Why go
- Capital and largest city of Costa Rica.
- Served by Quepos Managua Airport (XQP).
History
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and the capital of San José Province. It is in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Central Valley. San José is Costa Rica's seat of national government, focal point of political and economic activity, and major transportation hub. San José is simultaneously one of Costa Rica's cantons, with its municipal land area covering 44.62 square kilometers and having within it an estimated population of 352,381 people in 2022. Together with several other cantons of the central valley, including Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago, it forms the country's Greater Metropolitan Area, with an estimated population of over 2 million in 2017. The city is named in honor of Joseph of Nazareth.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 21 airlines, 38 direct destinations
- CAL Cargo Air Lines 5C (DHT, CNA) · 11 routes: Bocas Del Toro, Golfito, La Fortuna/San Carlos, Managua, Nicoya, Nosara Beach, Puerto Jimenez, Puntarenas, Quepos, Roxana, TNO
- LACSA LR (CNA, ATR) · 10 routes: Golfito*, La Fortuna/San Carlos*, Liberia*, Managua*, Nicoya, Palmar Sur*, Puerto Jimenez*, Puntarenas*, Quepos*, TNO*
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A319, A320, Embraer 190, ATR, A321) · 9 routes: Bogota, Charlotte, Guatemala City, Lima, Mexico City, Panama City, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, Tegucigalpa
- Euro Exec Express RZ (CNA) · 9 routes: Golfito, La Fortuna/San Carlos, Liberia, Nicoya, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jimenez, Puntarenas, Quepos, TNO
- Copa Airlines CM (737-800, Embraer 190, 737-700) · 5 routes: Guatemala City, Managua, Panama City, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa
- American Airlines AA (737-800, 757, A319) · 4 routes: Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, New York
- United Airlines UA (737-800) · 4 routes: Chicago, Houston, Newark, Washington
- US Airways US (737-800, 757, A319) · 4 routes: Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Miami, New York*
- Delta Air Lines DL (757, 737-800, 737-800) · 3 routes: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
- Iberia Airlines IB (345, A340-600, 737-700, Embraer 190) · 3 routes: Guatemala City*, Madrid, Panama City*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (737-800, 737-700, Embraer 190) · 3 routes: Guatemala City*, Panama City*, Tegucigalpa*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320) · 2 routes: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
- AeroMéxico AM (737-800) · 1 route: Mexico City
- Air Canada AC (A319) · 1 route: Toronto
- Air France AF (737-800, 757) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- British Airways BA (737-800, 757) · 1 route: Miami*
- Condor Flugdienst DE (767) · 1 route: Santo Domingo
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319) · 1 route: Denver
- Interjet (ABC Aerolineas) 4O (A320) · 1 route: Mexico City
- Metro Batavia 7P (F50) · 1 route: David
- Spirit Airlines NK (A320) · 1 route: Fort Lauderdale
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 2 direct destinations
- CAL Cargo Air Lines 5C (CNA, DHT) · 2 routes: Palmar Sur, San Jose
- Euro Exec Express RZ (CNA) · 1 route: San Jose
- LACSA LR (CNA) · 1 route: San Jose*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
- CAL Cargo Air Lines 5C (DHT) · 1 route: Liberia
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Quepos Managua Airport (XQP); 14 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: SJO has direct flights to 38 destinations on 21 airlines (incl. Guatemala City, Panama City, Charlotte, Golfito, La Fortuna/San Carlos…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for San Jose, Costa Rica. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.