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SJO Juan Santamaria International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) serves San José, about 15 km northwest of San José. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATASJO
ICAOMROC
ServesSan José
From centre15 km
Non-stop38
Airlines21
TimezoneAmerica/Costa Rica
Elevation921 m

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The airport in numbers

Juan Santamaria International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Juan Santamaria International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 3.1M passengers in 2021, against a peak of 6.5M in 2016.

Passengers / year
3.1M
as of 2021
Peak traffic
6.5M
in 2016
Elevation
921 מ׳
above sea level
Passengers per year, 1960–2021

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from Juan Santamaria International Airport to San José

The airport is about 15 km northwest of San José, about 32 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.

Taxi & apps: Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.

Tipping: Rounding up is accepted almost everywhere.

Transport guidance is generic for this country — check exact details on the airport's own site.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~22 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~32 minmetered
Private transfer~32 minfixed upfront
Car rental~32 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From SJO to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Jaco62 km66 min—
La Fortuna71 km75 min—
Liberia152 km160 min—
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Juan Santamaria International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in San Jose ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Juan Santamaria International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 38 destinations, operated by 21 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: LACSA · Avianca · Copa Airlines · American Airlines · United Airlines · US Airways · Iberia Airlines · KLM Royal Dutch Airlines · Delta Air Lines · JetBlue Airways

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Juan Santamaria International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Juan Santamaria International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in San Jose shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Juan Santamaria International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near San José

Same country

Other airports in Costa Rica

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Juan Santamaria International Airport to the centre of San José?
Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. The airport is about 15 km northwest of San José, about 32 minutes by road.
Can I use a ride app from Juan Santamaria International Airport?
Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.
What's the cheapest way from Juan Santamaria International Airport to San José?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.
Can I get from Juan Santamaria International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Juan Santamaria International Airport?
About 38 destinations, including Panama City, Guatemala City, Puntarenas, Golfito. 21 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Juan Santamaria International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Juan Santamaria International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Juan Santamaria International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
San José city guide← Costa Rica travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes

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