AIRPORTS & AIRLINE INFORMATION - SJO - Juan SantaMaria Airport - San Jose, Costa Rica - Revised

STARTING to UPDATE this March, 13, 2012

Below is a list I've started of information on the Airports in and around Costa Rica, Official Entry Requirements, Departure Tax (which recently has changed), Arrival and Departure Information, Airline Information, Where to Park near or at SJO Airport and LOTS MORE!!!
(this is by NO means THE list of lists! Things change. Just sharin' some info and leads! Share back - please notify us of any changes/additions).

There's FREE WiFi/WIRELESS Internet in the Airport (BUT - not until AFTER you've passed security)!!

ENTRY • EXIT REQUIREMENTS for Costa Rica

LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/01/requirements-to-enter-cr.html

LiberiaCostaRicaAirport.net/Entry_Exit_Requirements.html
(easy to read in English)


OFFICIAL

Migracion.go.cr

OFFICIAL AIRPORT WEBSITE

aeris.cr

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DEPARTURE TAX

NOW -  $29

There is a Departure Tax that YOU MUST pay when you are DEPARTING Costa Rica via all flights (currently NOT when departing via bus, car or walking.  MANY countries have it but build it into the airline ticket [making it EASIER for you while in their country]). 

This Departure Tax has increased to $29.

WHERE
TO PAY the $29 Costa Rica DEPARTURE TAX:

IN THE TERMINAL -  Last I checked (ahhh - life in Costa Rica - the land of constant change!) it was as you enter at the FIRST set of doors - IMMEDIATELY take a RIGHT and it's that counter on your RIGHT (NOTE ON THE PROCESS:  In the old days when I was traveling with others, one person would go line up at the airline line while the other went and paid the Exit Tax.  Last time I did it the guard at the airline line would not let us enter the line UNTIL we showed them proof we ALREADY had PAID the Airport Tax and had our Immigration Departure Exit Form so go pay the Exit Tax FIRST.  Only one person NEEDS to go up to the counter with everyone's Passport and the $29 for each passport [so no need to clutter that area any more than it needs to your luggage/bodies].  EVERY time I've done it or been with people that did it, it was a breeze!!  I've never waiting more than 3 people deep.

HOW
TO PAY the $29 Costa Rica DEPARTURE TAX:

The $29 is paid either in US $s or the equivalent in colones (Costa Rican currency) via CASH (this is a good way to get rid of all your coins also since you will NOT be able to convert it into ANY other form of currency once you're outta there [though you could have been nice enough to have left all your coins for the housekeeper where you stayed the night before or the people that helped you!!]).  They DO now take Credit Cards (I believe it's JUST Visa or MasterCard) - BUT - it's processed as a "Cash Advance" which usually YOUR bank charges a hefty fee [many banks I've seen were 20-something percent] for this service [Debit Cards don't normally charge a fee for a Cash Advance so it may not cost anything to do that.  One thing I've get to get confirmation on but I think is true is if they are taking money out of YOUR U.S. dollar account and converting it into colones for THEIR colon bank account - most CREDIT CARDS charge a International Conversion Fee for that [MANY ALSO charge around 3% additionally.  USAA only charges 1%] 

OTHER OPTIONS FOR PAYING THE 
$29 DEPARTURE TAX

•  You can also do it in some of the nacional banks - BUT - they often have LONG lines so why do it that way???  Don't make much sense to me ???).
•  Some major airport hotels and Travel Agencies and Tour Companies will let you pay it at the hotel for a $3-$10+ or so "Convenience Fee".

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AIRPORT NUMBERS IN COSTA RICA:

SAN JOSE - SJO (Juan SantaMaria):  2-437-2400  •  Fly2SanJose.net  aeris.cr (seems to switch to the Fly2SJ one)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamar%C3%ADa_International_Airport

Coordinates - 9° 59′ 38″ N, 84° 12′ 32″ W

According to their website, if one is flying on American Airlines, United Airlines, Jet Blue or Avianca and pre-checked-in online, the airport has a bank of 10 kiosks where you can Self Check-In - without standing in line - EVEN if you have luggage.  WOW - this seems MEGA STRANGE security wise for an international flight where they give you the standard questions.

LIBERIA - Guanacaste (I've seen it called Daniel Oduber as well as Tomas Guardia??):  2-668-1010 (I've also seen 2-666-0695)
LiberiaCostaRicaAirport.net  •  facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002535143356
LOCATION:  http://maps.google.es/maps?q=10.610922,-85.543928&hl=es&ll=10.615731,-85.534058&spn=0.078288,0.109692&sll=10.59338,-85.544643&sspn=0.039147,0.054846&fll=10.610922,-85.543928&fspn=0.039144,0.054846&z=13%20Lives%20in%20Liberia,%20Guanacaste

LIMON:  2-758-1379 (I don't know how much of an airport is really there these days)

PAVAS (Tobias Bolanos):  2-232-2472 (this airport WAS the home to NatureAir.com [my FAVORITE airline!!] but it seems like most NatureAir flights have switched over to a terminal NEXT to SJO airport.  Pavas•Tobias Bolanos Airport is ABOUT 15 minutes from SJO airport [but allow for traffic as it CAN be an issue])

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FLIGHT INFORMATION

ARRIVAL and DEPARTURE INFO  - San Jose - SJO

ARRIVALS:
Fly2SanJose.net/front/pt9.php - OR - 190.10.79.155/fiws/LlegadasPag.aspx

DEPARTURES:
Fly2SanJose.net/front/pt8.php - OR - 190.10.79.155/fiws/SalidasPag.aspx

ARRIVAL and DEPARTURE INFO  - Liberia

http://aeris.cr/vuelos.aspx?id_cat=13

ARRIVALS:  http://190.10.79.155/fiws/LlegadasPag.aspx

DEPARTURES



Here's another interesting international website for flight information:

FlightStats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do;jsessionid=394EBC1209F462F5E3D56F1F84557766.web4:8009?airportCode=SJO&airportQueryType=1

AUTOMATED FLIGHT INFO:

2-437-2626

CODES:  English-9   Arrival-1   Departures-2

(I find it hasn’t worked properly for me MANY times)

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GENERAL AIRPORT INFO

Client Services: 2-443-1737 / 2-443-1244-fax (5am-10pm) (they speak GOOD English and are REALLY helpful with ANY questions you have!! They can NOT page anyone)?????????
NOTE:  For awhile, whenever I call this # - it rings a weird busy and the fax line - no fax comes on.

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AIRPORT TAXI

There is a monopoly on the taxi's from the airport with orange taxi's called Taxi Aeropuerto.  They are only allowed to take people FROM the airport and are located as you leave the terminal - to your left.  You can either choose to pay a set fee - or opt to have the Maria/meter on but once you get in - you can not change your mind.  Also, RARELY have I found a driver that speaks English.
NOTE:  I have called there a few times (the last being March 13, '12 where I spoke with an Amelia) and each time they have said that no one spoke English???  Say WHAT????  They're dealing with TOURISTS??  Well, I guess that tells you what their level of "customer service" is!

SAMPLE RATES TO ESCAZU:  (need to be updated)
Airport taxis (the official ones) - $22 one way – 1-4 (though not much luggage as the trunks tend to be smaller so I’ve found they’re really only comfy if it’s 1-2 people if you have 2 pieces of checked luggage per person), $26-van – 1-10 people.

They accept  Colones or U.S. dollars (best not to bring anything over a $20 and the smaller the better [less of a chance of him saying he doesn't have change and hi getting a WAYYYY better tip].  Speaking of tipping - tipping taxis is NOT customary in Costa Rica - except if they actually DO something for you - like help with your luggage, etc.).

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AIRPORT TRANSFERS • GREETS

Which sounds better to you - Exiting the airport terminal with the masses of weary travelers - walking into the hourds of illegal taxi drivers offering to give you a ride some place for a discounted rate (with a few legal ones mixed in there)?

OR

Have someone standing there with a SMILE and a piece of paper with

YOUR NAME on it GREETING you (in ENGLISH if that's important) and helping you to the car with your luggage?  A friendly face that can answer questions for you?  Take you to get your money changed?  Someone to drive you whereEVER in Costa Rica (or Nicaragua or Panama) you need to go?  Or playing tour guide for a couple+++ days?

Someone that IS CUSTOMER SERVICE oriented - who TRULY wants to help you!!!!

If you KNOW you DESERVE all this

contact LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

and let us help coordinate those details for you!

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AIRPORT PARKING INFORMATION

http://LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/03/airport-parking-sjo.html

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INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES

NOTE:  When booking directly with the airlines in their Ticket Offices or on the Phone - they OFTEN have a $20-$25 PER TICKET ADDITIONAL fee!


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CHEAPEST WAY TO GET TICKETS:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/11/airline-ticket-sites.html


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AIRLINES

AeroMexico
http://AeroMexico.com
2-440-1353  /  2-440-1381
SERVING:  Mexico City


Air Canada
http://AirCanada.ca
CR - AIRPORT COUNTER:  2-441-8025-English-9  (only Mon.-Sat. 8am-1pm)  /  2-243-1860
RESERVATIONS:  CR - 0800-052-1988


Air China (coming)


Air Comet
http://AirComet.com
CR:  2-291-0684 (counter only 8am-noon)
SERVING:  Only Sat. Madrid


Air France (KLM)
http://AirFrance.com/cr
2-220-4111 (only ticket office - no flights to CR)


Air Panama*
http://FlyAirPanama.com
CR  -  2-430-4787  /  2-222-0712 / 2-222-0753-fax / 8-392-4256 / 2-601-1007 / 2-296-8592
Panama  -  507-316-9000 / 507-315-0439
David - Panama City


Air Transat (partnered with CanJet
http://AirTransat.com
2-441-9444
CHARTER - Seasonal - Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto


America West
http://AmericaWest.com  /  http://Facebook.com/USAirways  /  http://Twitter.com/#!/USAirways
CR - Airport:  2-430-6690
RESERVATIONS - CR:  0800-011-0793  /  0800-011-0888
U.S.:  1-800-622-1015


American Airlines
http://AA.com
CR - Airport:  2-442-8800 / 2-257-1266 / 2-248-9010
U.S.:   1-800-433-7300
SERVING:  Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami (I try to avoid going in/out of Miami as these flights are TOOOO often delayed - sometimes 1-2+ hours!!), New York-JFK (non-stop!!)

TICKET OFFICES:

SAN JOSE - Sabana Este - DIRECTIONS: Centro Cars Building - next to Mas x Meno and across the street of the Hotel Corobici - just at the entrance of the hwy to Alajuela. HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-7pm, Sat. 9am-1pm. ADVANCE CHECK IN: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm
ESCAZU (Guachipelin) - Plaza Roble - in front of MultiPlaza - 1st Floor - Blvd. Camino Real. HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. 9am-1pm. ADVANCE CHECK IN: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm
SAN PEDRO / CURRIDABAT - DIRECTIONS: Edificio Torre del Este - Frente Facultad de Derecho - De La Universidad De Costa Rica. HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. 9am-1pm. ADVANCE CHECK IN: Mon.-Fri. 9am-4pm (THANX Daniel)


Avianca
SERVING:  Bogota, Columbia-SFO 4 times week


Can Jet (partners with Transat)
http://CanJet.com
Canada/US  -  1-800-809-7777
CHARTER - Seasonal:  Toronto


Continental Airlines (have now merged with United Airlines)


Condor
http://Condor.com
CR - Airport:  2-441-9444  /  2-430-4787  /  2-243-1818
SERVING:  Frankfurt and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic


COPA
http://CopaAir.com
CR - Airport:  2-441-4742 / 2-441-8243 / 2-223-2672 / 2-295-7400
US  -  1-800-359-2673
TICKET OFFICE:  SAN JOSE (Paseo Colon) - Plaza Torre Mercedes - Mon.-Fri.-8am-6pm. Sat.-8am-2pm.
SERVING:  Nicaragua - Managua, Panama - Panama City, Honduras - San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, Columbia - Bogota, Guatemala City


Cubana?
http://Cubana.cu
2-430-4787 / 2-221-7625 / 2-221-6918


Delta
http://Delta.com
CR - 2-440-4805 / 2-257-4141 / 0800-056-2002
Atlanta and New York 5 times/week?


Frontier
http://FrontierAirlines.com
CR - 2-440-1353 / 2-440-1381
U.S.-1-800-432-1359 / 1-303-371-7000
Denver-SJO - 12:10am - 6:25am
SJO - Denver - 6:30am-12:15pm
(only Dec. 18-Sept. 4)


Iberia
http://Iberia.com
2-441-2591  /  2-441-5635  /  2-257-8266
Madrid


JetAirFly
http://JetAirFly.com
Brussels


JetBlue
http://JetBlue.com  /  http://Facebook.com/JetBlue  /  http://Twitter.com/#!/jetblue
CR - 2-441-6849  /  0800-012-1666
US - 1-800-538-2583  /  TTY•TDD - 1-800-336-5530
Orlando to SJO and Liberia
Where else they go:  http://JetBlue.com/wherewejet/?intcmp=hd_wherewejet


KLM (Air France) - in partnership with COPA
http://KLM.com/travel/pa_en/index.htm
2-220-4111 (only ticket office - no flights to CR - just to Panama City and they can code-share)
Offering flights from various European destinations with a stop in Panama (so not having to go through the U.S!!!) and Schiphol, Amsterdam.  Rome, Italy
Flights  -  Sun., Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri.


LACSA (see "TACA")
http://TACA.com
2-443-3555


MartinAir
http://MartinAir.com
Amsterdam
2-440-8848 / 2-232-3246


Nature Air 
NatureAir.com  •  facebook.com/NatureAir
CR  -  2-299-6000  •  8-682-0791 (counter at SJO)
US  -  1-800-235-9272
LOCAL AIRLINES WITHIN COSTA RICA and who I'd take (they have TWIN ENGINE planes - vs the other one which is just single engine planes) (plus Bocas del Toro, Panama and Managua, Nicaragua)
LOCATION:  Nature Air NOW flies out of SJO Airport in the MAIN TERMINAL (EXCEPT the 7am flight to Liberia which is still out of Pavas/Rhomoser Airport).
 
NorthWest
2-668-1078
Liberia Airport ?


SANSA - located next door (West) of the terminal
http://FlySansa.com
CR  -  Airport - 2-442-9385 / Ticket Offices - 2-223-4179 / 2-221-9414 / 2-290-4400-office
US  -  1-877-767-2672-


Sky Services
(charter out of Canada into Liberia only [I think])


SouthWest
Will announced they will start flying into SJO from Baltimore/Washington DC March 7, 2015


Spirit Airlines
http://SpiritAir.com
2-441-2052   /  0-800-011-1103
US:  1-800-772-7117-English  /  1-800-772-7117-Spanish
Baggage Claim - 2-430-7815
OFFICE: Heredia-Ultrapark Business Centre
SERVING:  Ft. Lauderdale - SJO:  10:41am - 11:35am.  11:31pm-12:20am (next day)

          SJO - Ft. Lauderdale - 1:06am - 5:50am.  12:30pm - 5:18pm (Wed, Thurs., Fri., Sun.)

PROMOTIONS:  http://Spirit.com/EMailNotifySignIn.aspx (fyi  - I don't know many people - especially lately - that have found that $9 fare deal)
WHERE THEY FLY:  http://Spirit.com/RouteMaps.aspx
(NOTE: Spirit goes to MANY other Countries BUT you will ALWAYS have to go via Ft. Lauderdale [and sometimes overnight]. They fly to ARUBA, BAHAMAS - Nassau, San Salvador, CAYMEN ISLANDS - Grand Cayman, COLUMBIA - Armenia, Bogata, Cartagena, Medellin, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, EL SALVADOR - San Salvador, GUATAMALA - Guatamala City, HAITI - Port au Prince, HONDURAS - San Pedro Sula, JAMAICA - Kingston, Montego Bay, MEXICO - Cancun, NICARAGUA - Managua, PANAMA - Panama City, PERU - Lima, PUERTO RICO - San Juan, Aguadilla, TURKS and CAICOS ISLANDS - Providenciales, USVI - US VIRGIN ISLAND - St. Thomas, St. Maarten


TACA (with SANSA, AeroPerlas and LACSA)
http://TACA.com
CR - Airport Counter - 2-437-2664  /  2-437-1000  /  Call Center (though I think it's in like Ecuador) - (HOURS - Monday-Friday - 4am-9pm)2-242-1000 • 2-443-3555  /  2-257-9444  /  2-296-9533 / 2-299-8222-CR res. - 2-English
US - 1-800-400-8222 (24/7)

OFFICES:

Curridabat - DIRECTIONS:  75 metros al oeste del Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y
              Arquitectos. Centro Comercial Plaza Freses Local #7.
       HOURS: Monday-Friday - 9am-7pm.  Saturday - 9am-5pm. 

Escazu (San Rafael) - DIRECTIONS:  Centro Comercial Plaza Los Laureles.
       HOURS: Monday-Friday - 9am-7pm.  Saturday - 9am-5pm. 

San Jose (La Sabana) - DIRECTIONS:  Diagonal Noreste al parque metropolitano La Sabana.
       HOURS: Monday-Friday - 9am-7pm.  Saturday - 9am-5pm.  Sunday - 9am-2pm

(starting May '12 - SJO to Brasilia, Brazil and Bogota, Columbia.  Starting June '12 - SJO to Monterrey, Mexico.  Other flights - Havana, Cuba; David, Panama)
Peru - Lima.


United
http://United.com
2-441-8025 (only on Mon, Wed. Sat. 10:30am-2pm)  /  2-234-3434  /  2-220-4844
My contacts under Continental (I'm verifying this)
Continental - CR  -  2-440-0580 (ask for Cristian Porras to help you, he speaks REALLY GOOD English, is VERY service orientated [and a cutie!!])  /  2-442-1904  /  2-286-4911 /  Reservations - 0800-044-0005
US  -  1-800-396-1751
Cargo in Houston - 1-800-421-2456 / 2 / 2
Liberia Airport - 2-668-1194 - Sat. and Sun.
Houston and Newark (Neward mainly in season)


USAir
http://USAirways.com
2-430-6690 / 2-520-0593 / 0800-011-0793
Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), Philadelphia (Phl), Phoenix (PHX)

(the numbers that start with a “2-4” are for the counter AT the airport. The 800 type numbers and those that start with a 2 are mainly ticket offices NOT at the airport)

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CHARTERS

Aerobell 

2-290-0000 / http://Aerobell.com  /  soporte@aerobell.com

Small planes and helicopters for Air Charters, Executive Flights, Aerial Photography, Emergency Flights, Parachuting and International Flights

From Pavas-Tobias BolanosAirport (Hanger 14) to:

Quepos

Nicoya

Tortuguero

Managua, Nicaragua

Bocas del Toro, Panama

Guatamala

(or wherever you want to go)

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SENIORS

Seniors are WELL respected in Costa Rica! In most instances, you get to go to the head of the line including for security, immigration and customs. Each airline has a different starting age for what constitutes a “senior”.

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IMMIGRATIONS

2-440-0504 / 2-441-5541-fax
Migracion.go.cr

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW•HAVE BEFORE YOU COME TO COSTA RICA
•  Some sort of Ticket (airline or bus) that shows that you are LEAVING Costa Rica WITHIN 90 days (or 30 days - depending on your rules for your country your passport is in).

     •  Proof of Economic Solvency in the amount equivalent to $100-U.S. per month of tourism (so if you're entering Costa Rica on a 90 day Visa - that would be "proof" that you have at least $

•  Passport MUST be in good condition
(Costa Rica is VERY VERY VERY TIGHT on this rule!!!!  This INCLUDES NO fraying/separation along the edges of the passport [the concern is that the passport might have been tampered with - especially because Costa Rica is #2 in the WORLD for stolen passports], tears+.
I've known some people that were either refused to get on the airplane wherever they were departing from - or WORSE - they LANDED IN Costa Rica and Immigrations REFUSED to let them IN Costa Rica!!!  One was a guest that was refused on a Thursday night and he actually had to sleep overnight in the Immigration area till he could get the next flight out to Panama [the cheapest place to fly to since he could not go outside of the airport to catch a bus] and the next morning he flew to Panama - BUT - their Passport section was NOT open - so he got to spend the weekend in Panama [this was a few years ago so I'm foggy on the exact details at this point on where he stayed, etc. but the bottom line is his airline ticket and accommodations were at HIS expense!!  PLUS, he was traveling with 5 other people and THEIR trip got delayed - so there was a BIG side effect to this

•  Your Passport can NOT be expiring in less than 3-6 months!!!
(Costa Rica's Immigration website says "minimum validity of passports shall be 3 months for nationals of those countries located in the first and second set of income guidelines to Costa Rica and 6 months for those in the third and fourth group" [I'm not clear on what that means at this moment]).

 SHARE this information with EVERYONE you feel can use it!

LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2008/06/tourists-airport-and-airline-info-sjo_12.html

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