Flying from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): What you need to know
There are a couple of airports you can fly out of in Mexico City. Check out your options leaving from Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) or Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport (NLU) when organising your flight from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
3 hours 5 minutes is the average duration of a direct Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight.
San Jose's timezone is UTC-6, which is the same as Mexico City. Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in San Jose.
With 27 direct flights a week between the two airports, Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is the busiest route. Aeromexico operates the earliest flight at 8:35am. If you prefer to get more out of your day before flying, the latest departure from MEX to SJO is with Volaris Costa Rica at 8:45pm.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for hassle-free flying. Be at the airport on time to catch your flight from Mexico City to SJO.
During high season, expect longer wait times and get there earlier. Aim for at least two hours ahead for domestic flights and as much as four hours for international journeys.
Airports in Mexico City
Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX)
Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) will have you travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) can be booked from this terminal.
At MEX, there's a good selection of carriers offering direct flights from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport, such as:
The preferred choice for passengers flying between MEX and SJO is Aeromexico.
AVIANCA is the leading carrier for punctuality on this route, with 93.44% of services reaching their destination on schedule.
Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Mexico City to SJO. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX). Break up the journey at one of these popular options:
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
El Salvador International Airport (SAL)
The journey from central Mexico City to MEX takes about 55 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 8 kilometres in 25 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Looking for a comfortable hotel close to Benito Juarez International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport, these stays will have you sleeping conveniently close to check-in:
Benito Juarez International Airport has a solid on-time record, so flight disruptions are less likely. Departures from MEX land on schedule 80.91% of the time.
Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport (NLU)
Break up your flight from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport with a stop so you can recharge or tick another place off your list. Top stopovers between Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport and SJO are:
El Dorado International Airport (BOG)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Las Americas International Airport (SDQ)
With public transport, you can travel from central Mexico City to NLU in about 1 hour 45 minutes. The airport is roughly 40 kilometres away, and making the trip by car takes approximately 55 minutes.
Relax before your Mexico City to SJO flight at a hotel near Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport. Verticca Hotel is one option where you can roll out of bed and get to the airport with time to spare.
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, Santa Lucia Air Force Base Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 67.58%.
About Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Book one of these accommodation options near SJO instead:
Go where the road takes you with a Juan Santamaria International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from NextCar, Europcar or Dollar and chase adventure across San Jose and beyond.
Lock in the best rate by reserving your ride around three weeks before your Mexico City 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 taking a cab, plan ahead to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times will vary depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.
It'll take around 2 hours 20 minutes if you're travelling on public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Currently, R 2,258 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 4,223. Keep in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
To score cheap flights from Mexico City to SJO, book your ticket four months before your planned departure.
The best month for landing cheap Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport tickets is September. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then choose the dates with the lowest fares.
Spend less time searching for cheap plane tickets from Mexico City to SJO by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your trip using filters. Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
The best time to fly from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Think about the pace you're looking for when planning the timing of your trip. May is the quietest month to visit San Jose. July is when most people book flights from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), which may be perfect if you enjoy travelling when it's busier.
The warmest month in San Jose is March, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 29ºC (84ºF). Lock in your Mexico City to SJO plane ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport in January when temperatures are between 12ºC (54ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF).
More about San Jose
When it comes to looking 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 Mexico City to Juan Santamaria International Airport:
There are plenty of things to do in San Jose when you're ready to go sightseeing. Make your way to National Park (Parque Nacional) followed by Jurassic World and Central Park (Parque Central).
Explore more of Costa Rica
San Jose has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Costa Rica you'll want to see. Around 129 kilometres east of San Jose, a visit to Limon will keep you on the move. Don't miss top attractions like Veragua Rainforest Park, Playa Bonita and Playa Los Baños.
Liberia is another favourite destination in Costa Rica and is around 153 kilometres north-west of San Jose. No journey is complete without seeing Ponderosa Adventure Park, Ecologico Park and Museo de Guanacaste.
