$84 Find Cheap Flights to Costa Rica

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 Costa Rica departing on 4/10. 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 Costa Rica

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
San José
San Josénonstop$214
Liberia
Liberianonstop$336
San José
San Josénonstop$214
Liberia
Liberianonstop$336

Book Cheap Costa Rica Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights to Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica

Fri, May 8 - Thu, May 14
Spirit Airlines Logo
10:43 am - 11:33 am
FLL
-
SJO
2h 50mnonstop
Spirit Airlines Logo
12:38 pm - 5:40 pm
SJO
-
FLL
3h 02mnonstop
$214Spirit Airlines
Sun, Apr 12 - Tue, Apr 14
Spirit Airlines Logo
10:30 am - 11:14 am
FLL
-
SJO
2h 44mnonstop
Spirit Airlines Logo
12:19 pm - 5:20 pm
SJO
-
FLL
3h 01mnonstop
$219Spirit Airlines
Thu, Apr 16 - Thu, Apr 23
Avianca Logo
4:10 am - 8:45 am
IAD
-
SJO
6h 35m
1 stop
Avianca Logo
5:25 pm - 2:15 am
SJO
-
IAD
6h 50m
1 stop
$288Avianca
Sat, Apr 25 - Sat, May 2
Avianca Logo
4:10 am - 8:45 am
IAD
-
SJO
6h 35m
1 stop
Avianca Logo
3:10 pm - 2:45 am
SJO
-
IAD
9h 35m
1 stop
$289Avianca
Sun, Apr 26 - Tue, May 5
JetBlue Logo
6:45 pm - 10:14 pm
JFK
-
SJO
5h 29mnonstop
JetBlue Logo
11:59 pm - 7:00 am
SJO
-
JFK
5h 01mnonstop
$303JetBlue
Mon, May 4 - Tue, May 12
JetBlue Logo
6:45 pm - 10:14 pm
JFK
-
SJO
5h 29mnonstop
JetBlue Logo
11:59 pm - 7:00 am
SJO
-
JFK
5h 01mnonstop
$311JetBlue
Tue, May 12 - Fri, May 29
American Airlines Logo
6:59 am - 1:08 pm
LGA
-
SJO
8h 09m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 11:38 pm
SJO
-
LGA
15h 38m
1 stop
$338American Airlines
Thu, Aug 13 - Sat, Aug 22
American Airlines Logo
7:29 pm - 11:50 am
EWR
-
SJO
18h 21m
2 stops
American Airlines Logo
12:57 pm - 9:54 am
SJO
-
EWR
18h 57m
2 stops
$343American Airlines
Tue, May 12 - Fri, May 15
United Airlines Logo
8:21 am - 11:38 am
EWR
-
SJO
5h 17mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
7:55 am - 12:59 am
SJO
-
EWR
15h 04m
1 stop
$344United Airlines
Fri, May 8 - Sun, May 10
United Airlines Logo
7:35 am - 10:44 am
EWR
-
LIR
5h 09mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
4:30 pm - 11:39 pm
LIR
-
EWR
5h 09mnonstop
$352United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Costa Rica

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

What is the cheapest flight to Costa Rica?

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

The cheapest ticket to Costa Rica from the United States found in the last 72 hours was to San José, at $134 round-trip. The most popular route is Atlanta (ATL) to San José (SJO) and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $134.

How much is a flight to Costa Rica?

The average and cheapest price for all round-trip flights to Costa Rica from each origin found by users searching on KAYAK in the last month.

A flight to Costa Rica costs $419 on average. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks was $55 for the route Orlando Airport (MCO) to San José (SJO). The most popular routes on KAYAK are Orlando to San José which costs $338 on average, and Fort Lauderdale to Liberia, which costs $415 on average.

See prices from:

What is the cheapest month to fly from the United States to Costa Rica?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from the United States to Costa Rica, 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 Costa Rica is January, when tickets cost $480 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and July, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $644 and $636 respectively.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Costa Rica?

The average price for all round-trip flights from the United States to Costa Rica depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to Costa Rica is generally in the afternoon, when round-trip flights cost $294 on average. Morning departures are around 17% cheaper than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to Costa Rica is generally in the evening, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $518.

How far in advance should I book a flight from the United States to Costa Rica?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to Costa Rica, 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 Costa Rica, you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 8 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in Costa Rica?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in Costa Rica is San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO), with an average flight price of $212.

Good to know

Low seasonSeptember
Cheapest flight$84
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 15% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 24% increase in price.
Flight from Atlanta to San José

Flights to Costa Rica: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew to Costa Rica 
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.
CarmelFlew with Alaska Airlines
LAX
-
LIR
Jan 2025
Know that flights are very unreliable so pad your days/plans.
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 Costa Rica flights

  • Which airport should I fly into for a trip to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca?

    Because Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a popular destination, there are a handful of ways to get there. One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to get to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is by flying into San Jose Airport and taking the 4.5h bus that departs from the Terminal Atlantico Norte.

  • Do I need a visa to enter Costa Rica?

    US nationals do not require a visa to stay in Costa Rica for less than 90 days. What you will need is a valid passport and a ticket for your flight departing from Costa Rica (back to the US or onward to another country) within the 90-day timeframe.

  • Can I exchange USD into Colones at Costa Rica airports?

    USD is widely accepted in tourist areas of Costa Rica, but Colones are the way to go if you’re going out of heavily tourist-centric areas. USD can be exchanged for Colones at the airports in San Jose and Liberia, but you can often get a better exchange rate if you simply make purchases with USD and receive your change in Colones, which is common practice.

  • Which airline should I take for a nonstop flight to Costa Rica?

    There are a handful of different airlines that offer nonstop flights to Costa Rica from the US, and each flies out of a different hub city. There are nonstop flights to Costa Rica from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando with Spirit Airlines, from Miami with American Airlines and from Orlando with jetBlue.

  • Which airport should I fly to if I want to visit the National Park of San Jose?

    National Park of San Jose is a famous attraction in Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose. The best way to access it is by booking a flight that lands at SJO. A TUASA-operated bus provides the most convenient means of travel between these two points, covering the 12 miles (19.1 km) stretch in about 30 minutes. The coach departs every 10 minutes from the airport to its terminal in Sabana.

  • Which Costa Rican airport provides easy access to Nicaragua?

    Nicaragua borders Costa Rica to the north. If you are planning to connect to this neighboring country after your excursion in Costa Rica, consider booking a flight that departs from Juan Santamaría International Airport, and lands at Sandino International Airport (MGA) after approximately 3h 10min.

  • Which Costa Rican airport is closest to the Sacred Heart Cathedral?

    Sacred Heart Cathedral is a religious landmark found in Puerto Limón. As such, the best way to access it is to fly into Limon International Airport (LIO). Taxis provide the quickest connection between these two destinations in about 7 minutes. Still, the distance is walkable if you do not have heavy luggage.

  • Are there hotels near major airports in Costa Rica?

    Most of the airports in Costa Rica are located close to a wide range of accommodation options, leaving no cause to worry if you are planning to arrive late. Normally, such facilities offer courtesy shuttles to and from the airport, an essential service if you have heavy luggage.

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

    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 Costa Rica.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from the United States to Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica?

    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 Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica?

    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 Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to Costa Rica is Tuesday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $447. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are $543 on average.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Costa Rica

  • Looking for cheap airfare to Costa Rica? 25% of our users found round-trip tickets to Costa Rica for the following prices or less: From New York John F Kennedy Intl $312, from Denver $410, from Newark $678
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Costa Rica flight deals.
  • For most destinations throughout Costa Rica, flying into San Jose (SJO) is going to be quicker and more affordable than other airports. However, if you happen to be flying into Costa Rica specifically to go to the beaches in Guanacaste and the surrounding areas, it will be more convenient to fly into Costa Rica’s other international airport: Liberia Airport (LIR).
  • If you’re only traveling to Costa Rica, a flight into one of the major airports is the best option. However, if you’re looking to experience multiple cities, including the beaches in northern Costa Rica, it can be a good idea to fly into Managua, Nicaragua, and take the inexpensive bus to Liberia.
  • For travelers heading to the forest preserves in Monteverde, it can be confusing on whether to fly into San Jose or Liberia. Since Monteverde lies nearly an equal distance from both, it would be more convenient to fly into whichever city is closest to the other attractions on your Costa Rica itinerary.
  • There are many festivals that last several days in Costa Rica, and flight prices can skyrocket during these festivals. One of the most popular festivals is the Limón festival, which takes place over 2 weekends from October 11th through the 22nd. Unless you’re traveling specifically for the festival, you can save money by avoiding flights to Costa Rica during these weekends.
  • If you’re heading to Tamarindo, Costa Rica, you may be tempted to book a connecting flight from San Jose or Liberia Airport to the regional Tamarindo airstrip. A less expensive alternative to getting to the Tamarindo area from Liberia Airport is to take one of the shuttle buses that goes directly from LIR to Tamarindo.
  • The choice of your arrival airport when booking your flight to Costa Rica depends on which part of the country you’re intending to tour, whether it’s military museums in the capital city or the pacific beaches in the west-southwest of the city of Liberia. Nevertheless, Costa Rica has two main international airports located in San Jose (SJO) and Liberia (LIR).
  • If you’re planning to visit multiple cities in Costa Rica, consider reserving a flight that arrives at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), which serves the country’s capital, San Jose. As the main getaway and the busiest airport in Costa Rica, it offers numerous connections to other destinations, and you are thus sure of getting a flight that fits your itinerary.
  • Are you planning to spend your time in Costa Rica touring east-central Costa Rica? In that case, it might be convenient to book flights that arrive at Cartago, which is one of the popular cities in this region. The town hosts Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ).
  • Travelers looking to explore the north-central part of the country might have Heredia as a possible destination. To this end, consider reserving a flight that lands at an airport that serves this region. Juan Santamaria International Airport is one such facility, as it lies about six miles away.
  • Flights with one-stop layovers from New York to San Jose usually make layovers in their respective capitals. For instance, Copa Airlines makes a stopover at Tocumen International Airport Panama (PTY) in Panama City, while Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is a major focus port for Spirit Airlines.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Costa Rica

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United States 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.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 9452 reviews
6.6Food
8.1Crew
7.7Boarding
7.1Entertainment
7.3Comfort
Airline reviews

Good quick flight on a small but comfortable plane. I'm 6'3 and had plenty of space.

8.0 ExcellentMatthew, Mar 2026
IAD - CMH
Read more United Airlines reviews

Good quick flight on a small but comfortable plane. I'm 6'3 and had plenty of space.

Experience was great - no complaints. Took off on time, landed early. Got to the gate relatively quickly - took a little bit of extra time to deplane but nothing excessive.

Business class seats felt very cramped compared to other airlines.

Economy plus was so cramped I could not use my laptop. It was beyond bad.

OK, we were delayed and had to de plane and reboard.

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.

Both our flights were delayed. Almost didn’t get in the second flight. Staff was rude to the bone.

Both my flight where delayed Had 25min to make it to my transfer flight

Everything was on time and service on the flight was great!

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 .

Flight cancelled 2 hours prior to boarding. No explanation. No refunds.

Delayed by 1.5 hours. Terrible apologies, half hearted at best. It will be a LONG time until i book w Jet Blue again. Very disappointed.

My check in was stressful. I somehow lost my seat from my original booking, the plane showed no availability/no seat when it was time to check-in. I called and was instructed to try to get a seat at the airport. I asked if it was a full flight and the travel agent said the site showed some seating but was not able to secure one for me. Why not? On my way to the airport the app finally revealed one available seat towards the back of the aircraft that I was able to book. It ended up being an overbooked flight, so glad I wasn't stuck.

Flights with JetBlue from San Diego to Boston are a miserable experience. The flight was delayed about 1.5 hours due to “weather” supposedly but the flights for other airlines left on time so it just have been some kind of weather that only affects JetBlue. I had a small carry on - purse. The crew stored it in a bin 2 rows down from me because they were using the bin next to my seat for other people’s stuff. The TV screen in the emergency row seats does not work. It just was awful from start to finish. When we landed, we had to sit inside the plane for a very long time because the plane had to be moved to a different gate.

They made me check my bag and I didn't need to as there was overhead space available. I paid for a seat towards the front of the plane and it didn't recline. I requested a refund and they declined to give me one.

I have to congratulate Kayak (and Dylan the Chatdeal agent) because because when we decided extended our trip in Florida by two days, there were many direct flights oprions back to Boston available on the Friday we wanted to fly on the JetBlue website, but once I canceled the original JetBlue flight on their website, those direct return options disappeared immediatley! I think it's a game JetBlue plays. . Luckily, I checked Kayak and they had a direct flight that wasn't appearing on JetBlue's website and so I booked it, and we were able to fly home direct through the Kayak booking when JetBlue was offering nothing (even though I have been a True Blue member for 20 years, and also am a Mosaic member). So much for loyalty- their algorithm for booking is like a shell game. JetBlue used to be a good company but now they're worse than anyone. Also I was originally booked this trip to Florida, two months before the departure date, I booked the trip on JetBlue's website and then after the payment part, they said there was a problem and that I needed to do the booking again, so when I immediately went to rebook , the price had gone up 30%! I called them and it sounded like they had heard this so many times before and the guy told me to check back in 10 minutes and the price would be back to where it was when I was booking- it but it never was. How could the price go up 30% in one minute two months before the flight???? They're playing a game with their customers. Anyways, I booked a cheaper flight then at a less convenient time. So fast forward two months the night before the 7 AM flight, they sent me an email at midnight when I was sleeping to let me know that my flight at 7 AM had been canceled. The only thing they offered was a flight that night from from a different airport (Providence) to a different airport in Florida (West Palm Beach) or a flight two days later. No compensation, nothing. They couldn't of tried to get another plane to the Boston airport? They had all night to do it. I passed on their ridiculous options and flew with Delta and it was a great experience. Of course, I had to pay a lot more booking on the same day, but JetBlue doesn't care. I put in a lengthy complaint with the agent who assured me someone would get back to me by email within three days and I haven't heard a thing. JetBlue used to be a good company but now they're among the worst. The only thing they still have is decent legroom, but the corporate bean counters will probably start taking that away too.

We were made to wait in the airport for six hours for a flight that was ultimately canceled.

Both flights were significantly delayed. The flight experience itself was great.

My flight got delayed and eventually canceled, then rescheduled. I and several others had a connection from Boston to Paris and asked several times if we would make it. They assured us we would and then rebooked us mid flight without our consent and closed doors early even though they said they communicated we were a bit delayed. We got stranded in Boston and I opted with being rebooked for a different connection to France since they refused to pay for a Hotel. I've now been in Europe for 5 days and still haven't recieved my bags. There was absolutely no urgency for the fact that I'm in a foreign country with absolutely no change of clothes or any of my medication. Such an overwhelming and frustrating experience.

Automated scanning was slow and somewhat haphazard. Too many people were unfamiliar with the tech and were forced to learn on the fly. The hands off approach of the gate staff made it more uncomfortable. This needs work. Overall the flight and cabin crew were excellent.

Flight was scheduled at 11:26am but they keep Delaying until midnight. They waited at airport restless.

Rough flight No beverage service due to turbulence Bottom Seat cushion was non existent

Great experience. Good dinner and service. FA's were very nice and attentive.

It was great. Smooth flight, comfortable, left on time and landed on time.

Perhaps this is an airport issue, but being in a takeoff queue for over an hour in the taxiing lane is unacceptable. We will definitely be seeking alternative avenues for air travel in the future.

We hoarded. Then we deplaned. Then we waited for 10 hours in the MSP airport due to a wheel misfunction. We understand safety but communication between crew and airport staff was horrible. When we did finally board, we were rushed on and because we were waiting for a “fresh” pilot and crew, we sat in a roasting plane with no A/C for an hour. My question is why was this flight not cancelled right away when they knew this would be a huge issue OR, why did AA not get a substitute plane, considering this was already a full flight? To me, this appears to be a complete breakdown in leadership and utter systems failure. The compensation for completely disrupting travel plans for hundreds, which we paid dearly for, was measly. While we appreciated the lodging for the night, $12 in meal vouchers isn’t going to sustain anyone for over 12 hours. “We apologize; our hands are tied” is no longer an acceptable explanation. We are so completely turned off by this experience and will definitely seek alternative avenues when we need to fly.

Mostly good. The WiFi wasn’t working so that was not great.

I rated the experience "mediocre" because of the 2 hour delay in take off. This is the 4th flight from DFW on AA where there was a delay and in one of the instances (after 13 delays), the flight was cancelled. I understand weather but for the March 18th flight, there was no weather issue in Dallas or Detroit. I called Concierge Key and they were wonderful, booking me on a later flight in case my flight was cancelled. I have flown with American for many years and never has there been this consistent pattern of delays. Very disappointing.

They put me on an earlier and I got home sooner

Not good. One of my luggage is missing. And until now they can’t find it

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

Boarding was late due to the company’s that cleaned the aircraft (very poorly done) and the catering company. The entertainment system was not working for this six hour flight, uncomfortable seats in business (barely any cushion or recline). The airline staff is very good but the planes are horrible and not well maintained.

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.

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

I like the crew they're very friendly. I don't like. on five hour flight they not offered snacks. Any drink. Not even coffee

The airplane rattled near the left wing as if several screws were loose. Then after we landed in Fort Lauderdale, we had to sit and wait on the runway for quite some time. It was very scary and TOTALLY unacceptable!

Smooth flight staff very friendly and we arrived 15 mins earlier

I was in the airport when I'll check the status of my flight and it was canceled and without any reason. The worst of the worst ...

I never had an opportunity to experience them! They cancelled my flight TWICE!!!

Return flight was canceled. Needed to reschedule with another airline the next day. Cost an an additional $84. At another airport 45 miles further away

Spent seven hours in the airport with spirit pushing he flight time back two hours every two hours only to then have it canceled without explanation. The employees said, “They’ve been doing this for the last five days.” Would have been great if they told us to expect that when we arrived.

Seat do not reclined and tight space. Flight changed so many times hard to keep up.

Bad airline to travel with my flight was delayed for more than 3 hours they act like it’s normal

No WiFi, no outlets to charge phones, no complimentary beverages on a 6 hour flight

Length of flight was fine Delay of over 3 hours was very bad!! Flight down was delayed 1.5 hours

Everything you need to know for your flight to Costa Rica