Passport information
You’ll need a passport book to enter Costa Rica and to return to US. No visa is needed for US citizens.
If you don’t have a passport, plan on getting it in advance as processing time can take 1-2 months although I’m not sure if this has changed since the start of the pandemic. When buying airline tickets online, the airline may ask for your passport number so get your passport as soon as you can.
Costa Rica has implemented a new system for all visitors to fill out an application prior to entering Costa Rica. It’ll ask questions relating to COVID-19 exposure and a copy of the vaccine card if vaccinated. I’ve taken United Airlines and found out the check-in process on the app is long and will take some time to fill out the requirements. I recommend filling out the requirements as soon as it becomes available to do so as it’ll make the check-in process less stressful. One mistake I made when filling out the questionaire is I filled in the incorrect flight number. I put in the flight number of the connecting flight to Costa Rica and not the final arriving flight which United Airlines rejected the form until I got the flight number corrected.
When to buy tickets
Ticket prices to San Jose, Costa Rica may vary from airline to airline and departure dates. Since the start of the pandemic, international travel has generally been very affordable and traveling to Costa Rica is no exception. When I shopped this year for tickets, I haven’t seen tickets prices stay consistently low across different airlines and different days. My recommendation would be to avoid buying tickets a few weeks or sooner before departure. This is when airfare often goes considerably up or down in price as they get closer to departure date.
Hopper is an app that track prices and notifies when prices are high or low.
Airport
Costa Rica has primarily two international airports, San Jose and Liberia. The wedding is in the province of San Jose. We suggest getting flights to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Liberia (LIR) is hours away from the wedding venue.
To get to San Jose, Costa Rica:
SJO is served by US airlines Jetblue, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines. International airlines include Copa Airlines, Interjet, Volaris, and Aeromexico. These airlines have layovers and do not offer direct flights from the US.
Flying from LAX
Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines have nonstop service from LAX to SJO. Their prices may vary depending on date traveling so shop around.
Here are flights from LAX with layovers:
United Airlines: LAX – IAH (Houston) – SJO
American Airlines: LAX – PHX (Phoenix) – SJO, LAX – DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) – SJO
Jetblue: LAX – FLL (Fort Lauderdale) – SJO
Southwest Airlines: LAX – HOU – SJO
Spirit Airlines: LAX – FLL – SJO
Flying from Jackson, MS and Lafayette, LA
Flying to Costa Rica from airports from these cities will average about $600 for round trip tickets. United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines mainly fly from these airports and buying round trip tickets are usually cheaper than buying two one-way flights
I recommend flying from New Orleans (MSY) and purchasing tickets from multiple airlines. MSY is 2 and half hour drive from Jackson and 2 hours drive from Lafayette.
From MSY, I recommend flying to Orlando (MCO) using Spirit Airlines or Frontier Airlines. From MCO, use Jetblue or Spirit Airlines to fly to SJO. Depending on dates you’re traveling, this may save you hundred or hundreds than flying from JAN or LFT.
When arriving at Juan Santamaria International Airport
You’ll be going through Immigration and Customs. This is when you’ll get the QR code from the questionnaire scanned. You will be asked the address of where you are staying and how many days so get that information in advance. When arriving at the terminal exit, you’ll be going through a line of Taxi drivers wanting your business. Just ignore, walk past them and proceed to your travel option unless you’re taking a taxi. There are shuttles that go to rental car facilities. Bus stops are on the street side of the airport past the parking structure and these buses go to San Jose. These buses take Costa Rica colones and there are currency exchanges in airport. There is wi-fi at the airport to call for a Uber.