Costa Rica has both domestic and international airports where travelers enter the country and also make it to hard to reach places with greater ease.
Departures, Arrivals, Domestic & International
There are various airports in Costa Rica, the majority for domestic flights only. Depending on your final destination, it is possible that you will know more than two Costa Rica airports by the time you leave. There are two Costa Rican international airports with direct flights to many destinations in the United States and Europe, along with other locations in Central and South America.
Juan Santamaria International Airport
The Costa Rica international airports are the largest in the country. The most extensive and busiest one is the Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) in Alajuela, just a few miles from the capital San Jose in the Central Valley of the country. It is also ranking in second of the region only after Tocumen, Panama. If you are looking to stay at the capital city of Costa Rica or are planning a vacation in the central and southern sides of the country this might be your best choice of airports in Costa Rica.
The flight number increases in Costa Rica airports during the high season of vacations that generally goes from December until April (dry season); these flights are more expensive than those of the rest of the year due to the high demand.
Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport
The second international airport is more close to Costa Rica’s most popular touristic destinations, the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste (LIR). Right on the northern side of the country the LIR airport makes it easier to reach the exotic and beautiful beaches of the north pacific or the majestic and stunning views of Arenal Volcano and rejuvenating hot springs right in the Northern region of this beautiful country.
The Domestic Airports – making it easier to reach certain destinations
There are other Costa Rica airports created only for domestic flights, making easier and faster to reach the places in your vacation plan. Poor road maintenance in some places, especially those farther from the capital or centric cities make it a little harder and longer to reach your hotel, in which case a domestic flight might be the best answer to this issue. A car trip that could have taken up to 6 or 7 hours might take less than one hour.
You will find two domestic airlines, both very experienced on the field and good quality customer service centric. The prices are reasonable compared to the amount of gasoline and time spent in a car, plus you will enjoy the amazing views of Costa Rica’s scenery, starting just a couple of miles away from the Costa Rica airports. Plan your luggage accordingly if you are thinking on getting on board in one of these flights since they only allow between 25 to 40 pounds per person, depending on the airline.
