Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the main gateway to Costa Rica. About 80% of our pickups happen here. The arrival process is generally smooth, but there are a few things first-time visitors don't expect — especially the part right after you clear customs. Here's exactly what to do, in order.
1. Have your immigration form ready
Costa Rica replaced the old paper form in 2023 with a digital one — you'll fill it out on a kiosk or on your phone before reaching the immigration officer. Most airlines remind you at landing. If you didn't do it yet, look for the "Migración Digital" QR codes on signs as you walk toward immigration. It takes 2 minutes.
The officer will ask three things: how long you're staying, where you're staying, and (sometimes) proof of onward travel — usually a return flight booking is enough. They don't always ask, but be ready.
2. Immigration: 15–60 minutes
This is the bottleneck. There are two lines: Costa Rican Citizens (fast) and Foreigners (slower). The wait is shortest before 10am and after 8pm, longest 11am–4pm when most US flights land.
Tip: if you have a layover and tight connection, ask the airline staff at the gate for a "fast pass" — it doesn't always work but sometimes does.
3. Baggage claim and customs
Your bags come out at one of the carousels right after immigration. Customs is a single red/green button you press as you exit — green means "nothing to declare." Costa Rican customs is generally relaxed, but if you bring anything unusual (over 5 kg of meat products, large amounts of cash over $10,000, drone, professional camera gear), declare it.
4. The arrivals hall: where the chaos begins
Once you walk through the customs doors you'll enter a covered walkway with crowds of people behind a railing. This is where the unofficial taxi drivers will approach you. They are not regulated, often double the fair price, and a few are flat-out scams. If your shuttle is already booked, your driver will be waiting past the walkway, at the public arrivals area, holding a sign with your name.
Look for your name on a sign, not the loudest voice. Real drivers (ours included) wait politely with a sign.
5. Money: ATM vs cash exchange
Costa Rica accepts USD almost everywhere — restaurants, hotels, shuttle services, tour operators all take dollars. You don't need to exchange in advance.
But for small purchases (sodas, bus fares, taxi tips, small shops), you'll want colones. There are two BAC ATMs inside the airport, before customs. Use the ATM, not the cash-exchange booths. ATMs give a better rate than the kiosks. Just check with your bank that international withdrawals are enabled.
A good first withdrawal: 40,000 colones (~$75 USD). That covers tips and small purchases for a week.
6. SIM card or eSIM
Costa Rica has decent 4G in tourist areas (much spottier in the mountains). Two options:
- Buy a Kolbi or Claro physical SIM at the airport kiosk — $5–10 for a 30-day prepaid plan with data. Bring your unlocked phone.
- eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, etc.) — buy before you fly, activate on landing. Slightly more expensive but no kiosk lines.
If you're only here for 4–5 days and your hotel has WiFi, you can skip both. Your driver will give you their cell number so you can WhatsApp them.
7. Public WiFi at the airport
Free WiFi is called "Aeropuerto SJO" — no password. Works fine for messaging your driver, checking maps, calling an Uber.
Note on Uber: Uber works in Costa Rica but operates in a gray zone. Drivers usually ask you to sit in the front seat to look like a friend, not a passenger, to avoid issues at airport security. Fare from SJO to downtown San José is around $20–30 USD; to La Fortuna or the beach towns it's usually more expensive than a private shuttle (and far less comfortable for a 3-hour drive).
8. Finding your driver (if you booked a private shuttle)
After customs, walk through the covered walkway. Keep walking past the people behind the railing. They will call out things like "Taxi sir!" / "Need a ride?" — keep walking.
About 100 meters down you'll reach the open-air arrivals area with benches and a Starbucks. This is where pre-booked drivers wait. Look for a sign with your name. If you don't see your driver right away, give it 2 minutes — they may be parked nearby and waiting for the airport's arrival board to confirm you cleared customs.
For our shuttles, your driver has your flight number and is tracking your arrival in real time. If your flight is delayed, we already know.
9. The drive from SJO to your destination
SJO is in Alajuela, about 20 minutes from downtown San José. From here:
- San José hotels: ~20 min
- La Fortuna / Arenal: ~3 hours
- Manuel Antonio: ~3 hours
- Tamarindo / Guanacaste: ~5 hours
- Monteverde: ~3 hours 30 min
- Puerto Viejo (Caribbean): ~4 hours 30 min
If you're flying into the country's other airport — Daniel Oduber International (LIR) in Liberia — the process is similar but smaller and faster. LIR is closer to the Guanacaste beach towns.
10. What to do if your plans change
Late flight? Lost bag? Sudden change of plans? Message us on WhatsApp before you walk out of the airport. We can rebook your pickup time, hold a driver, or rearrange a multi-stop trip on the fly. Most travelers don't realize this is possible until they're in trouble — we're a phone call away.
If you're flying into SJO and want to skip the hassle of the arrival hall, book a private shuttle and we'll handle everything from the moment you clear customs to the moment you check into your hotel.