Search Flights from San Jose (Costa Rica) to Lima

Juan Santamaria International Airport is located 11 miles of San Jose, which is the capital and one of the most developed cities of Costa Rica. The transportation alternatives that you can use to get to the airport from the city center are bus, taxi, car rental and shuttles of the tour operators. Taxis are among the best options that you can prefer since they offer transportation service without any destination or time limitation. Passengers who want to travel for more affordable fares can benefit from the buses that carry passengers to Juan Santamaria International Airport from morning hours to evening hours. You can also benefit from the car rental alternative for travelling from the city center to the airport. You can also use the car you have rented for travelling in and around the city. It is possible to find many car rental offices in the center and at the airport. However, if you need to travel during the crowded seasons, you can make a reservation before your travel by getting in contact with one of the car rental companies in order not to have trouble in finding a car.

Bus

The buses operating between San Jose city center and Juan Santamaria International Airport are the most economical vehicles you can use for your transportation to the airport. The buses depart near the Nuestra Señora de La Merced Catholic Church in the center. Buses start operating at early hours and after midnight you cannot be able to find a bus. For this reason, if you need to travel to the airport from the city center at a late hour, you can prefer getting on a taxi or renting a car in advance. If the place you are staying in is close to the bus stop in the city center and you need to travel in the daytime, you can choose the bus option which is nearly as fast as taxis and have a chance to travel for a much more affordable cost. You can buy your bus ticket when you come to the stop and continue your travel directly to the airport. If you need to get to the airport from one of the beaches located in the regions like Puntarenas and Guanacaste, you can get on one of the buses carrying passengers on these routes. Traveling to the airport from San Jose city center lasts about 35-40 minutes. The travel from the other points near the center varies between 20-40 minutes depending on their proximity to the airport.

Taxi

Taxis, which you can easily find at many points of San Jose city center, are among the fastest alternatives that you can benefit from when travelling to the airport. The distance between the city center and airport is about 11 miles and at the end of this distance the taxi fares don’t increase much. If your hotel is located in the center, you can ask your hotel to call a taxi for you or you can get on one of the passing taxis. One of the biggest advantages of taxis is that you have a chance to find a taxi anywhere and anytime you want without any limitation. If you need to travel to Juan Santamaria Airport from a location that is far from the center and airport, you can still use the taxi option but you should keep in mind that the fare you will pay will be higher depending on the distance. In this case, you can evaluate other transportation alternatives such as the shuttles of tour operators or you can bargain with the driver on the fare before getting on the taxi and travel to the airport comfortably without paying too much.

Car Rental

In the center, many international car rental companies such as Alamo, Hertz, Budget and Enterprise or alternative companies such as Solid, Apex, Nu and Payless offer car rental service for the passengers who want to travel to the airport in a comfortable way. After renting your car in the city center, you can reach the airport terminal in about 20-30 minutes by following the airport direction signs. You can deliver your car at the airport by preferring a car rental company which has also an office at the airport. In addition, you can get in contact with one of the companies in advance and learn whether you can deliver the car at the airport or not. If you want to rent a car in the city, you will need certain documents such as a driver’s license valid in the country and passport. While renting a car, you should bring these documents with you. After renting your car, you can take a city map with you in order to find your way more easily.

Tour Operator Shuttle

In the city, the companies such as Interbus and Gray Line Airport Express offer a different transportation alternative for the transportation to the airport from the city center. Travelling with the shuttles of tour operators is ideal and affordable for crowded groups and those travelling for business purpose. The fares of these shuttles can vary depending on the distance and the number of passengers. If you want to take advantage of these shuttles, you should get in contact with one of the companies in advance and make a reservation. As you can use these shuttles for travelling to the airport from the city center, you can also use them for travelling to different regions of Costa Rica or other countries.

Airport Information

Juan Santamaria Airport which connects San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, with many different parts of the country and world, offers a great and comfortable atmosphere for its guests with shopping, eating and drinking opportunities as well as recreational areas. You can buy souvenirs by visiting Vida Pura located within the airport terminal or spend time by taking a glance at gift alternatives. Colibrí Craft Store, Green Trails, Casa Tica and Morpho Store Britt Shop Costa Rica are other options you can evaluate at the airport. Duty Free shops located in different parts of the airport are waiting for passengers who want to buy perfume, souvenir, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink or chocolate for budget-friendly prices. If you want to have a snack before leaving the airport, you can visit Q Corner by Quiznos, Teriyaki Experience, Smashburger, Cinnabon or Quiznos to Go. If you have enough time and enjoy eating or drinking in a good place, you can prefer Bar 45° GastroPub, Malinche Restaurant or Café Lavazza. You can benefit from the free internet connection in many parts of the airport while waiting for your flight. If you need to make money transfer or perform any other banking transactions, you can find BAC San Jose, Bancredito, Global Exchange, Scotiabank, Citibank and ATH branches or ATMs at the airport terminal. The recreational areas and passenger lounges are among the areas where you can spend time on comfortable seats while waiting for your flight. If you need to park your car at Juan Santamaria Airport, you can use the parking area of the airport which has a capacity of 400 vehicles. The fees of this parking area which you can benefit from daily, weekly or monthly can vary depending on these periods.

Lima, which is the capital of Peru and also known as the City of the Kings, is a coastal city established on ocean shore in South America. The city, which is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Rimac River, is the center of policy, industry and education of Peru. Nevertheless, Lima is a city where crime rate and income level difference are very high. In the city, you can see shanty houses and luxurious buildings all together. 

In the city built on the foothills of the mountains, there are historical remains belonging to the Incas which are one of the ancient civilizations. Some of these remains are on archeological sites and some are in museums. There are many architectural structures inheriting to the city from the period prevailed by the Spanish.

With its interesting culture, Inca Pyramids, San Francisco Monastery, wonderful beaches, ocean waves for surfing enthusiasts, different cuisine and lively nightlife, Lima continues to welcome tourists all the year round. It is quite easy to travel around the historical city center of Lima consisting of straight roads and streets intersecting each other with right angles. Nevertheless, if you are going to Lima as a tourist, you will definitely need a means of transportation because the places you will want to see are not within walking distance or close to each other.

There is generally heavy traffic throughout the city. You can easily find a taxi in Lima. Apart from the green taxis operating at the airport, in the white taxis that you can find in the city center, driver and the passenger section is separated by a wire fence for safety. As a safer method, if you are going to use taxis frequently during your visit, you can call a taxi anytime you want by using an app that you can download on your smartphone. The taxis that are called with these applications are considered safer because they operate under certain companies. There is no taximeter in taxis. Fares are standardized according to regions, but you can bargain with the driver.

Public transportation in the city center is provided by metro and metrobus. The ticket price for metrobus is 1.5 soles for one pass. Today, there is only one completed metro route but new routes are being constructed. If you want to travel from Lima to other cities of Peru, it is recommended to use airlines rather than intercity buses or trains for safety reasons.

For domestic flights, it is required to pay 10 dollars as tax. The most comfortable means of transportation that can be used for travelling to the city center is shuttle service. For the passengers coming with tour companies, private buses are waiting at the airport. Car rental and airport shuttle service offered by hotels are other options for the transportation to the city center. It is aimed that it will be possible to travel to the city center from the airport by metro in 2019 thanks to the new metro route that is still under construction.

Airport Shuttle

You can easily reach the city center by using the shuttle services that you can find at the terminal exit. You can benefit from these services by yourself or in group and you will pay the amount depending on the situation. If you use the service alone, you will have to pay 25 dollars and if you travel in group, you will need to pay 6 dollars per person. The travel lasts about 45 minutes.

Hotel Shuttle

There are numerous hotels throughout Lima and some of them offer airport shuttle service. Even if this service is not provided by your hotel, you can get in contact with your hotel before your flight and ask your hotel to help you with transportation. For benefitting from airport shuttle service, you should make a reservation in advance and specify some information such as the number of guests or the amount of your baggage.

Taxi

You can easily and comfortably get to the city center by getting one of the green colored airport taxis waiting just outside the arrival terminal. You can recognize the airport private taxi drivers from the green cards hanging on their necks. There are also independent taxis waiting in front of the airport. They may take you to the city center at affordable fares but they are not recommended because of safety reasons. You can also call a taxi by using the app you will download on your smartphone. Since these taxis operate under certain companies, they are safer than the others. Transportation to the city center from the airport lasts about half an hour by taxi.

Car Rental

There are offices of car rental companies next to the exit of international arrival terminal. You can rent a car according to your budget and have a comfortable travel to the city center. You can also visit nearby places if you prefer renting a car. If your driver’s license is not appropriate for using a car abroad, you can rent a car with a driver. This is one of the most comfortable options.

Tour Bus

If you are coming to Lima with a tour company, the buses that will take their passengers to the city center or their hotels are waiting on a private parking area. You can see this area when you get out of the exit door. This is also a comfortable alternative.