle: If you booked a shared shuttle, most shared shuttle companies will have you meet them at the Denny’s Restaurant, Fiesta Casino or Rostipollos Restaurant which is 1.5 km away (~1 mile).
The fastest way to get there is just to grab one of the official airport taxis right outside. Get 10% off your Interbus shared shuttle in the link!
Taxi: Official taxis in Costa Rica are red and orange for airport taxis. There is an official taxi stand right when you exit the airport.
Uber: We personally prefer taking Uber in Costa Rica. Some Uber drivers will have you meet them at departures upstairs or by the Malinche restaurant at arrivals. They may also ask you to sit in the front seat.
San Jose Airport Car Rentals
If you made a car rental reservation, then you need to look for your agency’s agent who will be waiting for you outside the exit terminal, holding a sign with the company logo on it.
Meet them, and they will bring you to their shuttle to take you to their off-site airport office to get the car.
Some companies may offer a VIP direct airport service, but for an extra charge and not all.
Read more about renting a car in Costa Rica and get our Costa Rica car rental discount here.
If you did not pre-book a car, you will see car rental stands in the baggage claim area. You can go up there to check availability and prices.
However, since the airport is not big enough to accommodate all the car rental companies’ offices, they will take you to their satellite airport office nearby to pick up the car.
We have a partnership with Adobe Rent a Car to give car rental discounts and extra benefits (free cooler, free prepaid SIM card, etc.).
You can click here “Costa Rica car rental discount” to make a reservation. Adobe will pick up passengers from the airport and take them to their close by airport office via complimentary shuttle. You can watch the process below.
Flying Out of SJO Airport: San Jose Airport Food, Shopping and Other Services
You should arrive at the airport 3 hours before your departure time.
San Jose International Airport has free Wi-Fi, restaurants, souvenir stores, luggage packing services, bathrooms, duty free shopping and VIP lounges.
There is only one level in San Jose Airport so after you clear security, go up an escalator. You’ll be at the level where all the gates, food and shops are.
There is a Starbucks, Cafe Britt stores and a couple of restaurants. If you have an early flight, there is a place that is 24/7, the Starbucks opens from 4 AM to 130 AM everyday.
There are two VIP Lounges. The VIP lounge for BAC Credomatic is at Gate 19-20 everyday from 430 AM to 430 PM. The VIP Lounge for Star Alliance passengers is at Gate 5, superior level from 430 AM to 8 PM.
Parking
San Jose International Airport has its own parking lot. It costs $2.48 USD per hour, $35 USD per day and $200 USD per week. It is under roof parking.
If you are leaving the country for a trip and need to park your car close by but do not want to leave it at the airport parking garage (it is expensive), there are options.
Many airport hotels will allow you to leave your car for either a small fee or free if you stay as a hotel guest before or after your trip.
Some hotels that offer parking for hotel guests are Mango Hotel, Pura Vida Hotel, El Rodeo Estancia Boutique Hotel and the Fairfield by Marriott San Jose Airport Alajuela.
If you stay a night (or more) at the Fairfield by Marriott either before you leave or when you come back, you can leave your car there for free in their secure parking lot. Same with El Rodeo Estancia (20 minutes to SJO Airport).
San Jose Airport Hotels
There are many hotels around San Jose Airport with free airport shuttles included. You can read our post “Best hotels near San Jose Airport” for recommendations.
San Jose Domestic Terminal
For those flying on a local airline to take a domestic flight with Sansa, Aerobell or Green, you need to go to the Domestic Terminal SJO for your flight.
This is a separate terminal, about a 5 minute walk from the international terminal. On Google Maps, it is called “Terminal Domestica SJO.”
Should You Fly Into Liberia or San Jose Airport?
San Jose and Guanacaste Airport are hubs for different parts of the country. Find out which you should fly into before booking flights.
- You should fly into San Jose Airport if you are going to San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago, the Central Valley, Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Tortuguero, Uvita, Dominical, Puerto Jimenez, Ojochal, Sierpe, Drake Bay, Golfito, San Gerardo de Dota, San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, San Vito, Turrialba, Vara Blanca (La Paz), Bajos del Toro, or Sarapiqui.
- Those destinations are closest from San Jose than Liberia.
- If you are going to La Fortuna or Monteverde, both destinations are around 3-3.5 hours from Liberia and San Jose. H
- If you are able to, I would choose Liberia over San Jose if you’re going to La Fortuna/Monteverde right away.
Read more about which Costa Rica international airport is best for you.
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Jin says
Hello. This blog literally helped me a lot schedule my trip in Costa Rica. I dont know how I can appreciate. Thank you very much.
I have one question. My return flight is at 9:55 am from SJO. And I am thinking of buying flight ticket from Tamarindo to SJO which arrives at SJO at 7:40 am. I don’t know how far it is between the domestic terminal & intetnational terminal of SJO and if this plan seems fine considering how often there the delay of the domestic flights is. It this plan seems impossible I will move to San Jose by bus a day earlier, but I would just love to take the least time possible to move to San Jose.
Thank you in advance.
Sammi says
Hi Jin, the domestic and international terminals are right next to each other, you could walk if you have light luggage it is very close. It is a bit tight though in case you have a delay in your local flight in the morning, to be safer I would recommend going back to SJO the day before as you never know what may happen.
Laurie W says
Do the hotel shuttles all pick up at the same location at SJO? Having a hard time finding info online. Staying at Hampton Inn upon arrival for one night, Feb 3.
Sammi says
Pretty much, the airport is small so once you exit, you will see all the drivers, taxis, tour companies, etc. waiting outside.
shawn says
we will be arriving at 1:00 am early morning into SJO
and have booked a rental vehicle to drive straight to La Fortuna.
However, the rental counter opens only at 6:00 am
can we take a short nap in the baggage area or car rental counter area from 1:00 am to 6:00 am ?
or are we required to exit the airport ?
We haven’t really booked any hotel for the day we arrive as the plan was to go straight to La Fortuna
Sammi says
Hi Shawn, I recommend to talk to your rental company to see if they accommodate you when you land
Terri Holte says
Hi,
We are traveling in April and are trying to get a shared shuttle from SJO. If we are only bringing hand luggage and arrive at 1:15 will we be able to make a 3 pm shuttle to Monteverde?
Sammi says
It really depends on how long passport control and customs will take. Lots of flights arrive at that time. Most shared shuttles will also require you to go to a meeting point like 10 minutes away as they cannot pick up directly from the airport
Suzanne says
Hi, thanks for answering questions. I have a flight from Tamarindo, through San Jose, to Mexico coming up. The layover is 2:15 arriving at San Jose at 740am on a Thursday. I know I need to get my luggage and switch terminals, would you be comfortable with that amount of time?
Thanks!
Suzanne
Sammi says
That should be fine since you don’t have to go through immigration and the domestic terminal is right next to the international one (you may need to get a taxi if you’re carrying heavy luggage since you have to walk up)
Laura A says
Hi! Your website is so informative – I’ve gotten so much information from it. Question: we will be arriving into SJO next week (from the US). Another family member is scheduled to arrive on another flight about 20 min after us. Is there a logical place to meet up with him in the airport? Will we be allowed to wait in baggage claim after claiming our luggage? Obviously, flight delays are inevitable, so wanted to have a couple of back up plans.
Sammi says
There’s a little cafe right outside the airport (it’s in the same building as the airport but with its own entrance from outside the airport) called Malinche that you can meet him there.
Laura Alexander says
Thank you! Unfortunately, it looks like they close at 9pm, which is when we are scheduled to arrive. We’ll figure something out. Thanks again.
Sammi says
In that case you can probably wait in baggage claim or just wait for him right outside the airport terminal exit. This airport is not very big.
Antonella says
Hello we want to travel just with hand luggage. Is it possible to buy suncream and other toiletries after arrivals in San Jose airport please?
Sammi says
You can buy them at any supermarkets
Sammi says
I would go fly to SJO the day before, personally for us, we never like to take risks like this and you are supposed to be at least 2 hours before at the airport for international flights. Sometimes you just don’t know what may happen and it’s better to be safer than sorry, especially as May is our transition month so there are more chances of bad weather in May
Andrew says
Hi guys…
My flight is scheduled to leave SJO at 9:40am on May 5th to fly back to Toronto, Canada.
I’m currently in Santa Teresa and I’m wondering if you guys think it is too risky to take a flight from Tambor leaving at 7:30am and arriving at 8:00am to SJO… This gives me 1 hour and 40 minutes before my flight and no room for error…
I have premium processing with Air Canada so I shouldn’t have to wait for too long but If security is a really long line I might be screwed? I have never flown out of SJO before.
The alternative would be to fly to SJO the evening of the 4th and stay in a hotel by the airport before my flight.
Thoughts?
Leigh says
Hi! My flight is to arrive at SJO at 12:30pm and I have a shared shuttle booked for 2pm leaving from the Denny’s. I’ve seen comments about immigrations and traffic being quite busy – just wanted some insight into if it’s likely I’ll miss this bus or if it’s possible to make it?
Sammi says
Yes I would definitely plan for immigration and customs to take longer, if you are traveling anytime now through APril