Juan Santamaría International Airport is the primary airport serving San José, the capital of Costa Rica. The airport is located in the city of Alajuela, 20 km west of the city center of San José. It is named after Juan Santamaría, Costa Rica’s national hero. Santamaría was a drummer boy who died in 1856 defending his country against the forces led by the American William Walker.
The airport is a hub for Avianca Costa Rica, Costa Rica Green Airways, Sansa Airlines and Volaris Costa Rica and a focus city for Copa Airlines. Juan Santamaría International Airport also serves cities in South America and the Caribbean. Due to its location, it is a preferred port for private jet flights, especially in the summer months.
Juan Santamaría International Airport was once the busiest airport in Central America, but is now second only to Tocumen International Airport in Panamá. In 2011, the airport was recognized as the 3rd Best Airport in Latin America – Caribbean in the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International.
Costa Rica private jet charter prices
Although Juan Santamaría Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → San Jose are as follows.
| Heavy Jet | 138.900 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 164.100 EUR |
| VIP Airliner | 205.200 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
Brief history of San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport
The airport was built on the site of the previous one in downtown San Jose where Parque La Sabana stands today. Funding was provided by the government in 1951 and construction proceeded slowly until the airport officially opened on May 2, 1958. It was originally named “Aeropuerto Internacional el Coco” after its location of the same name in the state of Alajuela. In 1961, funding was secured for the construction of the highway connecting the airport to downtown San José. The airport was renamed Juan Santamaría International Airport in 1971 in honor of the national hero Juan Santamaría.
Since 2001, the State has delegated the construction of Juan Santamaría airport to the company Alterra Partners, with a contract that includes the expansion and modernization of the building. In 2003, however, the company stopped work on the air terminal, claiming to be experiencing financial problems. In February 2006, after several years of legal disputes between Cetac and the firm, the resumption of work was announced.
The resumption followed an order from the Office of the Comptroller General, which concluded that Alterra Partners’ financial deficit was not a valid reason to halt the expansion. Finally, in June 2009, Alterra Partners decided to step aside and sold the airport operation to Aeris Holding Costa Rica S.A., which will be responsible for the site until 2026. The company has carried out expansion and modernization works at the terminal. One of the latest improvements is two boarding halls for wide-body aircraft. This type of aircraft has a fuselage up to six meters in diameter, two aisles and a capacity of more than 300 passengers. The improvements cost $19 million and cover a construction area of 3,758 m², increasing the airport’s capacity by 20%.
Museums, parks and attractions in San Jose
The capital of Costa Rica, San José is the cultural, economic and political center of the country. The city has many tourist attractions, including museums, art galleries, historic buildings and beautiful parks.
Museums The museums in San José are a great place to get an insight into the country’s history and culture. The Gold Museum is a museum that exhibits mainly pre-Hispanic gold artifacts. The National Museum is another popular museum that showcases Costa Rica’s history and natural wealth. Other interesting museums include the Jade Museum, the San José Art Museum and the National Museum of Chemistry and Alkali.
Parks: San José is home to many beautiful parks. Sabana Park is the largest park in Costa Rica and is a popular place for sports, picnics and outdoor activities. La Sabana Metropolitano Park includes a botanical garden full of beautiful flowers and plants. Parque Nacional is an ideal place for hiking, bird watching and taking in the beautiful scenery.
Historical Buildings: San José’s historic buildings bear the traces of Spanish colonization. The National Theater is a 19th-century theater building and is notable for its architecture. The Cathedral de San José is a church under the influence of Spanish colonization and has a magnificent architecture. Other important historical buildings include Casa Amarilla, Casa Presidencial and Teatro Nacional.
San Jose Arts and Culture: San José is the center of Costa Rica’s artistic and cultural life. The city is home to many galleries showcasing the work of local and international artists. The National Cultural Center is a hub for dance, theater, music and other art forms. The San José Theater Festival is an annual event held in January and features performances by international and local theater groups.
Transportation from Juan Santamaría Airport to the city center
Access to the airport by road is off Route 1 and close to the Alajuela exit. There is a paid parking lot as well as a bus stop with numerous shuttles to downtown San Jose. There is a 24-hour bus service and a shuttle approximately every 10 minutes during business hours. Licensed taxis are available at the airport and usually accept both colon and US dollars, but not other currencies. Costa Rican taxis are red with yellow triangles on the doors and are common throughout the country, there is also a private airport taxi service that is licensed and uses orange taxis. There is no station serving the airport and no rail service to the airport, although the railway line connecting Alajuela city center to San José’s Atlantic Station passes close to the airport. There are offices of different car rental companies within the port.
