Juan Santamaría International Airport

Juan Santamaría is technically in Alajuela, not San José — the two cities blur together in Costa Rica's Central Valley, but it means the airport is actually closer to Alajuela's own town center than to downtown San José, about 20 minutes further on. There's one main terminal, recently expanded, with 45 self-check-in kiosks in the departures lobby, a pet relief area near gate 17, and charging points scattered through the boarding areas.

Immigration and entry rules

Costa Rica's entry rules depend on your passport: most Western nationalities (US, Canada, UK, EU and similar) get stamped in for a long stay — often up to 180 days — while some other nationalities receive a shorter 30-day stamp; either way it's non-extendable, so note the exact date written in your passport. Immigration officers can ask for proof of onward travel and roughly US$100/month of funds, though this is inconsistently enforced. The old US$29 departure tax is now supposed to be folded into your ticket price (a rule dating to 2014), but enforcement has been spotty over the years, so it's worth a quick check with your airline before you fly out — you don't want to be caught short at a payment counter after security.

Getting into the city

Official red taxis with yellow triangles queue right outside arrivals — about 30 minutes and roughly US$28 by day (a bit more after dark), running on the meter. The Tuasa/Green Line public bus is the budget option at around US$1, taking 35 minutes, though luggage space is tight. Private shuttles (Interbus and similar, pre-booked online) run about US$17 per person and take roughly the same time with door-to-door drop-off. There's a train, but it only reaches Alajuela's own station, not the airport directly, so it's not a practical first leg unless you're staying in Alajuela itself.

Practical tips

If your flight lands after dark, budget slightly more for the taxi and confirm your hotel's exact location with the driver — addresses in Costa Rica often use landmarks rather than street numbers. And if your trip includes the Poás volcano or a Central Valley coffee tour, it's a much shorter drive from here than from most other jumping-off points in the country.