SJOlarge airport

Juan Santamaría International Airport

San José (Alajuela), Costa Rica

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Routes out

Destinations

ICAO

MROC

Elevation

3021 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Juan Santamaría International Airport

SJO

Location

San José (Alajuela) · A · Costa Rica

Connectivity

76 routes · 38 destinations

Position

9.994°, -84.209° · 3021 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

Visa-free entry (many countries)

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A closer look

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TravelerPulse profile

Costa Rica's primary international gateway near San José.

Opened

1958

Location

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the largest and busiest airport in Costa Rica, serving the greater San José metropolitan area from its location in the city of Alajuela, approximately 18 kilometers northwest of downtown San José. It serves as the main hub for international travel to and from the country. The airport is named after Juan Santamaría, a Costa Rican national hero celebrated for his role in the 1856 Battle of Rivas against William Walker's filibuster forces. The facility is operated by Aeris, a private consortium that took over management under a concession agreement with the Costa Rican government. SJO handles millions of passengers annually and connects Costa Rica to major hubs throughout North America, Latin America, and Europe. It is the primary base of operations for Costa Rica's flag carrier and a key transit point for regional travel in Central America.

Terminals

The airport operates a single main passenger terminal with international and domestic departure areas, though significant expansion and modernization projects have been carried out over the years.

Getting to & from

Ground transport options include taxis, ride-hailing services, and private shuttles connecting the airport to downtown San José and other tourist destinations; there is no direct rail or metro link.

Airlines here

Major carriers operating at SJO include American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Air Canada, and Iberia, among others.

Notable facts

›Named after Juan Santamaría, the national hero of Costa Rica who died in the 1856 Battle of Rivas.
›Located in Alajuela, not within San José city limits, though it serves the capital region.
›Operated under a private concession by Aeris on behalf of the Costa Rican government.
›One of the busiest airports in Central America by passenger volume.
›The airport has undergone major renovations and expansions in the 2000s and 2010s to accommodate growing traffic.

Official website Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (37 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Routes

SJO → MEX4O · 320

SJO → BOC5C · DHT

SJO → DRK5C · DHT

SJO → FON5C · DHT

SJO → GLF5C · DHT

SJO → MGA5C · DHT

SJO → NOB5C · CNA

SJO → PJM5C · DHT

SJO → TMU5C · DHT

SJO → TNO5C · DHT

SJO → TTQ5C · CNA

SJO → XQP5C · CNA DHT

SJO → DAV7P · F50

SJO → CLTAA · 319

SJO → DFWAA · 757

SJO → JFKAA · 738

SJO → MIAAA · 757 738

SJO → YYZAC · 319

SJO → ATLAF · 738 757

SJO → MEXAM · 738

SJO → BOGAV · 319

SJO → CLTAV · 319

SJO → GUAAV · 320

SJO → LIMAV · 320

SJO → MEXAV · 319

SJO → PTYAV · 319 E90

SJO → SALAV · E90 320 321 319

SJO → SAPAV · ATR

SJO → TGUAV · ATR

SJO → FLLB6 · 320

SJO → MCOB6 · 320

SJO → MIABA · 757 738

SJO → GUACM · E90 73G 738

SJO → MGACM · E90 73G

SJO → PTYCM · 738 73G E90

SJO → SAPCM · 738

SJO → TGUCM · 738

SJO → SDQDE · 767

SJO → ATLDL · 738 757 73H

SJO → JFKDL · 757

SJO → LAXDL · 757

SJO → DENF9 · 319

SJO → GUAIB · 73G

SJO → MADIB · 345 346

SJO → PTYIB · E90

SJO → GUAKL · 73G

SJO → PTYKL · E90

SJO → TGUKL · 738

SJO → DRKLR · CNA

SJO → FONLR · CNA

SJO → GLFLR · CNA

SJO → LIRLR · CNA

SJO → MGALR · ATR

SJO → PJMLR · CNA

SJO → PMZLR · CNA

SJO → TMULR · CNA

SJO → TNOLR · CNA

SJO → XQPLR · CNA

SJO → FLLNK · 320

SJO → DRKRZ · CNA

Aircraft operating here

CNA21 routes Boeing 737-80017 routes De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter9 routes Airbus A3199 routes Boeing 7579 routes Airbus A3207 routes Embraer 1907 routes Boeing 737-7005 routes Aerospatiale/Alenia ATR 42-6003 routes Fokker 501 routes Airbus A3211 routes Boeing 7671 routes

Hotels near SJO

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Where

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City & Place Guide

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via SJO? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Costa Rica from official government sources.

Costa Rica visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →

Encyclopaedia

Juan Santamaría International Airport is the primary international airport serving San José, the capital of Costa Rica. The airport is located in Alajuela Province, 20 kilometres northwest of downtown San José. It is named after Costa Rica's national hero, Juan Santamaría, a drummer boy who died in 1856 defending his country against forces led by William Walker, an American filibuster. It is the biggest and busiest airport in Costa Rica and second in Central America, transiting more than 5 million passengers per year before COVID.

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