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Cheap Flights from Tampa to Costa Rica

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
San José
San Josénonstop$377
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$317
San José
San Josénonstop$377
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$317
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Tampa 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 Tampa to Costa Rica cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from Tampa to Costa Rica are running about 7% lower than they were around this time last year, averaging $441 round-trip.

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

Here are the cheapest round-trip fares from Tampa to Costa Rica on KAYAK in the last week:

• Liberia (LIR) from $317
• San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) from $377
• Puerto Jimenez (PJM) from $852

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

May is the cheapest time of year to fly, with average fares of $378. Prices are highest in December, when average flight costs increase to around $575.

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

Book your flights 8 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 21% compared to booking last-minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

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

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

• San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) (avg. price $435)
• Puerto Jimenez (PJM) (avg. price $540)
• Liberia (LIR) (avg. price $556)

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

Thursday tends to be the cheapest day to fly from Tampa to Costa Rica, while Saturday is the most expensive. Fares run about 20% higher that day, based on the past 12 months of KAYAK data.

What's the cheapest time of day to fly from Tampa 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 $417. The evening is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $636.

Key details for Tampa to Costa Rica flights

Low season

August

Cheapest flight

$147
Beat the crowds with an average 37% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 22% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Tampa to Liberia

Your Tampa 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 Tampa to Costa Rica?

    Yes. Fares from Tampa to Costa Rica are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $355 (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 Tampa to Costa Rica?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from Tampa to Costa Rica have ranged from $355 to $619.

  • What are the main airports serving Costa Rica?

    Costa Rica has 17 airports. The three busiest are San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) (80% of arrivals), Liberia (LIR) (19%) and Puerto Jimenez (PJM) (0%).

  • What airlines fly nonstop from Tampa to Costa Rica?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, just one airline regularly flies nonstop from Tampa to Costa Rica: Breeze Airways.

  • Where in Costa Rica can I fly nonstop from Tampa?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, you can only fly nonstop from Tampa to San José.

  • Is it cheaper to fly with a layover from Tampa to Costa Rica?

    Yes, nonstop flights from Tampa to Costa Rica average $458 over the past 12 months, but flights with a layover can cost less. The most affordable connecting airports are:

    • Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) (avg. price $361)
    • Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) (avg. price $434)
    • Fort Lauderdale (FLL) (avg. price $451)

  • How long is a flight from Tampa to Costa Rica?

    Flights from Tampa to Costa Rica take 3h 17m on average.

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

    On flights from Tampa to Costa Rica you can book Economy Class, Premium 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

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Tampa to Costa Rica?

    The earliest nonstop flight from Tampa to Costa Rica departs at 6:15 am and the latest departs at 10:29 am. Nonstop flights take about 3h 17m.

  • Can customers shop for goods to bring back home from Juan Santamaria International Airport?

    Unlike most other airports around the world, it is possible for passengers, both foreigners and citizens, to shop for commodities to and bring them back into the country. This means that you can take anything you wish into the country after shopping in other areas as long as they are legal.

  • Does Copa Airlines fly into Juan Santamaria International airport?

    If you wish to use Copa Airlines when flying to Costa Rica, you will use the Main Terminal (M). Even so, the largest US airlines at the airport in terms of the sum of individuals served and destinations include the American Airlines and JetBlue.

  • Can I rent a vehicle once I arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport?

    It is possible to rent a vehicle once you arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport. The facility ensures that its visitors have an array of car rental service options including the Enterprise Rent-a-car SJ Airport, Hertz, and Avis.

  • Are gift shops available at Juan Santamaria International Airport?

    When you are traveling to Costa Rica and you wish to buy gifts for kids and other family members, an array of gift shops are available to meet your needs. The airport will save you from arriving home without a present for your loved ones because the gift shops are presented in at least 10 different stores.

Your guide to booking Tampa 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 8 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 21% 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 May when flights are typically cheapest and avoid December when prices are at their highest.
  • Flying on Thursday is usually the cheapest. Flights on Saturday cost about 20% 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 Tampa. 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.
  • If you want the shortest trip, choose the Tampa to Costa Rica nonstop route. If you'd rather save money, the route via Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) is usually the cheapest.
  • When taking a flight from Tampa to Costa Rica, you will arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). It is the main airport serving San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. The airport is located within 12 miles from downtown San Jose. A quick taxi call guarantees faster and convenient access to the city.
  • The main airport serving travelers from Tampa to Costa Rica is the Tampa international Airport (TPA). It is the nation’s primary airport located 6 miles west of downtown Tampa, Florida. It is easily accessible due to an array of transport services provided both within and outside the facility. Like all other airports, Tampa International Airport serves a large sum of individuals. For this reason, parking should be booked in advance for those trying to travel and leave their vehicles on the premises.
  • In the event you arrive late at Juan Santamaria International Airport, it is possible to sleep within the airport. The security checkpoints usually will close for the night and most travelers feel safe sleeping at the airport. The airport provides its guests convenient and easy to access sleeping areas whenever they arrive late.
  • If you desire to have high class VIP treatment. Juan Santamaria International airport has spas enough for a high altitude experience. There also are two VIP lounges, the first being the Santamaria VIP which is an exclusive area for VIP passengers. The lounge has an a la carte restaurant, sushi bar, and a liquor bar. It also offers an array of cold drinks and sandwiches.
  • Once you arrive at Juan Santamaria International airport, take time to enjoy the usual assortments of duty-free shops, crafts, and stores including Tico Corner and Britt Shop Costa Rica. At these areas, you can purchase Costa Rican coffee, cigar, and a variety of souvenirs to take home.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Tampa to Costa Rica

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Tampa 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.
8.2
Breeze AirwaysOverall score based on 323 reviews
6.7Food
8.8Crew
8.2Comfort
6.8Entertainment
8.4Boarding
Airline reviews

This was our first time flying with Breeze Airways, and I can honestly say it won’t be our last! From the pilots and flight attendants to the wonderful staff helping passengers board and exit the plane, everyone was incredibly friendly, kind, caring, and professional. It was clear that everyone took pride in their work and genuinely cared about the passengers’ experience. The airplane itself was exceptionally comfortable, making the entire journey even more enjoyable. What a refreshing experience to fly with an airline that truly puts its passengers first! We look forward to flying with Breeze Airways again and highly recommend them!

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Oct 2026
Read more Breeze Airways reviews

This was our first time flying with Breeze Airways, and I can honestly say it won’t be our last! From the pilots and flight attendants to the wonderful staff helping passengers board and exit the plane, everyone was incredibly friendly, kind, caring, and professional. It was clear that everyone took pride in their work and genuinely cared about the passengers’ experience. The airplane itself was exceptionally comfortable, making the entire journey even more enjoyable. What a refreshing experience to fly with an airline that truly puts its passengers first! We look forward to flying with Breeze Airways again and highly recommend them!

Very quick and easy process from check in to deboarding and baggage claim. Crew was professional and friendly. Flight was smooth and on time. Very convenient for short flights.

I thought that I had pre-purchased carry-on luggage and was surprised when I tried to check in that I did not have it.

Overall good. Plenty of legroom and fairly comfortable seats. No issues with capacity and the overhead been even though most people brought several carry-ons on. I don’t think Breeze really enforces the pay for a carry-on rule.

Had to approach landing twice which caused concern but probably due to weather

My original booking was a nonstop flight. It got changed to a flight with a 6vhour layover that became a 7+ hour lay over. I'll never fly this airline again after this roundtrip is over.

Even though the flight was delayed my overall experience was great!

Flight was on time. The crew was efficient and kind.

The experience with Breeze was really great. The app makes managing flights easy. You can check in on there 24 hours in advance, and your boarding pass is there, too. The flight crew and the staff at both our airports were wonderful. Snacks and drinks were reasonably priced. The seats were very comfortable, they even had adjustable headrests on every seat. The only downside is not having entertainment or Wi-Fi available onboard.

Outside of a 30min delay getting back home; this an excellent airline and will definitely use again.

It is not a good experience with Copa Airlines: flight delay, luggage delay, etc.

We where skipped for this flight will not head to Panama until tonight..

There should be a warning regarding the quality of the aircraft on the website as we reserve the tickets. There was no TV or any type of screen onboard. The wifi they offer is good for nothing. Traveling 9 hours straight with kids and no type of entetainment was horrible. I wish I had been informed prior so I could buy a ticket with another airline. The food was a joke too. A very tiny portion per passenger. They also charged $100 per checked bag. With United I used to pay $60. So, fair to say that I wont be flying Copa anymore. Their aircraft was super old, outdated, no entertainment, with nearly no onboard food.

Very strict carry on rules meant most of the plane had to gate check their luggage. As is often the case had things that were broken because of this, but I appreciated not being charged to gate check. Otherwise good flight and great crew once on the plane

I liked the meatloaf the chicken was awful but the plane was on time and got there and the staff was nice.

Did upgrade, travel in business it was great (more room I could sleep)

Placed us in the last rear row of the plane so could not recline seats because of the rear wall, and also made it more of a tight space when the passenger in front reclined their seat. While understand seat assignments, every passenger should be afforded a reclining seat. The odor control scent from the restrooms was overwhelming strong. My wife and I could not deal with it, and she suffered a terrible headache as a result. I kept getting hit by the crew since I was on the ilse seat. No apologies, nothing. They made me feel like I was supposed to take the beating for a 3 hr flight.

Check in person said there would be lunch. We were first class passengers and lunch was chips.

This airline doesn’t five and dime you for everything. I do think that a checked bag should be included in every fare.

LOCKED MY BAG WITHOUT CONSENT. Had to have my zippers cut upon arrival in Costa Rica.

Horrible I am at almost 2,000,000 miles on United. This was probably the worst flight ever. An hour and a half before takeoff I get a message that they’re changing the plane and I no longer have a seat in Polaris business Supposedly, there was a problem with the plane, but then there was no other plane Finally, they decided to bring a plane from Newark to Washington Dulles Of course the original flight was at 10:45 PM so by the time the plane got there it was 12:30 AM. It had not been cleaned. It had not been catered. They don’t really have people available to do those things when it’s not pre-programmed at 1 o’clock in the morning. The crew had to be changed And the new plane held 28 fewer people than the scheduled plane There is no way you can hate United Airlines enough The people at the gate were actually just fine, but it was management who was completely useless And did they send extra help to the people at the gate? Did they send supervisors? Of course not. Just don’t take United find somebody else or buy a boat

6 1/2 hours from Tampa to SFO on a Boeing 737. Cramped. No Service. No real food. One pass for coffee at the beginning and a second pass THREE hours later. And check-in in Tampa was nasty even by United standards. And I am at almost TWO million miles on United. It's a non-stop. But terrible service.

It's a short hop. My carryon was checked at the gate, I didn't have to drag it all over the airport. Excellent wheelchair assist.

Flights were on time actually early service was good and crew cheerful

United is one airline which regardless of how many separate United tickets in existence, if one flight breaks down, the airline will take care of all the flights.

Wifi Bluetooth features for watching in flight movie was horrible. Screen kept blacking out no connection of sound although it said connected. Other than that smooth trip .

Plane outlets in my row not working to charge phone. Staff response was, well it should be. Plug into seed for volume not working well. Had to find the sweet spot for plug in or it would shut off and on.

Everything was absolutely wonderful from check in to baggage claim. Staff was very professional and sweet. Will definitely recommend United to family and friends.

They charged a fee for 1st bag checked. Others in same party were free.

The worst landing I have ever had on a domestic flight. Thought we would lose the landing gear on landing in Newark. Then we spent 40 minutes trying to position the plane in the right place to be able to get the jet way to the plane. The plane arrived stopped. The announcer was that we were there. Everybody got up, then we were told to sit back down because they had to have us towed to a different position. We got towed and then everyone stood up and they told us we were in the wrong position to sit back down again, and then we got towed to a different position This did not happen immediately. It was 30 minutes while we wandered around a small section of the tarmac in Newark close to the gate, but apparently not close enough. Horrifying experience The CAB should be investigating that flight

KUDOS TO ALL THE CREW PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH PASSENGERS ON A WHEELCHAIR. ON BOTH FLIGHTS THEY HUSTLED TO TAKE MY RELATIVE TO CONNECTION ON TIME. THEY DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT!

I tried to book a flight with Jet Blue. Your third party company hijacked my attempt with a website that looked like I was booking with Jet Blue. I realized it when I paid. I tried to cancel and was told by a man in India that there were no refunds. $735 stolen, Thanks Kayak!

My experience with JetBlue was fine BUT I am very upset with Kayak! JetBlue had delayed our scheduled departure by an hour and you NEVER notified me of the change. I did not hear directly from JetBlue because the trip was booked through Kayak, a mistake I will not repeat. Your reminder of the our trip last week still had the WRONG departure time. Our return trip has also changed, and again no notice from you.

My encounter with the entertainment services provided on board was moderate; the functionality of the Wi-Fi connection was either sluggish or nonoperational, while the display screens were antiquated and suffered from poor visibility. On the positive side, the cabin exuded a sense of expansiveness, and the crew exhibited amiable and accommodating behavior throughout the journey.

terrible. Because I felt very unwell during the flight. How do they leave a woman alone in the middle of 2 men? an obese man who was falling on top of me.

great flight. Pilot was communicative, flight attendants were excellent. Really nice experience except my tv didn’t work.

no wifi and the aircraft was very old with tiny 4” screens.

JetBlue's check-in was great, but there was an in-flight flight attendant who was very rude and unkind. I didn't realize that the bathrooms were already locked 30 mins prior to landing and needed to use the restroom. Instead of politely asking me to return, she rudely told me, 'No, bathrooms are locked! Go back to your seat!' The flight was more than an hour delay, which made me almost miss my connecting flight. I understand the reasoning, but the action they took to get a hold of maintenance was time consuming. It took them so long to get a hold of maintenance and for maintenance to get started. Most importantly, my 3 checked baggages are missing! I'm writing this review 3 days after my arrival to the Philippines, and my 3 checked baggages, where my wedding dress is, are all missing!

Long flight but food was good, with free pillow and blanket. CREW WAS GOOD.

They never came by to take empty cups or trash.

Horrible. Flight was delayed for 4 hours first till 7pm. Then for one more hour. Then again and around 9pm we were finally boarded and waited for catering delivery for another hour. At 10pm we were not interested on food at all. Tired, sleepy we arrived after midnight. Insane.

My flights were all delayed , mostly due to technical issues with AA aircrafts. I had to rebook my trip 4 times . I lost my whole day and finally arrived in LAX around midnight. This was a very bad experience with American airlines , I will always try to avoid flying with them

My flight was delayed close to 10 times over the course of the evening. I was originally scheduled to depart at 7:03 PM but did not leave until 12:33 AM, resulting in over 9 hours spent waiting at the airport. The only explanation provided was that the aircraft kept being swapped, with no clear reasoning as to why. Weather conditions at both DCA and Tampa were clear, so that was not a factor. The only accommodation offered was a $12 food voucher, which was entirely insufficient given the length of the delay. Overall, I was completely unsatisfied with this experience. A delay of this magnitude with no meaningful communication or accommodations is unacceptable, and I would have expected much more from American Airlines in terms of customer care.

Both the gate agent and flight crew did a horrible job of expediting the boarding process. It was simply miss managed. The airplane was late to Tampa. Therefore, they should have expedited the de-boarding process and also boarding process. This did not happen and caused me to miss my connection. I ended up with a 7 hour hour layover just to get home. The overall flying experience on American has simply been degraded. On-time performance is a real problem every single week. This has caused me to consider moving my loyalty to an airline that has better performance metrics.

Luggage handling and communication is extremely poor. I landed in india 15th and recived luggage today. Based on my itag the luggage was in Germany. They kept me in dark. Etihad num er in india was non operatuonal. Had to call USA etihad. It should not be so difficullt. I came for 1 week business trip everything was screwed . This is the first and also will be last for me

APU on the aircraft was not working. No AC while boarding. Plane was extremely hot and uncomfortable. Ground AC failed. Miserable experience. Arrival at DFW, no gate available. Not sure why that keeps happening at DFW.

My flight was delayed several hours, which is to be expected (American never fails to disappoint me!), but the parts that really bothered me are as follows: 1) I was unable to add myself to the standby list for another flight in the app, nor could the gate agents figure out how to help me do so (the app is difficult to work with and simply did not allow me to perform the action of adding myself to the list) 2) When I asked the gate agents to add me to the standby list, the agent said that he had added me, but I was not able to confirm that I was on the list in the app; as it turns out, I had NOT been added to the list after all. He had lied to me and/or failed to add me to the list. 3) I figured out I had not been added to the standby list when I spoke to the (rather rude, snippy, and dismissive) other gate agent, who finally did add me to the list after giving me some pretty unnecessary attitude. I understand that gate agents experience the worst of stressed travelers every day, so I appreciate that I was eventually able to make it onto the standby flight with their help. However, the app needs some SERIOUS attention!

The seats need better cushioning for a nearly 5-hour flight, it was a bit uncomfortable. I'm glad American has free wi-fi but there were was a bout 30 minutes in the middle of the flight when there was no connection which was frustrating.

Business class was very good, one of my best flights

Incredibly delayed. First delay was due to plane coming in being late. Resulted in 30 minute delay. Boarded and then had multiple mechanical issues. Was on plane for an hour until they told people they could get off if they wanted but couldn't come back. Then gate agent rushed in and said they had lost control of who went off and we would all have to deplane and then get back on. They said flight had not been cancelled. Then while sitting waiting to board again they announced it would take two hours to get new plane and to wait at new gate. New plane arrived, reboarded only to find out that pilots had timed out. Waited for new pilots. In that time one of the flight attendants timed out. Never received food or water while waiting. Was confusing mess as to what was happening. Even flight attendants and gate agents were getting frustrated. Almost 6 hours delayed. Called American to received flight credit but can't get anywhere as Kayak reservation and don't have a ticket number. Reached out to Kayak but never heard back.

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