Well, there aren’t that many options. You can either fly into Liberia or San Jose.
Juan Santamaria Aiport (SJO) is commonly known as the San Jose airport even though it’s actually located in Alajuela. Traffic through this airport is not bad and getting from the plane, through immigration, baggage claim and customs hardly ever takes more than a half an hour.
The airport is not small but not large by any means either. There are many duty free shops and restaurants like Burger King, Schotlkys, Papa John’s and Cinnabon. Café Britt also has souvenir shops at the airport which often offer discounts for bulk purchases. If you need to rent a vehicle you can do that too and exchange currency also. Usually I recommend you only change about $20 here and change the rest in the bank where you’ll get a better rate. The truth is that SJO is your typical airport.
Once you make your way out you come to this lobby with a large glass window. On either side are doors that lead outside. Large crowds of people wait pressed up against the large window, waiting to catch a glimpse of their expected guest. Outside orange cabs belong to the airport. These are super expensive but safe. Still further outside red cabs will offer a slightly cheaper ride, also safe.
Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia (LIR), Guanacaste is completely different and like nothing I’ve ever seen. This airport is small. Usually one flight lands or departs at a time. Driving past it I never realized how small it truly is. There is a modern-looking structure that deceives you into thinking this isn’t a tiny airport. Upon a closer look you’ll notice the modern part of this airport is not yet open, even though it appears completely finished. Next to this modern structure is what appears to be the hangar where the wright brothers must’ve kept their first prototype. There are never a whole lot of people there and it doesn’t take long to get through security and on the plane. Here you actually have to walk on the runway up to the plane and board via steps, just like the president boards Air Force One in all the movies.
Once you’ve been through immigration, baggage claim and customs you step out into the crowd and find your way to your host, a red cab or a local bus that pulls right up to the exit.
Usually SJO is cheaper due to more airlines flying there but Jet Blue started offering direct flights from JFK to LIR at a cheap price back in November. Even from January 22 to 31 you can still fly one-way from JFK to LIR or vice versa for $139. In February you can find flights for as little as $155 one-way and as much as $710 one –way.
Share your experiences at Costa Rican airports in our comments section.
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