# SJO — Juan Santamaría International Airport > Machine-readable reference for SJO. Single-airport scope. Re-fetch when content_generated_at changes. Canonical: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo HTML page: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo Markdown alt: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo.md JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/SJO.json (includes live arrivals + weather) Sitemap: https://airport.flights/sitemap-airports.xml Last refreshed: 2026-06-15T07:42:29.898+00:00 --- ## Identity - Name: Juan Santamaría International Airport - IATA: SJO - ICAO: MROC - City: San José (Alajuela) - Country: CR (CR) - Timezone: America/Costa_Rica - Distance from city: 20 km (12 mi) northwest of downtown San José - Runways: 2 - Terminals: 2 - Annual passengers: 5.3M - Hub for: Avianca Costa Rica - Official website: https://www.sjoairport.com/?lang=en ## Overview Welcome At Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), you might feel more like you're stepping into a jungle gateway than a large airport hub. Located 20 km northwest of downtown San José, this airport is where hiking boots and surfboards outnumber business suits. It handles over 5.3 million passengers annually, with terminals brimming with last-chance opportunities to buy local coffee, chocolate, and craft beer. Despite its modest size, SJO’s security can be unexpectedly stringent, and the variety of souvenir shopping may deplete your colones faster than expected. At a glance SJO is smaller compared to other international hubs, which often makes navigating it a relatively quick experience. However, the airport becomes incredibly lively given its mix of airlines, including Avianca Costa Rica, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines. It has two runways and two terminals — Terminal A and Terminal B — with a total of three gates between them. Those exploring Costa Rica's treasures will appreciate the authentic selections available in its 14 restaurants and numerous souvenir shops. Terminals & layout SJO’s terminals are straightforward: Terminal A caters to… ## Terminals (2) - **International Terminal A** — 2 gates · airlines: Avianca Costa Rica, American Airlines, Copa Airlines, United Airlines URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/terminals/a - **Terminal B** — 1 gates · airlines: JetBlue, Southwest Airlines URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/terminals/b ## Dining (14) - **45 Gastro Pub** — $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/45-gastro-pub - **Amazonía Café** — A · Ecuadorian · Café · $ · 24 hours URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/amazonia-cafe-a - **Avokato** — A · Healthy · Salads, Bowls, Soups · $ · 24 hours URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/avokato-a - **Bar Imperial** — A · Bar · Burgers · $$ · 24 hours URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/bar-imperial-a - **Britt Café & Bakery** — A · Café · Coffee, Pastries · $ · 24 hours URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/britt-cafe-bakery-a - **California Pizza Kitchen** — A · Italian · Pizza · $$ · 5:00 a.m to 10:00 p.m. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/california-pizza-kitchen-a - **Chill and Drinks** — A · Gift Shop · Snacks · $ · 4:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/chill-and-drinks-a - **Deli Malinche** — A · Deli · Snacks · $ · 6:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/deli-malinche-a - **Gastro Pub** — A · Café · Bar · $$ · 5:00 a.m to 7:30 p.m. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/gastro-pub-a - **Mini Market** — $$ URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/mini-market - **Restaurante Malinche** — A · Local · Costa Rican · $$ · 4:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/restaurante-malinche-a - **Starbucks** — A · Café · Coffee · $ · 24 hours URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/starbucks-a - **TGI Fridays** — A · American · Grill · $$ · 24 hours URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/tgi-fridays-a - **Toro Gourmet Burgers** — A · American · Burgers · $$ · 24 hours URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/restaurants/toro-gourmet-burgers-a ## Lounges (4) - **Avianca Sala VIP** — A · access: Main, airline lounge URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/lounges/avianca-sala-vip - **BAC Credomatic** — A · access: Dragon Pass, American Express Centurion · day pass: $33.90 · De lunes a domingo en horario de 4:30 a.m a 8:00 p.m URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/lounges/bac-credomatic-a - **VIP Lounge** — A · access: Copa Airlines, Star Alliance, Priority Pass, MasterCard Black, MasterCard Platinum · day pass: $39.55 · De lunes a domingo en horario de 4:30 a.m a 8:00 p.m URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/lounges/vip-lounge-a - **VIP Santamaría** — A · access: Visa Airport Companion, Priority Pass · day pass: $33.90 · De lunes a domingo en horario de 4:30 a.m a 8:00 p.m URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/lounges/vip-santamaria-a ## Shops (23) - **24/7 GRAB & GO** — A · Food & Beverages URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/24-7-grab-go-a - **Adidas** — A · Duty Free URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/adidas-a - **Attenza Duty Free** — A · Duty Free URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/attenza-duty-free-a - **Bijoux Terner** — A · Duty Free URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/bijoux-terner-a - **Blue Zones** — A · Food & Beverages URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/blue-zones-a - **BRITT SHOP** — A · Travel Essentials URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/britt-shop-a - **CAPS & MUGS** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/caps-mugs-a - **CASA TICA** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/casa-tica-a - **CHILL & DRINKS** — A · Food & Beverages URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/chill-drinks-a - **Colibrí** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/colibri-a - **EMPRENDE 506** — A · Fashion URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/emprende-506-a - **IMAS** — A · Duty Free URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/imas-a - **Johnnie Walker** — A · Duty Free URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/johnnie-walker-a - **RUMBO PURA VIDA** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/rumbo-pura-vida-a - **SKY PHARMACY** — A · Pharmacy URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/sky-pharmacy-a - **TERRA TICA** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/terra-tica-a - **TERRA TICA TERMINAL DOMÉSTICA** — B · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/terra-tica-terminal-domestica-b - **TERRA VERDE** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/terra-verde-a - **TRAVEL MARKET** — A · Travel Essentials URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/travel-market-a - **Victoria's Secret** — A · Duty Free URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/victoria-s-secret-a - **WHOOPS!** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/whoops-a - **XPLORA** — A · Electronics URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/xplora-a - **XPLORA KIDS** — A · Souvenirs URL: https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/shops/xplora-kids-a ## Insider tips - _Time_: Arrive 3 hours early for morning international flights (5–8 a.m.) as lines can stretch painfully long through the main hall. - _Local_: Skip the tourist shops for regular groceries at the mini market near gates 5–7 for snacks and essentials at more reasonable prices. - _Quiet_: For a calm coffee break, head deeper into the terminal where Britt Cafés offer less crowded spaces and more bean varieties. - _Avoid_: Try to sidestep arrival immigration bottlenecks by scheduling your shuttle pickup at least 1.5 hours post-landing. - _Insider_: Near gates 1–2, 45 Gastro Pub offers a more relaxed lounging spot with full meals compared to the central busy food court. - _Time_: If connecting to a domestic flight, budget around 30–40 minutes to move between international and domestic terminals, especially during rain. - _Money_: Prices for duty-free liquor and coffee are competitive with city supermarkets, so you won't be leaving empty-handed even if you didn’t shop in town. --- ## Live data Live arrivals, departures, and weather are not in this static reference. Fetch: - https://airport.flights/api/airport/SJO.json — JSON with current live boards + weather (12h cache) - https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/arrivals — HTML page with live arrivals - https://airport.flights/airport/sjo/departures — HTML page with live departures