We have put together a comprehensive list of all airlines, cities, and airports in Europe and North America (USA & Canada) that offer direct flights to Costa Rica. The main airport in Costa Rica is called Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) which is near San José and the most popular airport. The other airport in the country is Liberia (LIR) which is located in the Guanacaste province. Depending on where you are staying in the country, the airport you fly into is important to consider.
Juan Santamaria International Airport
It is the main airport of Costa Rica, located in the province of Alajuela, roughly 20 km (12 miles) from the center of San José. It is the biggest and the busiest airport, and the most common choice most of the time.
Liberia (LIR) Airport
This airport, which also goes by the name of Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, is mainly used for visitors who are going to spend time in the Guanacaste Province, where many of the best beaches in the country are located, such as Nosara, Playa del Coco & Tamarindo. It is a highly popular area of the country so it is quite convenient with an international airport serving this region.
Direct Flights to Costa Rica from Europe
| City | Airport | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid | Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD) | Iberia, Iberojet |
| Frankfurt | Frankfurt Airport (FRA) | Lufthansa |
| Paris | Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) | Air France |
| Amsterdam | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) | KLM |
| Zurich | Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Edelweiss Air |
| London | London Gatwick Airport (LGW) | British Airways, TUI Airways (Seasonal) |
| Brussels | Brussels Airport (BRU) | TUI fly Belgium (Seasonal) |
Direct Flights to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) from Europe
| City | Airport | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid | Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD) | Iberojet (Seasonal) |
| Frankfurt | Frankfurt Airport (FRA) | Lufthansa (Seasonal) |
| Amsterdam | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) | KLM (Seasonal) |
| London | London Gatwick Airport (LGW) | TUI Airways (Seasonal) |
Direct Flights to Costa Rica from the United States
| City | Airport | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | Miami International Airport (MIA) | American Airlines, Frontier, Spirit Airlines |
| Orlando, FL | Orlando International Airport (MCO) | Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) | JetBlue, Spirit Airlines |
| New York City, NY | John F. Kennedy International (JFK) | American Airlines, JetBlue |
| Newark, NJ | Newark Liberty International (EWR) | United Airlines |
| Houston, TX | George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) | United Airlines |
| Dallas, TX | Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) | American Airlines |
| Atlanta, GE | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta (ATL) | Delta Airlines |
| Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) | American Airlines |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles International (LAX) | Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington Dulles International (IAD) | United Airlines |
| Boston, MA | Boston Logan International (BOS) | JetBlue, Delta Air Lines (Seasonal) |
| Las Vegas, NV | Harry Reid International (LAS) | Frontier Airlines (Seasonal) |
| Chicago, IL | O’Hare International (ORD) | United Airlines, American Airlines |
| Denver, CO | Denver International (DEN) | United Airlines |
Direct Flights to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) from the United States
| City | Airport | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | Miami International Airport (MIA) | American Airlines |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) | JetBlue |
| New York City, NY | John F. Kennedy International (JFK) | JetBlue, American Airlines |
| Newark, NJ | Newark Liberty International (EWR) | United Airlines |
| Houston, TX | George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) | United Airlines |
| Dallas, TX | Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) | American Airlines |
| Atlanta, GE | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta (ATL) | Delta Airlines |
| Denver, CO | Denver International (DEN) | United Airlines (Seasonal) |
| Chicago, IL | O’Hare International (ORD) | United Airlines |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles International (LAX) | Alaska Airlines |
Direct Flights to Costa Rica from Canada
| City | Airport | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto, ON | Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) | Air Canada, WestJet |
| Montreal, QC | Montréal-Trudeau International (YUL) | Air Canada, Air Transat (Seasonal) |
Direct Flights to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) from Canada
| City | Airport | Airline |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto, ON | Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) | Air Canada, WestJet |
| Montreal, QC | Montréal-Trudeau International (YUL) | Air Canada |
Summary
Costa Rica is an accessible destination no matter where you are based. There is a wide range of options throughout Europe and North America, to good prices. During high-season (summer) in Costa Rica, which is December – April, prices are at their highest, so it is a good idea to plan your flights at least two months in advance.
FAQ
What cities have direct flights to Costa Rica?
From USA: Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Newark, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Las Vegas, Chicago & Denver
From Canada: Montreal & Toronto
From Europe: Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, London, Brussels
Which US city is the cheapest to fly to Costa Rica?
This varies, but it is advised to look at a flight comparison site to see what prices are like for the period you are interested in to catch the best deal.
Is it better to fly into San José or Liberia?
If you are going to be in Guanacaste or nearby surroundings for most of your time, then Liberia is a relevant choice to fly into. If you will spend most of your time in or around San José, then Juan Santamaria International Airport is the better option.
