Costa Rica is Central America's most popular destination for North Americans, known for cloud forests, volcanoes, wildlife and surf beaches on both coasts. Two international airports make it easy to plan an open-jaw trip, flying into one and out of the other.
Cheap airfare to Costa Rica is mostly about timing and flexibility. Compare fares across airlines and nearby airports, shift your dates a few days either way, and book when the price looks right.
Costa Rica has no single national flag carrier today; Avianca and Copa Airlines provide regional connections, and major US and Canadian carriers fly in from their hubs.
The dry season (roughly December to April) is the busiest and most expensive. The green season, roughly May to November, usually brings lower fares, especially outside the July school-holiday period.
Choose Liberia (LIR) if you are heading to the Guanacaste beaches, and San José (SJO) for most other parts of the country. Many travelers fly into one and out of the other.
Fares are usually lower during the green season, roughly May to November, outside holiday weeks.
Juan Santamaría International is in Alajuela, about 20 km (12 miles) northwest of downtown San José.
