The airport is about 20 km from central San José; taxis take 30–45 minutes in normal traffic.
Things to do at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Juan Santamaria International AirportSJO
At the airport
Things to do in Juan Santamaria International Airport
Juan Santamaría Airport sits in Costa Rica's Central Valley, gateway to one of the world's most celebrated eco-tourism destinations. The Poás Volcano National Park (accessible crater at 2,708 m) and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens are about 1–1.5 hours north. Downtown San José has the Teatro Nacional — Costa Rica's most beautiful building — and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum with one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian gold in the Americas. Cloud forests, beaches, and wildlife are all within a few hours in different directions.
Insider intel
Top Tips for Juan Santamaria International Airport
- The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum in downtown San José is free to enter and genuinely excellent — allow 1 hour.
- Poás Volcano National Park (1.5 hours north) requires advance online booking; visitor quotas apply and the park fills quickly.
Lounge directory
Browse lounges at SJO
1 Sanctifly partner lounge at Juan Santamaria International Airport. Each is bookable with points.
100 points per guestBAC Credomatic
At Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica, the BAC Credomatic airport lounge is conveniently located in the Main Terminal on the airside. After you complete the security check, continue into the departures area and head toward boarding gate 17—the lounge is situated nearby. This easy-to-find location makes it a practical stop for travel days, whether you want to relax close to your gate, take a break before boarding, or simply enjoy a quieter space after clearing security at Juan Santamaria International Airport.Book Now
Purchase a Sanctifly membership via our website or app.
Unlock airport-specific digital content and reserve VIP lounges using the points included with your plan.
Select the tier that fits your travel habits; higher tiers include more points.
When you book a lounge, you'll receive a unique access code in the app and by email—show this at the lounge to gain access.
You can buy extra points at any time, and rates improve with higher-tier plans.
Membership unlocks airport-specific digital content and the ability to book VIP lounges using points.
Each tier
Liftoff ($25/year)
Explorer ($97/year)
Jetsetter ($220/year)
Trailblazer ($399/year)
provides a different annual points allowance (except Liftoff, which doesn't include points) that refreshes when your subscription renews. You can use your points to reserve lounge access and purchase additional points through the app if you need more.
Higher tiers not only come with more points but also reduce the per-point price when buying extra.
Points are the currency you use in the Liftoff app to book VIP lounge visits. Most plans — Liftoff, Explorer, Jetsetter and Trailblazer — include a points allowance that is deposited into your account whenever your subscription renews. Liftoff does not include points. You spend points to reserve lounges and you can top up your balance at any time through the app. If you cancel your membership, any remaining points expire 30 days after cancellation.
Additional points can be purchased directly in the Sanctifly app from your mobile. All plans allow you to buy more points whenever you need them, and the per-point price decreases on higher-tier plans. Purchased points are added to your account immediately and are non-refundable. If you cancel your membership, any remaining points expire 30 days after cancellation.