$140 Find Cheap Flights from Columbus to Costa Rica - Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights from Columbus to Costa Rica

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
San José
San José2 stops$307
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$380
San José
San José2 stops$307
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$380
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Columbus Airport to Costa Rica flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

Are flights from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica are running about 5% higher than they were around this time last year, averaging $610 round-trip.

What are the cheapest fares from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica right now?

The cheapest fares from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica on KAYAK in the last week were to San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) from $307 round-trip, and to Liberia (LIR) from $380 round-trip.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

February is the cheapest time of year to fly, with average fares of $472. Prices are highest in December, when average flight costs increase to around $749.

When is the best time to book flights from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

Book your flights 26 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 24% compared to booking last-minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Which airport in Costa Rica is the cheapest to fly to from Columbus Airport?

Based on KAYAK data from the past 12 months, the cheapest airports to fly into Costa Rica are:

• San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) from $578
• Liberia (LIR) from $708

What’s the cheapest day to fly from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

Tuesday tends to be the cheapest day to fly from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica, while Saturday is the most expensive. Fares run about 26% higher that day, based on the past 12 months of KAYAK data.

What's the cheapest time of day to fly from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

Data from the past 12 months shows it's cheapest to fly to Costa Rica during the afternoon with average prices of $547. The evening is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $669.

Key details for Columbus Airport to Costa Rica flights

Low season

October

Cheapest flight

$140
Beat the crowds with an average 53% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 40% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Columbus Airport to San José

Your Columbus Airport to Costa Rica flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • Is now a good time to book a flight from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

    Yes. Fares from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $488 (cheaper than most fares this year) is a good deal, so if you spot one at or below that, it's a good time to book.

  • How much should I budget for a flight from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica have ranged from $488 to $780.

  • What are the main airports serving Costa Rica?

    Flights to Costa Rica use two main airports, San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) and Liberia (LIR).

  • What airlines fly nonstop from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, no airline regularly operates nonstop flights from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica. One-stop options include:

    • Delta
    • United Airlines
    • Southwest

  • Which cabin classes are available on flights from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica?

    On flights from Columbus Airport to Costa Rica you can book Economy Class, Business Class or First Class.

  • What are some popular landmarks in Costa Rica?

    KAYAK travelers' favorite landmarks in Costa Rica include:

    • Parque Metropolitano La Sabana
    • Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica
    • Museo de Oro
    • Morazan Park

  • Do I need a visa when I fly from Columbus to Costa Rica?

    You won't need a visa or a valid passport to travel from Columbus to Costa Rica. You only need to obtain a visa if you stay in Costa Rica for more than 180 days.

  • Where will I have layovers when I fly from Columbus to Costa Rica?

    You must make at least one or two stops after taking off in Columbus before you arrive in Costa Rica. These layovers will most often occur at airports like Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Orlando International Airport (MCO).

  • Which airline should I choose when I fly from Columbus to Costa Rica with kids?

    If you're concerned about keeping your kids occupied as you fly from Columbus to Costa Rica, consider flying with United Airlines. This option will set your kids up with complimentary children's activity kits.

  • What is the most sustainable airline that flies to Costa Rica?

    Most airlines are taking steps to become more sustainable, but only some are going as far as American Airlines. It's fully committed to becoming carbon-neutral within the next 30 years and is upgrading its fleet to make this mission possible.

Your guide to booking Columbus Airport to Costa Rica flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If you can plan ahead, the sweet spot for booking your flight is 26 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 24% lower than last-minute bookings (made within 2 weeks of departure). Not ready to commit? Set a Price Alert and we'll let you know when prices change.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, book your trip for February when flights are typically cheapest and avoid December when prices are at their highest.
  • Flying on Tuesday is usually the cheapest. Flights on Saturday cost about 26% more on average, so being flexible with your travel dates could help you save.
  • If you're looking to save, San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) is the cheapest airport to fly into from Columbus Airport. If you have onward travel, don't forget to factor in the cost of your journey by train, bus or domestic flight.
  • Start your trip in San José, which is the most popular destination in Costa Rica. From there, it's easy to continue on to other popular destinations such as La Fortuna, Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio.
  • Those flying from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to Costa Rica might be pleasantly surprised to see how many airlines can get you there. American Airlines, United Airlines, and even Spirit Airlines routinely fly to Costa Rica. But depending on your travel plans, you must decide which airport in Costa Rica is the best choice. Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) is the preferred choice for most people, but Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) is another good option.
  • There is no shortage of airlines that can fly you from Columbus, OH, to Costa Rica, but no nonstop flights will get you to Costa Rica in under 8 hours.
  • If you settle on flying with an airline like Spirit Airlines, you won't be able to fly first class, since it doesn't offer this as an option. You will want to look for an airline like American Airlines that can provide first-class accommodations if that is how you prefer to fly. When you fly first class, you can access comfortable seating and more dining and in-flight entertainment options.
  • Those looking to save money while flying from Columbus to Costa Rica can do so by not checking any bags for their flight. Almost all airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Spirit Airlines, charge baggage fees for every checked bag. You can cut your travel costs by only bringing a carry-on bag on a flight if it meets your airline's requirements. For example, United Airlines limits the carry-on bag size to 9 in x 14 in x 22 inches.
  • To ensure you get your flight from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to Costa Rica, you should plan to arrive at the airport about three hours before the flight departure time. You can unwind in the airline lounges while waiting to board your flight.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from Columbus to Costa Rica

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Columbus to Costa Rica? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.9
SouthwestOverall score based on 4224 reviews
7.4Entertainment
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
Airline reviews

Crew was rude, flight was late, wifi didn't work, no food, basically nothing about this flight was good.

2.0 MediocreIrene, Jun 2026
Read more Southwest reviews

Crew was rude, flight was late, wifi didn't work, no food, basically nothing about this flight was good.

Flight was delayed over 3 hours. Planes were dirty. Staff indifferent. And they serve vegan pretzels as snacks.

Airline is not very senior friendly. Flights are late, forcing us to run to the connecting flight. Food is awful. Wish they would go back to pretzels and peanuts. During flight, pressurization isn’t quite right and all of our ears get plugged. Everything is nickel and dime, charging for boarding, seat selection and legroom. While a screen at the desk in the gate area says check your roll on bag now for free due to space limitation, the employee at the desk will not check the bag without a $100 fee. Insane.

Seats were very comfortable. They tilted back. Drinks and snacks were free and served 3 times. Attendants were awesome.

Tried watching free movie and it kept freezing so I couldn’t finish.

Sat on tarmac for 2 hours and then missed my connecting flight

Wi Fi was horrible kept cutting out the whole time and too expensive

Everything was great except the food. The pretzels are really crappy.

Southwest is always good and effective. Would be nice if they raised the pre-boarding age a couple years. Would hate to have our 7 year old daughter sit by a complete stranger because of a goitch when i check in and get a late boarding number.

Flight was a little late departing and arriving, but it wasn't an issue. Baggage arrived quickly. It is the direct flight from CMH to LAS, and lasts about 4.5 hours.

It’s a 3 hour flight with no entertainment and no WiFi due to Delta using old planes on this route and food is cold. Today we were told no potable water on the flight to even make coffee or tea. Ridiculous service in this direct route for business travelers and non business travelers

wifi too slow or would not connect and entertainment kept on freezing

The flight was over 2 hours late.. once we finally got boarded things were fine

Didn't like sitting on the waiting pad for 30 minutes right after departing the gate. If you're going to do that, just don't board so people can still get up and walk around in the terminal. My luggage was damaged by the baggage handlers.

Absolutely no communication on why there's a delay and multiple flight time reschedules. I would have canceled the flight and drove back home if I known it was going to be rescheduled 3 or 4 times.

Good flight. Connector flight was delayed so made a short turnaround in Atlanta which was stressful. Otherwise, great crew, Staff in ATL was very informative about the delay and ensured people their connections were fine. Notified the ones that were not. Great communication.

was sitting in the jet bridge for 10 minutes in -20 degree weather waiting for my bag

I like for how they process during check in. It was very smoothly.

Boarding was somewhat chaotic. Unable to evaluate crew or food/drink because captain kept them seated due to turbulence. Have no idea if entertainment was offered.

I liked the piloting of the aircraft. Very disappointed about lack of electrical ports. Also, although a short flight. there was enough time to hand out snacks to comfort + seats as was done for first class.

Plane congestion resulted in a 1 hr wait from landing to arrival at the gate. This was in addition to also experiencing extreme delays on my incoming flight.

Flight was delayed 14 hours due to DC air show and weather. Missed connection to MUC.

The entertainment options on the seat back video boards were nice.

There was no WiFi available, there were mechanical problems with the plane and we landed at C 124, then the gate was switched to A 26, then all the way back to C126! For a 75 yo woman traveling alone, this was a difficult journey, indeed!

Teeny tiny bathrooms, crew was not realistic about when we'd arrive.

Very bad! They kept delaying my flight and wouldn’t do anything about it

IAD with the archaic people movers is just a place to be avoided.

Cabin was pitch black, even during meal service. The reading lights for seat 2E/F did not work, and seat 2E did not recline.

Check in and boarding were very easy. Quite good food and a complimentary glass of wine with dinner. The acoustics on the TV difficult at times, and the options extensive though not very updated.

Crew did not arrive for their shift and flight delayed for 2 1/2 hours whilst new pilots were found. The man at the boarding gate did a great job keeping us informed and the eventual flight was good. It was just the long delay waiting…….

Seats are very comfortable but WAY too small...i'm only 5'11" and 170 lbs but i barely fit in the chair! Food is just abysmal. I don't even bother eating. Staff were very professional, boarding was smooth, and plenty of room in overheads.

The crew was wonderful, the plane was fine. We left the gate on time, but we had to wait 40 minutes on the tarmac because of all the congestion at Boston.

Flight canceled because they didn’t have enough flight attendants. No refunds or credits for future flights

Flights on time w/o delays. However, my baggage was damaged. Ground crew, throws baggage from plane to the baggage carrier, carelessly.

On time flight, good communication about boarding, lines didn't form unnecessarily for boarding before their group was announced (kept aisles clear), friendly flight attendants and service

They put me on an earlier and I got home sooner

I love American. I’ll never fly anyone else if I can help it.

Any flight to ORD after about 2pm this summer has been challenging. Flight was delayed getting in (coming from ORD) and that led to it not leaving before a ground stop due to lightening before they could fuel the plane, and so forth. They made up some time but we were still late in arriving at ORD, and that led to missed connections.

Couldn’t get the door on the plane to close leading to a nearly 2 hour delay. But, hey at least they didn’t cancel the flight.

The flight was fine and the crew awesome. The problem is ORD and AA. Computers went down, ORD fell apart and a 40 min flight turned into a 3 hour trip. Guess the answer is to not try and fly to ORD after noon. But, as I said, crew was awesome and did everything they could to lesson the flight time.

More options for your flight from Columbus to Costa Rica

Complete your trip to Costa Rica with a hotel stay or car rental