Juan Santamaría International Airport
Also known as: San José Airport, San José Costa Rica Airport, Juan Santamaria Airport, SJO Airport. Formerly El Coco International Airport.
Private transfer from SJOSee pricesSee pricesAbout Juan Santamaría International Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the main international airport of Costa Rica, located in Alajuela Province and serving the capital, San José.
About 26 airlines fly here. Avianca, Copa Airlines and Volaris connect the airport with Central America, Mexico, Colombia and other Latin American cities, while American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and Air Canada link it with the United States and Canada. Iberia, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Edelweiss fly to Europe. Sansa and Costa Rica Green Airways operate domestic flights to beach and rainforest towns.
International flights use the Main Terminal, and domestic flights use a separate Domestic Terminal, a short walk away. The airport has one runway of about 3,000 meters.
SJO sits about 20 kilometers northwest of downtown San José, next to Route 1 near the city of Alajuela. From here travelers head to San José and Alajuela, the Arenal Volcano area around La Fortuna, the beaches of Jacó and Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and the Caribbean coast around Puerto Viejo.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
AERIS Holding Costa Rica
- Passengers per year
About 6.4 million in 2025
- Runways
One asphalt runway (07/25), 3,012 m
- Opened
1958
- Location
Alajuela, about 20 km northwest of downtown San José
Arrival tips for Juan Santamaría International Airport
After landing, follow the signs to immigration, where lines can be long at busy times. Costa Rica has no online entry form for most visitors, but you need a valid passport and may be asked for proof of a return or onward trip.
Duty-free shops sit before and near baggage claim. After you collect your luggage, bags go through a quick scan at customs.
Once outside, pre-booked drivers wait just past the exit doors holding name signs. For a taxi, look for the taxi representative, who directs you to an official orange airport taxi; check that the meter is reset. Rideshare cars cannot pick up at the curb, so you have to walk away from the terminal to meet one. Be wary of people offering unsolicited help with rides or bags, as it often leads to a sales pitch.
Alajuela is mild, with daytime highs around 77°F to 86°F (25°C to 30°C); the dry season runs December to April. Costa Rica is on UTC−6 all year, and the currency is the colón, though US dollars are widely accepted.
Ground transportation
Official orange taxis and pre-booked drivers suit most travelers, while the public bus is the budget option for downtown San José.
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Book a transfer from SJOTaxi from SJO airport
Official orange airport taxis are assigned by a taxi representative outside arrivals and use a meter. They accept colones and US dollars, and the ride to San José takes about as long as the bus, depending on traffic.
Private transfer
Your driver waits outside the exit doors with a name sign. It is the simplest choice for long trips such as La Fortuna, about 2.5 hours from San José, or Manuel Antonio, about 3 hours, though it must be arranged ahead.
Bus to San José
TUASA's red buses stop on the main road beside the airport, a short walk from arrivals, and run to their terminal near Merced Park in downtown San José in about 35 minutes without traffic. Space for large luggage is limited.
Rideshare
Uber works in the area, but standard rideshare cars cannot load at the curb, so you walk a short distance from the terminal. A pilot lets licensed orange taxis take airport rides through the Uber app, though availability varies.
Rental car
Some rental companies have desks before the exit, while others meet you outside and shuttle you to an off-site office. Traffic around San José can be heavy at rush hour.
Moving between terminals
- 1
Walk between terminals
The Domestic Terminal is in a separate building about a five-minute walk from the Main Terminal.
- 2
Clear customs first
If you arrive on an international flight and connect to a domestic one, you pass immigration, collect your bags and clear customs before walking over.
- 3
Allow extra time
Immigration lines can take an hour or more, and domestic check-in asks you to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure, so leave a generous connection.
Terminals
Main Terminal
Handles all international arrivals and departures, with immigration, customs, baggage claim and the official taxi and bus connections outside.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Arajet, Avianca, Breeze Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Edelweiss, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, Iberojet, JetBlue, KLM, LATAM Airlines, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, Wingo
Domestic Terminal
A separate single-level building opened in 2018 for domestic flights within Costa Rica.
Airlines commonly assigned here: Costa Rica Green Airways, Sansa
Airlines and destinations
Frequently asked questions
How far is San José airport from downtown San José?
Juan Santamaría International Airport is about 20 kilometers northwest of downtown San José. The public bus takes about 35 minutes without traffic, and a taxi takes roughly the same time, since both use the same roads. Rush-hour traffic in the Central Valley can make the trip noticeably longer.
Is San José airport in San José or Alajuela?
The airport is in Alajuela Province, next to the city of Alajuela, not in San José itself. It is the main airport for the capital and sits beside Route 1, the highway that links Alajuela with San José, about 20 kilometers from downtown San José.
How many terminals does Juan Santamaría Airport have?
Juan Santamaría has two terminals. The Main Terminal handles international flights, with immigration, customs and baggage claim. A separate Domestic Terminal, opened in 2018, handles flights within Costa Rica and is about a five-minute walk from the Main Terminal. There is one runway for both.
Which terminal do domestic flights use at SJO?
Domestic flights with Sansa and Costa Rica Green Airways use the Domestic Terminal, a separate building about a five-minute walk from the Main Terminal. If you connect from an international flight, clear immigration and customs first, then walk over, and arrive at least 30 minutes before your domestic departure.
Which airlines fly to San José, Costa Rica?
About 26 airlines serve Juan Santamaría International Airport. They include Avianca, Copa Airlines, Volaris, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, Iberia, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Edelweiss. Sansa and Costa Rica Green Airways fly domestic routes from the separate Domestic Terminal.
How do taxis work at San José airport?
After customs, go to the taxi representative outside arrivals, who assigns you an official orange airport taxi. Check that the meter is reset at the start of the ride. Licensed taxis accept Costa Rican colones and US dollars but no other currencies, so change other money before you need a ride.
Is there a bus from SJO airport to San José?
Yes. TUASA's red buses stop on the main road beside the airport, a short walk from arrivals, and run to a terminal near Merced Park in downtown San José. The trip takes about 35 minutes without traffic, and buses run frequently during the day. Large luggage can be awkward on board.
Can I use Uber at San José airport?
Uber operates in the San José area, but standard rideshare cars are not allowed to pick up at the terminal curb, so you have to walk a short distance away from the building. A pilot program lets licensed orange airport taxis accept rides through the Uber app, but availability varies by time of day.
What do I need to enter Costa Rica at SJO?
You need a valid, machine-readable passport, and officers may ask for proof of a return or onward trip, such as a flight or bus ticket out of the country. There is no online entry form for most visitors. The officer sets how long you can stay, up to 180 days for some nationalities.
How long does it take to get from SJO to La Fortuna or Manuel Antonio?
From San José, the drive to La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano area takes about 2.5 hours, Manuel Antonio about 3 hours, Jacó about 2 hours and Monteverde about 3.5 hours. Times vary with traffic, weather and road conditions. Sansa also flies from SJO to La Fortuna and Quepos, near Manuel Antonio.
What is the weather like at San José airport?
The airport area has mild weather all year, with daytime highs of about 77°F to 86°F (25°C to 30°C) and nights around 63°F to 66°F. The dry season runs from December to April, and the rainy season from May to November brings sunny mornings and afternoon showers.
What time zone and currency does Costa Rica use?
Costa Rica is on UTC−6 all year and does not use daylight saving time, so it matches US Central Standard Time in winter. The currency is the Costa Rican colón, but US dollars are widely accepted, including by licensed airport taxis, which take only colones or dollars.
Who operates Juan Santamaría International Airport?
The airport is operated by AERIS Holding Costa Rica under a concession from the government. It handled 6,403,220 passengers in 2025, a 3 percent increase over the previous year, and AERIS is expanding the western side of the terminal under the airport's master plan.