Flying from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): What you need to know
San Diego's main base, San Diego International Airport (SAN), is where great travel stories take off. Explore the options for leaving from here when booking your flight from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
The timezone in San Jose is UTC-6, which is one hour ahead of San Diego. Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in San Jose.
To ensure you get on your flight from San Diego to SJO, allow plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
With more people on the move during high season, you'll want to get to your terminal even earlier. Two hours for domestic flights and up to four for international journeys will help you stay ahead of the crowds.
Airports in San Diego
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Think about adding a stopover to find cheap flights from San Diego to SJO. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from San Diego International Airport (SAN). Break up the journey at one of these popular airports:
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Travelling from central San Diego to SAN takes about 20 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 5 kilometres in 10 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Booked an early flight from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport? Avoid the mad dash to the terminal (and get some bonus sleep) by choosing one of these stays close to San Diego International Airport:
71.38% of flights that take off from San Diego International Airport land at their destination on time.
SAN is located at N Harbour Dr.
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
CLD is around 56 kilometres from central San Diego. It'll take 40 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
Kick off your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before your San Diego to SJO flight, unwind in one of these hotels near McClellan-Palomar Airport:
About Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Consider booking a hotel near SJO if you have a late flight from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Select one of these options and be in bed sooner:
Pick up a Juan Santamaria International Airport rental car and discover San Jose and beyond with your own wheels. NextCar, Europcar and Dollar are well-known companies to choose from here.
Booking your vehicle around three weeks in advance of your San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight can help you get 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 to the centre by cab or car hire will depend on the time of day. Do a little research beforehand.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 2 hours 20 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport is R 1,315. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 3,868. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares may change.
To find cheap flights from San Diego to SJO, book early. Airlines typically offer lower fares when flights are first released.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport tickets across every month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your trip dates are flexible.
Never miss a deal on plane tickets from San Diego to SJO by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your trip using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
The best time to fly from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Think about your travel style when picking your flight dates. May is the quietest month to go to San Jose. July is when most people book flights from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), which may be ideal if you're after more excitement.
Book a San Diego to SJO plane ticket departing in March if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in San Jose to range from 12ºC (54ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport in January when temperatures are between 12ºC (54ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF).
More about San Jose
Start your San Jose trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from San Diego to Juan Santamaria International Airport, browse our range of accommodation options including:
National Park (Parque Nacional) and Jurassic World are just the start of the top attractions to put on your San Jose travel itinerary. Keep the momentum going by heading to Central Park (Parque Central).
Explore more of Costa Rica
You've visited San Jose, now it's time to explore more of Costa Rica. Journey about 129 kilometres east to Limon to tick off its popular sights. From Veragua Rainforest Park to Playa Bonita and Playa Los Baños, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
Liberia is another sought-after destination in Costa Rica and is around 153 kilometres north-west of San Jose. No trip is complete without seeing Ponderosa Adventure Park, Ecologico Park and Museo de Guanacaste.
