SJOlarge airport

Juan Santamaría International Airport

San José (Alajuela), Costa Rica

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Routes out

Destinations

MROC

ICAO

3021 ft

Elevation

TravelerPulse profile

Costa Rica's primary international gateway near San José.

Opened

1958

Location

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO/MROC) is the busiest airport in Costa Rica and serves as the main entry point for international travelers visiting the country. Located in Alajuela, approximately 18 kilometers northwest of downtown San José, it handles the vast majority of Costa Rica's international air traffic. The airport is named after Juan Santamaría, a Costa Rican national hero who died during the Battle of Rivas in 1856. It underwent significant expansion and modernization in the 2000s, including a new terminal and expanded capacity to accommodate growing tourism demand. The airport serves as a hub for the national carrier Avianca Costa Rica (formerly LACSA) and connects Costa Rica to major cities across North America, South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. It consistently ranks among the busiest airports in Central America.

Terminals

The airport operates a single main passenger terminal with international and domestic sections, featuring multiple gates and a modernized airside concourse.

Getting to & from

Ground transport options include taxis, ride-hailing services, private shuttles, and rental cars, with the journey to downtown San José taking approximately 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

Airlines here

Major airlines serving SJO include American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Air Canada, and Iberia, among others.

Notable facts

›Named after Juan Santamaría, a Costa Rican national hero from the 1856 Battle of Rivas.
›Located in Alajuela province, not within San José city limits.
›Handles over 4 million passengers annually in peak years.
›Serves as the main hub for Avianca Costa Rica, formerly known as LACSA.
›One of the busiest airports in Central America by passenger volume.

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 Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.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.

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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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