Flying from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): What you need to know
Planning your holiday starts with working out where you'll leave from in London. London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for reserving a flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) jetting off from here.
The timezone in San Jose is UTC-6, which is six hours behind London. Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in San Jose.
Your flight from London to SJO won't wait if you're running late, so get to the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're flying internationally.
Popular months like July or other busy periods mean longer lines and possible delays. Get a head start by getting to the airport even earlier. Aim for at least four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Airports in London
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your journey and maybe even explore a different city. When searching for cheap flights from London to SJO departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to find out where you can visit along the way. Here's where you could connect through:
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Travelling from central London to LHR takes about 25 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a taxi, you'll cover the 24 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Booked an early flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport? Avoid the mad dash to the terminal (and sneak in some bonus sleep) by staying at one of these stays near London Heathrow Airport:
78% of flights departing from London Heathrow Airport land at their destination on schedule.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Catching a flight out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW)? Direct London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) plane tickets are available from this popular hub.
Get on your direct flight from London to SJO with British Airways. This is one of the top carriers operating this route out of LGW.
British Airways is the most popular choice for passengers flying from LGW to SJO.
British Airways is the most reliable carrier flying from London Gatwick Airport to Juan Santamaria International Airport, with 71.43% of its services landing on time.
Squeeze in an extra adventure with a stopover on your flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Here's where you can connect between London Gatwick Airport and SJO:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
LGW is around 48 kilometres from central London. It'll take you 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.
Catching the earliest flight? Think about checking in to one of these accommodation options near London Gatwick Airport the day before your London to SJO flight:
Flights from London Gatwick Airport are known for their punctuality, with 82% of them touching down on schedule.
London Stansted Airport (STN)
You can book a plane ticket from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) leaving from London Stansted Airport (STN) with a stopover. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is a popular connection point.
STN is around 56 kilometres from central London. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. If you're considering public transport, expect a journey time of around 45 minutes.
Make catching an early London to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight one of the easiest parts of your trip. Book a room at one of these hotels near London Stansted Airport and get to your boarding gate with plenty of time to spare:
STN has a reliable on-time arrivals performance of 80%, so there's a high chance your flight will stay on course and touch down as expected.
About Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
If you're arriving on a late flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport, nothing tops the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these options near SJO:
Booking your vehicle around three weeks ahead of your London to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight can help you get the lowest rate.
Getting from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to central San Jose
Juan Santamaria International Airport is around 18 kilometres from central San Jose. It takes around 25 minutes or so to drive to the city.
Travelling by public transport typically takes 1 hour.
How to find the cheapest flights from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport is $636. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $1,024. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares may change.
To pick up cheap flights from London to SJO, book ahead. Airlines usually offer lower prices when tickets are first released.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest London to Juan Santamaria International Airport tickets across the entire month. It's a good way to snap up a bargain if your travel dates aren't set in stone.
Spend less time searching for cheap plane tickets from London to SJO by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Filters make it easier to find a bargain for your flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Choose the departure times, airlines and number of stops that work for you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to zero in on the cheapest fare fast.
The best time to fly from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). January is when most people visit San Jose. If you like your getaways a little more chill, go in December.
Before locking in your London to SJO plane ticket, consider what kind of weather you prefer. March is the warmest month in San Jose, with temperatures ranging from 12ºC (54ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 11ºC (52ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF).
More about San Jose
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in San Jose right here. Explore these options as soon as you've booked your flight from London to Juan Santamaria International Airport:
There are so many things to discover in this city, it can be hard to work out where to begin. National Park (Parque Nacional), Central Park (Parque Central) and Precolumbian Gold Museum are top sights which should feature on every San Jose itinerary.
Explore more of Costa Rica
Limon is just one of the many cities in Costa Rica waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of San Jose. Around 129 kilometres away to the east, popular attractions include Veragua Rainforest Park, Playa Bonita and Playa Los Baños.
If you're looking to explore another great destination in Costa Rica, head for Liberia, about 153 kilometres northwest of San Jose. Museo de Guanacaste, Mirador de Liberia and Catarata oropendola are key highlights.