San Jose International Airport (or Juan Santamaria Airport – code SJO) – Nearby the capital of San Jose, Costa Rica's largest and busiest hub is the primary entry point into the country for most visitors.

Choosing the best part of Costa Rica to fly into depends entirely on your final destination, as the country has two distinct international hubs. Juan Santamaría (SJO) near San José is the "best" choice if you are heading to the Caribbean Coast (Puerto Viejo), the South Pacific (Manuel Antonio, Osa Peninsula), or the Central Valley. SJO is the larger hub, offering more airline options and typically more affordable flights from Europe and South America. On the other hand, Daniel Oduber Quirós (LIR) in Liberia is the "best" gateway for the North Pacific/Guanacaste region. If your goal is the luxury resorts of the Papagayo Peninsula or the surf towns of Tamarindo and Flamingo, flying into LIR can save you a grueling 4-hour drive from San José. For popular inland destinations like La Fortuna (Arenal) and Monteverde, both airports are roughly equidistant (about 2.5 to 3 hours), though many travelers prefer SJO for its wider range of shuttle and rental car options. In 2026, seasoned travelers often "open-jaw" their trip—flying into one airport and out of the other—to maximize their exploration of both coasts without backtracking through the city traffic.