Flying from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): what you need to know
San Jose is one hour ahead of San Diego and observes the UTC-6 timezone.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your SAN to SJO flight.
Be prepared for longer lines in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight with a stop long enough to explore your chosen city. Top stopovers between SAN and SJO include:
Los Angeles International Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Right now, $252 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is $538. Bear in mind that fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
It's a good idea to book in advance if you're looking for cheap tickets from SAN to SJO. That's because airlines adjust prices based on demand, which tends to increase closer to departure.
Getting cheap flights from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport is more likely if you can be flexible with your travel dates. Use the 'Whole month' function to see the lowest prices throughout the month and snap up a great deal.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from SAN to SJO by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification through the app when a special offer becomes available.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
Handy information about San Diego International Airport (SAN)
The address for SAN is Airport Drive.
Of all flights departing from San Diego International Airport, 71.38% touch down on time at their destination.
San Diego International Airport is about 5 kilometres from central San Diego. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 10 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
Taking public transport? You can expect a journey time of around 20 minutes.
Booked an early flight from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these stays near SAN:
Arriving at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
If you're arriving on a late San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting shortly after at one of these accommodation options near SJO:
Say yes to new adventures by picking up a Juan Santamaria International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from NextCar, Europcar or Dollar and experience the lesser-explored corners of San Jose and beyond.
For the lowest price, book your ride from Juan Santamaria International Airport around three weeks before you travel.
Getting from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to central San Jose
From Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose is approximately 18 kilometres away. It takes around 20 minutes to drive to the centre.
It takes around 2 hours 20 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
When to fly to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
The quietest month for a flight from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport is May, while July is the busiest. Pick the best time to visit San Jose based on whether you prefer a more relaxed vibe or a faster pace.
The warmest month in San Jose is March, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC and 29ºC. Book your flights from San Diego International Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport in this month if you like this kind of weather.
January has average temperatures of between 12ºC and 26ºC. Search for cheap tickets from SAN to SJO sometime around then if you like cooler conditions.
Explore more of Costa Rica
San Jose has loads to offer, but there are so many other parts of Costa Rica waiting to be discovered. Around 113 kilometres east of San Jose, a trip to Limon will keep your itinerary packed. Start with popular sights like Veragua Rainforest Park, Playa Bonita and Cruise Pier Puerto Limon.
Alajuela is another standout destination in Costa Rica and is around 18 kilometres north-west of San Jose. No journey is complete without seeing La Perla Park, Los Duendes Park and Finca El Soto.
