Travelling from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): What you need to know
London has numerous airports to fly out of. Check out your departure options from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when organising your flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Stansted Airport (STN), London Luton Airport (LTN) and London City Airport (LCY) are the city's other major bases.
San Jose is six hours behind London. Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in San Jose, which is in the UTC-6 timezone.
To ensure you catch your flight from London to SJO, allow plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Peak season means busier airports, so aim to get there even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for international journeys to stay on schedule.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
We make it simple to find cheap flights from London to SJO with a stopover. To explore all the options leaving from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Some popular stopovers between LHR and SJO include:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Located around 31 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 55 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport is roughly 1 hour.
Want a leisurely start to your trip? Stay near London Heathrow Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport or prefer not to rush, these hotels have you covered:
When it comes to the on-time performance of London Heathrow Airport, 68.18% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Thinking of flying out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW)? Direct London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) plane tickets are available from this popular hub.
From LGW, direct flights from London to SJO can be booked with British Airways.
British Airways attracts the most bookings on the LGW to SJO route.
Flights between London Gatwick Airport and Juan Santamaria International Airport are generally more punctual with British Airways than with any other carrier.
Maximise your holiday with a stopover on your flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Here's where you can connect between London Gatwick Airport and SJO:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Using public transport, you can travel from central London to LGW in around 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 80 kilometres away, and making the journey by car will take approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
Taking off bright and early? Think about staying at one of these hotels near London Gatwick Airport the day before your London to SJO flight:
When it comes to flight punctuality, London Gatwick Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 69.26%.
Stansted Airport (STN)
Whether just for a couple of hours or several days, a stopover can make your whole trip feel more relaxed and effortless. When flying out of Stansted Airport (STN), you can book a plane ticket from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) stopping at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
From central London, STN is around 64 kilometres away. It takes roughly 1 hour to get there by car and 1 hour 25 minutes or so on public transport.
Sleep a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your London to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight with plenty of time to spare. These hotels near Stansted Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're jetting off early:
Flights departing from STN arrive at their final stop on schedule 64.73% of the time.
About Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
If you're arriving on a late flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport, few things top the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these hotels near SJO:
Hit the road running by picking up a Juan Santamaria International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from NextCar, Europcar or Dollar and experience the lesser-explored corners of San Jose and beyond.
To secure the lowest price, reserve your vehicle around three weeks ahead of your London to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight.
Getting from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to central San Jose
Juan Santamaria International Airport to central San Jose is roughly 14 kilometres. If you're renting a car or getting a cab, do some research to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times may vary depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 2 hours 20 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
At the moment, R 5,225 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 9,696. Keep in mind fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
To find cheap flights from London to SJO, book in advance. Airlines generally offer lower prices when flights are first released.
The 'Whole month' tool will show you the cheapest London to Juan Santamaria International Airport tickets throughout the entire month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
Save time searching for cheap plane tickets from London to SJO by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
The best time to fly from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
May is the quietest month for flights from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), while July is the most popular. Choose the best time to go to San Jose based on whether you like a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
When booking your London to SJO plane ticket, consider the kind of weather forecast you're hoping for. March is the warmest month in San Jose, with temperatures ranging from 12ºC (54ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
January sees temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF). Look for cheap tickets from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about San Jose
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in San Jose right here. Check out these hotels as soon as you've locked in your flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport:
All great adventures should include some sightseeing. National Park (Parque Nacional), Jurassic World and Central Park (Parque Central) are essential stops on your San Jose itinerary.
Explore more of Costa Rica
You've visited San Jose, now it's time to explore more of Costa Rica. Travel around 129 kilometres east to Limon to check off its leading sights. From Veragua Rainforest Park to Playa Bonita and Playa Los Baños, you'll have a full itinerary ahead.
If you're ready to explore another great destination in Costa Rica, consider Liberia, about 153 kilometres north-west of San Jose. Ponderosa Adventure Park, Ecologico Park and Museo de Guanacaste are among its highlights.
