Juan Santa Maria International Airport

Advices when you arrive in Costa Rica

1. Please go to the immigration area with your passport and a correctly filled out immigration form, follow the signs.
2. If you have to wait in the airport for your next flight connection we invite you to visit the shops, bars and food court.
3. Baggage Claim: please read in the baggage carousels monitors the information of your flight number. You will find one carousel just for oversize baggage and pets.
4. If you can not find your baggage, please go to the Airline desk just in front of the baggage carousels and they will help you getting back your belongings.
5. You can not bring to Costa Rica any kind of plants, animals, fresh food or chemicals otherwise you need a special permission by Costa Rica Government.
6. In the custom section you can use the Costa Rican Tourist board desks to get information about the country. Not always open but the information is available for you to pick it up by yourselves.
7. Public telephones: inside the airport you can use them with a phone card that you can buy in check in lobby, boarding areas and in the baggage claim section
8. There are several alternatives for your transportation from the airport to your hotel.
   

A. Airport Taxis (Orange Taxis, do not take any other color of Taxi) that should be paid at the airport both right at main exit of the airport after customs. A taxi drive to San José cost around $20 U.S.D dollars and takes about 30 minutes depending on the traffic. San José is situated about 20km from the Juan Santa Maria International airport.

B. Using a Local Tour company, which usually provides assistance from customs all the way to your hotel. It may be very similar to the price of a taxi specially if there is more than two persons for the transfer.

C. Public Transportation which is not recommended when you have luggage with you and you must check the bus hours. Public bus: The bus station is just in front of the main street, you will find it when you get out of the parking lot. There are buses every 10 minutes (5.00-22.00) to San José. Safety may be a issue with this type of transportation.

Routes:

1. Airport- San José                       25 minutes
2. Airtport- Heredia                        25 minutes
3. Airport – Alajuela                       10 minutes
4. Airport – Arenal                          2:30 hours.
5. Airport – Liberia                         3:30 hours.
6. Airport – Papagayo                    4:00 hours.
7. Airport – Manuel Antonio.         2:30 hours.

Advices before leaving the country

1. You have to be in the airport 3 hours before of the departure time for every international flight.
   It is forbidden to bring family and friends into the departure area.
2. In the main entrance door you have to show your passport as well as your flight ticket.
3. To leave the country you have to pay $26 of taxes, no matter if you are resident or foreign. You can pay this tax inside the airport terminal. You can also pay the tax before in one of the offices of Banco Nacional de Costa Rica wich is a Public bank. You could pay this tax in dollars or in colones. You need to take your passport with you when paying this tax, since the cashier will require to see it. You can do it about two weeks before you leave and in that way you can avoid the line of tax payers which may be quiet long sometimes.
4. At the airline front desk you must have: passport, airport taxes, the flight ticket and all baggage that you want to register.
5. Flight information at Juan Santa Maria Airport: 24 hours Phone: 2437-2626
6. If you need to call to your airline while you are in Costa Rica:             

AIR CANADA                                                                    2441-8025 
AIR COMET                                                                      2291-0684 
AIR PANAMA / AIR COSTA RICA                                  441-9444 
AIR TRANSAT                                                                  2441-9444 
AMERICA WEST                                                              2430-6690 
AMERICAN                                                                        2442-8800 
CONTINENTAL                                                                2442-1904 
COPA                                                                                 2441-4742 
CUBANA                                                                           2430-4787 
DELTA                                                                               2440-4805 
IBERIA                                                                               2441-5635 
LACSA                                                                               2443-3555 
MARTINAIR                                                                      2440-8848 
MEXICANA                                                                       2441-9377 
SPIRIT AIRLINES                                                           800 756-7117 
TACA                                                                                 2443-3555 
US AIRWAYS                                                                   2430-6690 

Nowadays the Juan Santamaría International Airport has many commercial services like:

	Souvenirs and Gift Shops  In the boarding areas you can find many stores to buy souvenirs, newspapers, magazines, gifts, medicine, personal products and all the things that you will    need during your return flight. In the duty free shops you can find a wide range of liquors, cosmetics and jewelry.
	Medical Assistance             In the main floor next to the food court, you will find the emergency medical technicians, working from Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. If you have an emergency and the emergency office is closed please go to the airline desk.
	VIP Room The Airport has many alliances with airlines, banks, credit card operators, in order to give to the clients various quality services like: telephones, amenities, fax, cable television entertainment, flight information monitors, newspapers, magazines. It is located on the principal floor level next to the food court.
	Food / Dining Juan Santamaría terminal offers a wide variety of foods and dining choices such as snacks and fast food.                         • Burger King.                                                               • Church´s Chicken.                         • Papa John's Pizza.                         • Poas Deli Café.                         • Bar Chiva´s Regal (non Smoking).                         • Schlotzsky´s. - Food Court.                         • Nimbus Bar (Non smoking) - Food Court.                         • Nimbus Bar (Smoking Bar)
	Information Center Juan Santamaría Airport offers a counter to provide you with information and advice in order to make your trip unforgettable. There you can help with AIJS leaving suggestions and comments. The counter is open from 5:00 am to10:00 pm the whole year. Phones: (506) 443-1737. Fax: (506) 443-1244
	Luggage Carts Luggage carts are available for passengers. Carts are provided free but at the exit door you will find skycaps with blue uniforms to help you with your baggage, you are expected to give them a tip.
	Currency Exchange Operated by Global Exchange. It offers currency exchange of 16 countries in America, Europe and Asia. It is located next to the baggage claim area.
	ATMs / Bank (Bac San José Bank) Passengers have access to a full service bank in the check in section. ATMs are located in:                                      • Scotiabank                                      * Boarding rooms and luggage claim section                         • B.C.R                                                          *. Boarding rooms and luggage claim section                         • BAC San José                                             * Check in area                                    * International arrivals door                         • Citibank       International arrivals door
	Rent a Car          Located in the luggage claim section. They are going to give you a lot of             options and facilities to leave the airport with a contract and a car just in a few             minutes. • Alamo / National             • Avis                                 • Budget                           • Dollar                                 • Economy / Advantage    • Hertz                                           • Payless
	Taxis: In the International Airport you will find an Official Taxi Company (orange cars) operating 24 hours.
	Private Transportation: Toll Free: 1-877-2818515 Tel: (506) 2233-5151 Fax: (506) 2233-5284