$78 Find Cheap Flights to Central America

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the United States to Central America departing on 2/22. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Cheap Flights to Central America

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
San Salvador
San Salvador1 stop$115
San José
San José1 stop$222
Guatemala City
Guatemala City1 stop$211
Panama City
Panama City1 stop$324
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$266
Managua
Managuanonstop$154
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sulanonstop$153
Flores
Flores2 stops$407
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro2 stops$737
David
David1 stop$380
San Pedro Town
San Pedro Town1 stop$506
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa1 stop$467
Placencia
Placencia2 stops$1,018
San Salvador
San Salvador1 stop$115
San José
San José1 stop$222
Guatemala City
Guatemala City1 stop$211
Panama City
Panama City1 stop$324
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$266
Managua
Managuanonstop$154
San Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sulanonstop$153
Flores
Flores2 stops$407
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro2 stops$737
David
David1 stop$380
San Pedro Town
San Pedro Town1 stop$506
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa1 stop$467
Placencia
Placencia2 stops$1,018

Book Cheap Central America Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights to Central America that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals to Central America

Sat, Mar 7 - Sun, Mar 8
Volaris El Salvador Logo
1:07 pm - 4:44 pm
IAD
-
SAL
4h 37mnonstop
Volaris El Salvador Logo
6:20 am - 12:27 pm
SAL
-
IAD
4h 07mnonstop
$204Volaris El Salvador
Sun, Feb 22 - Fri, Mar 6
Volaris El Salvador Logo
1:25 am - 5:02 am
IAD
-
SAL
4h 37mnonstop
Volaris El Salvador Logo
6:20 am - 11:27 am
SAL
-
IAD
4h 07mnonstop
$205Volaris El Salvador
Mon, Feb 23 - Tue, Mar 10
Volaris El Salvador Logo
1:07 pm - 4:44 pm
IAD
-
SAL
4h 37mnonstop
Volaris El Salvador Logo
6:38 pm - 12:45 am
SAL
-
IAD
4h 07mnonstop
$206Volaris El Salvador
Sat, May 2 - Fri, May 15
American Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 12:43 pm
HOU
-
SAL
7h 42m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
1:19 pm - 9:26 am
SAL
-
HOU
19h 07m
2 stops
$225American Airlines
Wed, May 6 - Wed, May 13
American Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 12:43 pm
HOU
-
SAL
7h 42m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
1:19 pm - 9:26 am
SAL
-
HOU
19h 07m
2 stops
$229American Airlines
Wed, May 6 - Fri, May 15
JetBlue Logo
6:45 pm - 10:14 pm
JFK
-
SJO
5h 29mnonstop
JetBlue Logo
11:59 pm - 7:00 am
SJO
-
JFK
5h 01mnonstop
$263JetBlue
Wed, Jun 3 - Sun, Jun 14
Avianca Logo
3:20 am - 6:00 am
JFK
-
GUA
4h 40mnonstop
Avianca Logo
7:10 pm - 1:50 am
GUA
-
JFK
4h 40mnonstop
$264Avianca
Wed, Mar 11 - Fri, Mar 27
Avianca Logo
12:55 am - 7:00 am
LAX
-
SAL
5h 05mnonstop
Avianca Logo
5:35 pm - 10:15 pm
SAL
-
LAX
5h 40mnonstop
$264Avianca
Mon, Mar 9 - Wed, Mar 18
JetBlue Logo
9:34 am - 12:53 pm
JFK
-
SJO
5h 19mnonstop
JetBlue Logo
11:45 pm - 6:40 am
SJO
-
JFK
4h 55mnonstop
$264JetBlue
Wed, Mar 18 - Wed, Apr 8
Copa Airlines Logo
3:44 pm - 11:37 pm
JFK
-
SAL
9h 53m
1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
2:02 pm - 4:17 pm
SAL
-
JFK
24h 15m
1 stop
$286Copa Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Central America

Get data-powered insights and trends for flights to Central America to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest flight to Central America?

These are the best round-trip prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

The cheapest ticket to Central America from the United States found in the last 72 hours was to San Salvador, at $98 round-trip. The most popular route is Atlanta (ATL) to San Salvador (SAL) and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $98.

What is the cheapest month to fly from the United States to Central America?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from the United States to Central America, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from the United States to Central America is May, when tickets cost $402 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and June, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $684 and $638 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from the United States to Central America?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to Central America, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from the United States to Central America, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 26% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 10 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in Central America?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in Central America is Managua Augusto C Sandino Airport (MGA), with an average flight price of $139.

Good to know

Low seasonSeptember
Cheapest flight$78
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 13% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 34% increase in price.
Flight from Washington Dulles Airport to San Salvador

Flights to Central America: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew to Central America 
RonFlew with Delta
MSP
-
LIR
Jan 2026
It took us an hour to go through immigration at peak about 1:30 landing time and room was warm, so wear something for the heat and put away any jackets/overcoats/sweaters before you even deplane, you will not need them.
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines
IAH
-
XPL
Dec 2024
There is not enough room for carry on when your on group 4 or more . Hsve a basic bag for emergencies in case the take your carry on to the final destination
CarmelFlew with Alaska Airlines
LAX
-
LIR
Jan 2025
Know that flights are very unreliable so pad your days/plans.
RonelliFlew with American Airlines
MIA
-
BZE
Mar 2024
Know your gate number and ensure you know where it is before doing any shopping or start wondering around the airport
Verified travelerFlew with Avianca
LAX
-
GUA
Jan 2024
Be sure to have you immigration declaration filled out before landing. We weren’t given documents, but the staff was helpful in setting us up with a QR code and assisting us along the way.
LannyFlew with American Airlines
MIA
-
SJO
Jan 2024
Bring a book or tablet to connect to entertainment to keep you occupied. This leg of our trip met our expectations. Much better job than our first leg of our trip.

FAQs - booking Central America flights

  • Do I need a visa to fly to Central America?

    American citizens are not required to have a visa to fly to countries in Central America. Countries including Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. All these countries apart from Nicaragua, allow US Citizens to stay for up to 90 days visa-free. If you plan to extend your stay, you’ll need to get a visa.

  • What are the entry requirements to Central America for US citizens?

    With the visa waiver, US citizens are required to have a passport valid for at least six months that they should carry all the time while in Central America. In addition, countries like Panama, Honduras, and El Salvador will require them to also have a tourist card that is valid for up to 30-90 days. If you plan on visiting Kuna Yala in Panama, you’ll need a yellow fever vaccination certificate because the country has a risk of yellow fever.

  • Can I fly non-stop to Liberia, Costa Rica from the United States?

    Yes. From airports in the US like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) aboard Delta Airlines, New York John. F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) aboard Jet Blue Airlines, or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) aboard Alaska Airlines to Liberia Guanacaste International Airport (LIR). All these airlines offer specialized services to their passengers to help them relax and cater to their flight needs during long flights.

  • What is the best airport to fly in and out of Central America?

    Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in Panama City is the biggest and busiest airport in Central America. It connects Panama and several cities and states in the US. Moreover, it acts as a hub for several airlines giving flyers the chance to choose the best airline. It’s also known for clean terminals, efficiency, great customer service, and accessible services.

  • Which airlines have the cheapest prices from the United States to Central America?

    Among the airlines that provide either direct or layover flights to Central America, the cheapest airlines are Frontier Airlines, Copa Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. All these airlines have layover flights that are affordable alternatives to their non-stop flight counterparts.

  • Can I fly non-stop to Managua from the United States?

    Yes. From Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, you can fly directly to Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua, Nicaragua aboard Spirit Airlines. From Miami International Airport (MIA) in Miami, you can fly directly to Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport in Managua aboard either Avianca Airlines or American Airlines. From George Bush International Airport (IAH) in Houston, you can fly directly to Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport aboard either United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Avianca Airlines, or American Airlines.  

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from the United States to Central America?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from the United States to Central America.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from the United States to Central America?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from the United States to Central America is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from the United States to Central America?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly from the United States to Central America with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from the United States to Central America?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from the United States to Central America up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to Central America?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to Central America is Tuesday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $463. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are $496 on average.

  • What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Central America?

    The cheapest time of day to fly to Central America is generally in the morning, when round-trip flights cost $341 on average. Morning departures are around 26% cheaper than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to Central America is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $512.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Central America

  • Looking for cheap airfare to Central America? 25% of our users found round-trip tickets to Central America for the following prices or less: From Newark $426, from Chicago O'Hare Intl $462, from Los Angeles $689
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Central America flight deals.
  • Central America has many major countries and cities known for their architectural and historical attractions. When traveling to Central America you can get non-stop flights to most of these cities from Miami, Orlando, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, or Chicago aboard several airlines including American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Avianca Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Delta Airlines.
  • Alaska Airlines is one of the most popular airlines along this route that offers non-stop flights from cities in the US like Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Austin, Dallas, and Palm Springs to San Jose International Airport (SJC) in San Jose, Central America.
  • If you’re looking for cheap flights to El Salvador from Newark, opt for the layover flights by Spirit Airlines that have a layover in Fort Lauderdale that will give you a five-hour window to explore locations near Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL).
  • The Mayan Ruins of Tikal and Antigua in Guatemala are some of the most famous archaeological attractions in Central America. American Airlines has non-stop flights from Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Boston to Guatemala La Aurora City Aiport(GUA). From there, you can either take public transportation or take a flight to Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores to easily find your way to the Mayan Ruins of Tikal and take a taxi from GUA to Antigua.
  • Carnaval is a major annual festival that happens in Panama between February and March that lasts up to a week and attracts visitors from all around the world. Get on a non-stop flight from Miami on either American Airlines, Delta Airlines, or United Airlines to Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY).
  • Traveling within Central America on a budget requires you to fly into countries that are centrally located like Guatemala and Panana where you can access both public and private shuttle buses to other cities and to nearby countries to help save on transport costs.
  • Guatemala is served by two international airports namely Guatemala La Aurora City Airport and Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS). If you plan to visit towns in Guatemala like Flores, Santa Elena, and San Benito, fly on layovers into FRS which gives you direct access to these towns.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Central America

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United States to Central America? 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.
7.5
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1557 reviews
6.8Entertainment
7.4Comfort
6.8Food
8.1Crew
7.8Boarding
Airline reviews

Seats were awful. Media should have been included for such a long flight.

4.0 OkayPaul, Jan 2026
LIM - PTY
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

Seats were awful. Media should have been included for such a long flight.

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.

I always enjoy flying Copa. There are very few airlines where I can enjoy a comfortable sleep in-flight. The snacks weren't the best, but they sufficed. The in-flight entertainment was fantastic, and I crossed another movie off my watch list.

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

Simply as follows:- First, there was no vegetarian option for the meal Second, only 2 washrooms for the entire economy class.

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

They were super friendly bumped me up to exit row free of charge, All flight legs were on time

Boarding was quick & efficient; they gave boarding groups due priority; staff & air crew were very cordial and helpful, pleasant flight.

As always, Copa Airlines is great to fly on. The flights are always on time, the staff are pleasant and helpful and it's always a wonderful flying experience.

We had a great flight just wished they had a tv so we can see a movie that would of made my trip excellent.

This airline always trick us so we end up paying again for the luggage’s. This airline is worthless and take advantage of travelers .

Now days most airlines flying to Central America have a really poor service, but if you buy first class they will treat you better. I miss those days when flying was fun.

Friendly staff at all very easy check in and organize process

Horrible airline, upgraded to sit on seats made of stone. Staff were rude and on top of it they charge an arm and a leg for luggage 🧳 never again

The seats are the worst I upgraded to premium big mistake and it seems like no one likes there job very unpleasant

they don’t have TV Seat to Type in space

Check-in and in-flight staff were better than average. The seat was a fair size but too hard and not enough padding. The cushion/pillow provided is poor (thin and seems to be disposable ,it provides no effective cushioning or support). Food was OK-ish but no choice of inflight snacks and no easy place to get drinks other than water (I could ask for juice by intruding into the staff area at the back of the plane) Entertainment was very good actually. Overall better than I expected from a US-based airline (sorry!) but compared to ANA or Singapore it was so-so. (I live in Japan so they are my comparative airlines)

Everything was on time Will use united again for sure

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.

Wifi took a while to kick in and we had a maintenance issue that took over 40 mins at the gate in Washington before pulling back

Fine not above and beyond as I had a connection that was delayed due to maintenance

The power at the seat didn't work and the seat itself was difficult to adjust - this was a business class seat. Flight attendant gave me miles to compensate. The attendant was very professional and on top of his game the entire flight.

Terrible. Our first time back on United for 10 years, the seats in Polaris class are small and uncomfortable. They have squished too many people in to get more $$$. The staff are not friendly and not wanting to accommodate. I asked for two salads rather than a main meal and was advised no we wont do that. Then asked what I would like for breakfast and given something else anyway. I will not be flying United International anytime soon.

Same thing as flight from Pheonix to Newark. Uograded and Promised extra leg room and when I got to the seat it had none.

I upgraded my seat and was promised it would be next to the emergency door for extra leg room and they said it was premium plus but it was at the back of the plane...same thing happened from Newark to Dubai

Everything except the food and entertainment. It was a great experience though

The flight was on time/early, attentive crew, and everything overall went smoothly. Disappointed that WIFI was not working for the flight.

One day, I do so hope for a gluten free snack! Seems like with the rest of the world FINALLY figuring out what gluten free is, American Airlines would too. Fingers crossed!!

The flight was significantly delayed for 6.5 hours because of snow. There was no communication once the plane returned to the gate regarding when the flight would resume. Other flights were departing while our flight was being unloaded for reasons unknown. Our flight also seemed out of the queue regarding further deicing, refueling, and waiting to Taxi to the runway.

Flight was on time and the meal and service were good.

The accessible bathroom should be visible to people in Economy class.

Flight was delayed for 2 hours, then last minute the change to on time. The satélite location is far and a nightmare to get to.

This was a horrible experience. I’ve experienced several delays at this point and still not home. I was supposed to be home by 8:30 last night and here I sit at 7 am on a plane STILL unable to go home because of American Airlines.

Lexus in first class was absolutely amazing! Beat flight attendant i’ve ever seen.

Generally good. Flight left on time and the seats are comfortable. Plenty of space in front if you in you choose a comfort plus seat, completely worth spending the extra money given the amount of hours the flight lasts. The food tastes good but I would say it’s a the amount is too little. The crew was friendly and efficient. There was a some turbulence at different points into the flight. American Airlines has good deals to NZ if you book with plenty of time before you plan on going.

the plane was so hot!! the air-conditioning was barely blowing. The flight was delayed, and we had to sit on the hot plane before take off for an extended amount of time, waiting on international passengers. Would not have been so bad if it was not so hot. They said it would get better after take off, but it did not.

It was delayed and I lost my connection flight to Cali and I missed my Mom's funeral

I actually upgraded to the medium level of seats from basic and even doing that it may have been physically the most uncomfortable flight I have ever had. They packed everyone like is a train to death camp. It was a red eye so I hoped to get some sleep but it was physically impossible to find a comfortable way to rest. I met other folks on the same flight and they said the same thing. It was an utterly miserable flight and if I have any other options I will never fly with them again

Not good, tried to purchase a first class upgrade and they couldn’t get it done. Was super uncomfortable the whole time.

Deplaning was a mess, I sat in business (seats are horrible) and the front door had a problem so we had to deplane from the rear exit. The stairs were not tall enough to reach so there was a large step down from the plane to the top of the stairs.

Staff are the rudest in the industry … awful customer service … will never fly Avianca again

Pros: we leave and arrive on time Cons: the most uncomfortable seats ever. You cant recline at all your seats. No entertainment No TVs flight attendants didn't provide even a glass of water. You have to go to back of the airplane and ask for one. I am Colombian and I remember seeing the flight attendants very neat, elegants which is or was a staple of Avianca.it was one with tennis shoes, no male up, the hair was messy... that was really odd.

The flight attendant smashed her beverage cart into my knee, causing significant amount of pain. The seats were extremely uncomfortable. No food or drink is offered unless you want to pay the ridiculous prices for it. The schedule of flying in the overnight hours is also very uncomfortable.

Here we have another airline flying to Guatemala but doesn't have a plus or a less, just in the middle. Why? Well, first we don't have even free water Movie selection is poor Seats don't recline in some places Food selection is carb based Forgot to mention, customer service on the web is the worst. Good things; Very reliable on schedule Kind crew

Last seat of Bussines Class it does recline but passenger seating behind kept pushing since they did not have space once my seat was reclined

We waited for one hour to deboard the plane after landing. That could be better

Everything you need to know for your flight to Central America

Cabin class types available on flights to Central America

Cabin classes available on flights to Central America. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.