Last Updated: May 20, 2024
If you are departing from Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and wondering what the experience will be like, this post is for you. Here, we will cover how the airport is set up, shops and restaurants at the departure gate, and some other information to help you plan.
Overview
Costa Rica has two international airports. LIR is in Liberia, in the Guanacaste region, and SJO is near the capital city of San Jose. In this post, we are covering SJO, which is Costa Rica’s largest and busiest airport.
Even as the country’s largest airport, SJO is still fairly small. There are only about 20 departure gates. The airport continues to expand to accommodate more flights, and new gates will be added over the years.
The airport is highly accessible, with features like ramps, elevators, escalators, handicap bathrooms, and more.
SJO Airport has free Wi-Fi with a strong signal in all areas.
Drop Off & Parking
The departure area at SJO Airport is located on the upper level. When arriving at the airport, follow signs for departures/salidas. Your ride, shuttle, or taxi will be able to go up the ramp and drop you off right near the entrance doors.
If you are driving yourself, 24-hour parking is available in the lot across from the entrance doors (also on the upper level) for $2.50 per hour, $35 per day, or $200 per week.
Luggage handlers are available right near the entrance doors. Luggage wrapping is available just inside the entrance.
Check In
Once you enter the airport, you’ll see all the different airlines along the back wall, like you would normally see at any airport. Each one has its own set of kiosks with roped off waiting areas.
Most airlines suggest arriving at the airport three hours in advance for international flights.
Be sure to remember to check in for your flight online beforehand. You can usually do this 24 hours in advance. We have been bumped off flights because we hadn’t done this, even when showing up several hours early.
Departure Tax (Exit Tax)
Costa Rica’s departure tax ($29) is now included in most airline ticket prices, so you no longer have to wait in line to pay it. If for some reason your tickets do not include the departure tax, there is a desk near the back right corner, where it can be paid.
Amenities in Check-in Area
In the main entrance/check-in area, there are several bathrooms, a money exchange, and a BAC bank and ATM.
For food and drinks, there is a small cafeteria up the escalator.
Security Check
After receiving your boarding pass, you’ll walk to the left and enter the security checkpoint. Sometimes there is a line, but it usually goes fairly quickly.
Boarding Gates
After security, you will walk up a short ramp into the boarding gate waiting areas. Before you get there, you’ll pass through a larger mezzanine with several big shops. There are two large souvenir stores with clothing, stuffed animals, wood carvings, chocolates, coffee, and much more.
There is also a toy store, cell-phone accessory store, and jewelry shop.
After passing through the shopping area, you will be at gates 8 & 9. To the left are gates 1-7 and to the right are gates 10-20.
Amenities at Each Gate
Each gate has plenty of seating and usually a cell-phone charging station (free). Bathrooms are located between gates, but if you walk to the left or right, you’ll be able to find one within a few minutes. Remember, it’s a small airport.
There are several duty-free shops scattered throughout the different gates. These offer alcohol, perfume, and sometimes things like jewelry and watches, all tax free.
Like we mentioned before, free Wi-Fi is available throughout SJO Airport.
Restaurants and Shops at Each Gate
As of our last departure, these were the shops and restaurants at each gate. They may change over time, so feel free to leave us a comment below if you find something different.
Gates 1-2
Small pharmacy
Duty free shop
Medium-sized gift shop
45 Gastro Pub – Serves sandwiches and craft beer on tap (sit-down restaurant with a small bar)
Gates 5-7
Starbucks Coffee
California Pizza Kitchen
Toro Gourmet Burgers
Britt Cafe & Bakery
Mini Market
Money/currency exchange
Gates 8-9
Very small food court and sitting area. Food options are burgers, make your own bowl, and sandwiches/bakery.
Off this area is where the larger shops are that you walk past to enter the gates.
Gates 10-11
Malinche Restaurant – Typical Costa Rican food (sit down). Has been around for years. Good option.
Gates 12-14
These gates are located downstairs and don’t have any shops or restaurants.
Gates 15-16
Duty-free shop
Gates 17-20
Britt Cafe & Bakery
Smaller gift shops
Bar Imperial (small bar with a few seats)
Where to Pass the Time?
If you have a long wait, and who doesn’t when showing up three hours early, a couple of good spots to pass the time are Malinche Restaurant (Gates 10-11) or 45 Gastro Pub (Gates 1-2). Both have sitting areas where you can have a meal or drink and hang out a bit.
The food courts (Gates 5-7 and 8-9) are also good, but a little noisier and busy.
If you get lucky, there may even be some free entertainment near gates 8 and 9. Sometimes there is a person playing typical Costa Rican music on a large xylophone.
Conclusion
We hope that this post has given you a better idea of what to expect when departing Costa Rica’s SJO Airport. While it is always sad to leave, remember that most people end up coming back again and again. So, until next time, Pura Vida!
Last Updated: May 20, 2024
Have a question about departing from SJO? Leave us a comment below.
Looking for more information to help you plan? Check out these posts:
Best Hotels Near SJO Airport – This post offers some great options that are located near the airport but still have a warm feel. Many include a free airport shuttle.
1-2 Days in San Jose – Looking to spend a couple of nights in the city before you go? See what sites we recommend in this post.
Living in Costa Rica – You don’t have to leave! Read posts about our life here in paradise and plan your own adventure.
A couple more things that could have been included in your article.
Navigating the toll booths and exits to the airport – i circled back through the toll booth a couple of times before getting out of the circle on the right exit to the airport. Also, rental car drop off was a nightmare at SJO! I picked up in Liberia and all my paperwork said drop off at SJO airport. With help from someone at departures entrance, I located a group of rental car companies near the airport – mine not among them! Eventually trying not to panic, I went to a big chain hotel and they called the rental company who sent a shuttle for me to follow through that nightmare traffic to the rental return, a long way from the airport. I had driven alone for 3 weeks around Costa Rica north and south, and this car return was the only bad part of a wonderful trip! Thanks for all your great articles! I look forward to receiving them!
Hi Lynne, That’s a good point about returning a rental car. It can be confusing since none of the rental car companies have full offices at the airport. You always have to drop it off at their office nearby and then take their shuttle to the airport after. We will add a note about this to our post next time we do an update. Thanks!
Thank you for the info. We have an early 6:00 am flight our of SJO, what time are the ticket kiosks and security open? I know you suggest arriving 3 hours early, but assuming that can’t be the case with this early of a flight. Thanks!
Hi Allison, You should be fine arriving 2 hours hours early since that’s super early and the airport is not likely to be busy. We recently arrived 2 hours before an 8:00 am flight and everything was fine. Just make sure to check in online in advance.
We will be arriving on Christmas Eve and I am wondering if the rental car agencies and shuttles to get to them will be on pen on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Do you know?
Hi Robin, Yes, they will be open on Christmas. Here’s a link to our article on what to expect when visiting over that time of year.
Your site is a WEALTH of information, thank you. How about the LIR airport? I am looking for a hotel near there with an airport shuttle (the obvious Hilton Garden Inn is full!). Any recommendations? Is there a post somewhere that i cannot find 🙂 I was hoping to stay near LIR airport to drop off my car, get an antigen test, and then stay the night before flying back to the states.
Hi Jane, The Hilton Garden Inn is the only hotel right near the airport, unfortunately. Sometimes people stay in Playa Hermosa for their overnight before their flight. It’s a beach town but only 30 minutes from LIR. There is Covid testing in the nearby town of Playas del Coco as well.
We will be heading to Costa Rica in January 2022 for close to 3 months and can’t wait! Your blog has been and continues to be a wealth of information for us… thank you thank you thank you!!! My question is let-related: we will be travelling with our small 13 yr old Shih Tzu, is there a pet relief area once inside the SJO terminal? I fear being stuck inside and my dog being unable to relive himself after so many hours (plus a 5 hr plane ride!).
Also, I have been told that there are many stray dogs in Costa Rica so am wondering how the general population feels about them? Are leashed dogs accepted in stores, restaurants (or on terraces), national parks, etc? I would love any information you could provide! Again, thanks so much for sharing your great CR experiences!
Hi Carri, We’ve never noticed a pet relief area in the airport but aren’t sure. Sorry! Maybe someone else will know and chime in.
Yes, there are a lot of stray dogs but people still love dogs here. Some locals do think of them differently, more as guard dogs than a part of the family, but this isn’t true for all Ticos. Lots of people bring their dog to the beach. You can bring them in hardware stores but I don’t think in grocery stores. Definitely not national parks. You’ll see dogs at some outdoor dining restaurants, just ask. Hope that helps!
SJO has a pet relief area in gate 17-18, and a water bowl by the water fountain near gate 10.
Very helpful, thanks!
Hola:
We are taking a shuttle flight from Puerto Jimenez and arrive at SJO an hour and a half before our flight to the US. Is this enough time if we have our boarding passes and are not checking luggage?
Hi Randee, The airlines are recommending that you check in three hours early right now so 1.5 hours seems tight. It’s good you don’t have checked luggage but you’ll still have to wait in line to check in and the lines can be long.
Hi Randee, I am in a similar situation this year and wanted to check and see how it went for you last year with your short transfer time? Did you make your international flight?
Hi Lindsay:
I did make the flight and even had time to grab some dinner! SJO is a small airport and does not take long to get through. My connection in Miami was another story LOL
Hi guys,
My flight is leaving SJO at 9:40am on Thursday May 5th. I’m currently in Santa Teresa and I’m wondering if you think it would be cutting it too close if I took the 7:30-8:00am flight (Tambor -SJO) that morning for my 9:40am flight? I have premium processing with Air Canada but it is definitely leaving no margin for error and I’ve never flown out of SJO before.
The alternative would be taking the 5:30pm flight on the 4th, and then staying in an airport hotel 4th-5th and then departing the morning of the 5th.
Let me know your thoughts!
Hi Andrew, That would be cutting it too close even with expedited boarding. We’d recommend doing the overnight the day before so you’re not stressed.
Thank you for putting all of this information in one place! We have a flight that leaves SJO at 11:30 in the morning. Is it too risky to return a rental car at their office (right by the airport) when they open at 9:00 and then get a ride from them to the airport? It feels like we could easily end up getting to the airport at 10 or later which is cutting it too close. Yes?
Hi Tom, The airlines are recommending that you arrive 3 hours before your flight, so yes, that’s cutting it too close.
Do you know how early you can drop off luggage before a flight at SJO, or anywhere else to store luggage? We’ll be flying in from
Drake Bay around 1 pm but not leaving for home until 1 am. Would like to explore the city a bit, but not drag around suitcases. Thanks!
Hi Heather, Usually the check in kiosks start opening up about 3 hours before your flight. Unfortunately, there isn’t anywhere to store luggage at the airport. Some people rent an inexpensive Airbnb in your situation so that they have a secure place to leave their bags.
Hi Heather, we have researched this before and haven’t had any luck finding anywhere to temporarily store luggage. If you hire a private shuttle van or go on a guided tour, they may be able to keep the bags in the van while they wait for you/ you go on the tour. Just an idea. Let us know if you do find any luggage storage nearby.
Hi Heather, did you find a place to store your luggage ? Ed having the same situation
Hi Guys, my group of 7 people will be arriving at SJO on an international flight, and then need to get to the regional airport/terminal on a small plane. I understand you need to walk (no shuttle) f between regional to the international. On the map it looks like a bit long hike as 2 in our group have mobility issues. Do you know how far it is? And if there is anyway to get assistance?
Hi Mal,
The Sansa Terminal (where domestic flights are) is just a couple minute walk from the exit doors of the airport. We have seen people with mobility issues being helped inside the airport and out to the parking lot with wheelchairs. It’s not much farther to the domestic terminal but we aren’t sure if they would go out to that point. They might. If not, you could ask for a taxi to bring you around the circle and drop you off, it would probably only be $5 and just take a few minutes. The locals are very helpful here so I think they will come up with a solution that works no matter what.
Hello, we will be arriving in San Jose around 4pm and our flight doesn’t leave until 1:30am; any suggestions on where to leave luggage since we won’t check in until 1030pm?
Hi Tracy, There isn’t a locker storage option near the airport, unfortunately. Some people rent an inexpensive hotel room or Airbnb to store their things.
Haven’t found answer to this question: I have 2 unopened bottles of liquor that I purchased duty-free upon arrival in Liberia. Haven’t drunk them as I thought, so will I clear airport security and be able to carry these purchases home to U.S.? Thanks.
Hi Jan, We aren’t sure either. Let us know how it goes if you have a chance.
Hello and thank you for putting this together!
My son is flying in to SJO from Michigan and arrives around 1:30p on Saturday. He is scheduled to take a Sansa flight to his next destination on Sunday at 1p. Is there a hotel he can stay in close to SJO, and if so, will he need to retest for Covid or have other requirements to leave and return from the airport area within the 24 hour period?
Cheers! Kristen
Hi Kristen, Costa Rica doesn’t have a Covid test requirement for entry anymore.
For a hotel near the airport, here’s a link to our post, Best Hotels Near SJO.
Two questions…
1. How early should I arrive at SJO for a connecting flight to Limon?
2. On the return, how early should I arrive at SJO for an international flight.
The carrier that provides the SJO to LIO portion of the trip is not the same as the carrier that is providing the international flight to and from SJO.
Hi Sheldon, The domestic carriers recommend arriving about one hour before your flight departs for in-country destinations like Limon.
For an international flight, the current recommendation is 2 hours, but we are more comfortable with 2.5 hours in case of long lines.