Search Flights from San Jose (Costa Rica) to San Francisco

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.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located in San Francisco California, 21 km from the city center. The airport is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California and one of the first major airports to have an automated baggage system in place.  

San Francisco International Airport is an important hub for United Airlines and Virgin America. There are a variety of transportation alternatives available to get to the city center from the airport. You can get to various parts of the city from San Francisco International Airport by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to the city center from San Francisco International Airport. The first is the BART, a rapid-rail system. The BART station is located in the international terminal at the airport. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between the airport and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to the city center from SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between SFO and San Francisco and San Jose.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to the city center from SFO is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from the airport to downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. Taxis are readily available at each terminal at the airport and depart from the taxi zones located on the arrivals/baggage claim level. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between San Francisco International Airport and the city center. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Francisco International Airport and San Mateo and various parts of San Francisco. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 stop at the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the city center. There are many rental car companies that have offices at the airport. Renting a car is also a great way to get around the city during your trip. The AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the Rental Car Center from the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty. If you are traveling between multiple places make sure to specify your vehicle pick up and drop off location.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who are traveling with their bike or who want to leave their bike at the airport. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes.