Costa Rica has two international airports, and picking the right one can save you hours of driving. San José (SJO) sits in the central valley; Liberia (LIR) is up north in Guanacaste. The best choice depends entirely on where you're going first.
| Destination | From SJO | From LIR |
|---|---|---|
| La Fortuna / Arenal | ~3h | ~3h |
| Monteverde | ~3h | ~3h |
| Tamarindo | ~5h | ~1h 20min |
| Papagayo | ~5h | ~40min |
| Manuel Antonio | ~3h | ~5h |
| Puerto Viejo (Caribbean) | ~4.5h | ~6h |
| Nosara | ~5h | ~2h |
SJO has the most international flights and the widest range of connections, so fares are often lower. It's the natural gateway to the central and Pacific highlights: Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and Jacó, plus the Caribbean coast. If your itinerary is spread across the country, SJO is usually the more flexible base.
If you're dreaming of Guanacaste's Pacific beaches, LIR puts you within an hour or two of the sand. You'll skip the long drive from San José and start your holiday sooner. Flight options are growing but can be pricier or less frequent than SJO — worth comparing both.
Travesía runs door-to-door private transfers from both airports to every major destination. Compare routes and prices on our shuttle finder, or read our step-by-step guides for SJO to La Fortuna and Liberia to Tamarindo.
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