Travelling from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): What you need to know
There are a couple of main airports you can fly out of in Panama City. Check out your options leaving from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) or Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB) when searching for a flight from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
Expect to be travelling for 1 hour 25 minutes. On average, that's the duration of a direct Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight.
The timezone in San Jose is UTC-6, which is one hour behind Panama City. Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in San Jose.
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is the most popular route. There are 71 direct flights a week to choose from. If you have things to do before heading off, hop on the last flight with Copa Airlines at 9:39pm. Go for the first PTY to SJO departure with Copa Airlines at 7:10am if you're aiming for an earlier start.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for stress-free travel. Get to the airport on time to catch your flight from Panama City to SJO.
During high season, allow for longer wait times and show up earlier. Aim for at least two hours ahead for domestic flights and up to four hours for international journeys.
Airports in Panama City
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Get to your destination in one go from Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Direct flights from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) are available from here.
Copa Airlines is a well-known airline that operates direct flights from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport jetting out of PTY.
Copa Airlines is the airline with the highest passenger demand for flights from PTY to SJO.
Copa Airlines takes the lead in punctuality. An exceptional 88.28% of its services on this route reach their destination on schedule.
The journey from central Panama City to PTY takes around 1 hour 5 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 21 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Catching an early flight from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these stays near Tocumen International Airport:
Tocumen International Airport has a strong on-time performance, so flight disruptions are less likely. Departures from PTY make it to their destination as scheduled 86.03% of the time.
Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC)
PAC is around 2 kilometres from central Panama City. It'll take you 5 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 25 minutes.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your Panama City to SJO flight, stay in one of these hotels close to Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport:
Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB)
You can reserve a plane ticket from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) out of Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB) with a stopover. El Dorado International Airport (BOG) is a major connection point.
Is around BLB 16 kilometres from central Panama City. The drive from the city centre to the airport takes roughly 20 minutes.
Make catching an early Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Stay at one of these accommodation options close to Panama Pacifico Airport and get to your departure gate feeling relaxed and unhurried:
With 86.75% of its departing flights arriving without delays, BLB is a reliable starting point for your trip.
About Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
If you're arriving on a late flight from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon 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 and experience the lesser-explored corners of San Jose and beyond.
Booking your ride around three weeks ahead of your Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight can help you secure the lowest rate.
Getting from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to central San Jose
Juan Santamaria International Airport is around 14 kilometres from central San Jose. How long it takes to get there in a car hire or cab depends on the time of day. Do a little research before you go.
It takes roughly 2 hours 20 minutes when travelling by public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport is R 1,962. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 3,198. Depending on how early you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Book two months before you want to travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Panama City to SJO.
July is when you're most likely to land a bargain on a Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport ticket. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
Finding a cheap plane ticket from Panama City to SJO is easy with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as there's a better deal.
Filters make it easier to track down a bargain for your flight from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Choose the departure times, carriers and stops that work for you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the most affordable option fast.
The best time to fly from Panama 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 Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), which may be ideal if you enjoy travelling when it's busier.
Book a Panama City to SJO plane ticket departing in March if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in San Jose to range from 12ºC (54ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
January sees temperatures of between 12ºC (54ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about San Jose
Start your San Jose trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Panama City to Juan Santamaria International Airport, browse our selection of hotels including:
All great journeys should include some sightseeing. National Park (Parque Nacional), Jurassic World and Central Park (Parque Central) are attractions you won't want to skip in San Jose.
Explore more of Costa Rica
San Jose is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of Costa Rica you'll want to see. Around 129 kilometres east of San Jose, a visit to Limon will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading sights like Veragua Rainforest Park, Playa Bonita and Playa Los Baños.
Around 153 kilometres north-west of San Jose, Liberia is another essential stop in Costa Rica. No visit is complete without checking out Ponderosa Adventure Park, Ecologico Park and Museo de Guanacaste.
