Costa Rica’s International Airports (and the Airlines that Fly to Them) So you’re planning a visit to Costa Rica – congratulations! You’re going to have a blast. But before you get to the fun part, you’re probably focused on how to get here in the first place. Specifically, on whether you should fly into the San José airport or the Liberia airport. First things first (and bonus fun fact): there is no such thing as a San José Airport or a Liberia Airport – at least, not in Costa Rica! If we’re getting technical, we have the Juan Santamaria International Airport (about 12 miles west of San José, in a city called Alajuela) and the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (about 9 miles west of Liberia).
So, where should you fly? That’s a great question. Flights into Liberia historically have been more expensive, but the airport has grown over the last few years and thus pulled ticket costs down. The real answer lies in your destination: Which airport is closest to where you’re headed? That’s where you should fly. Because, despite its small size, Costa Rica’s drive times can be long. Go for the shorter drive, every time.
Inaugurated in 1958, SJO is the country’s oldest international airport and still the primary choice for most travelers; Juan Santamaría International Airport welcomed a record 4.6+ million travelers in 2016, ranking it the second-busiest airport in Central America (second to Tocumen International Airport in Panama City). The airport is named after national hero Juan Santamaría, who played a pivotal part in securing Costa Rica’s independence from 1800s-era filibusters.
Fly Here if You’re Visiting: The Nicoya Peninsula (Nosara, Malpaís, Montezuma, etc.), Papagayo, Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, and other points along the north Pacific coast Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, usually referred to as the Liberia Airport, is located just outside Guanacaste province’s capital of Liberia. This is considered the gateway to Costa Rica’s wildly popular North Pacific, including the Gold Coast.