Flying from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport is 11 hours 45 minutes.
San Jose is seven hours behind Amsterdam and observes the UTC-6 timezone.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your AMS to SJO flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid a last-minute sprint to the gate.
You can expect bigger queues in popular months like June. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
Flying into San Jose (and then exploring more of Costa Rica!) is a breeze with KLM. This popular airline has direct flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
The majority of travellers choose to travel with KLM on this route.
With a dependable 84.85% of services arriving as scheduled, KLM has the best on-time record for AMS to SJO flights.
If you want to explore another city along the way, simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Here are the top stopovers between AMS and SJO:
Tocumen International Airport
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Right now, R 6,654 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is R 8,576. Bear in mind that fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book six months before you travel. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to secure cheap tickets from AMS to SJO.
The cheapest month for flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest prices if you have a flexible schedule.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if fares have gone down when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as the price changes on cheap flights from AMS to SJO.
Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals on flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
Handy information about Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
67.93% of flights that take off from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol land at their destination on time.
To get to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol from central Amsterdam, it'll take around 25 minutes if you're travelling by car. Of course, this depends on traffic conditions. It's approximately 23 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
You can expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 5 minutes when using public transport.
Taking an early flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by picking one of these hotels close to AMS:
Arriving at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
If you're getting in on a late Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight, few things top the convenience of being near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting shortly after at one of these options near SJO:
Hit the road running by picking up a Juan Santamaria International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from NextCar, Europcar or Dollar to explore San Jose and beyond.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Juan Santamaria International Airport around three weeks ahead.
Getting from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to central San Jose
From Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose is approximately 18 kilometres away. It takes around 20 minutes to get to the centre driving.
It'll take around 2 hours 20 minutes if you're using public transport.
When to fly to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
The quietest month for a flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport is May, while July is the busiest. Choose the best time to visit San Jose based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Before locking in your flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Juan Santamaria International Airport, consider the type of weather you enjoy. March is the warmest month in San Jose, with temperatures ranging from 12ºC (54ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from AMS to SJO in January if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF) on average.
Explore more of Costa Rica
Limon is just one of the many cities in Costa Rica waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of San Jose. Around 113 kilometres away to the east, its best attractions include Veragua Rainforest Park, Playa Bonita and Cruise Pier Puerto Limon.
Alajuela is another sought-after destination in Costa Rica and is around 18 kilometres north-west of San Jose. No journey is complete without experiencing La Perla Park, Los Duendes Park and Finca El Soto.
