Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood to Juan Santamaría
1142 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 2h 42m with 8 airlines operating direct service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) to Juan Santamaría (SJO). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $169 return), with peak prices in August (around $507). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International is South Florida's leisure-leaning alternative to Miami — just 25 miles north of MIA but consistently cheaper for both domestic and Caribbean fares. JetBlue, Spirit and Allegiant make FLL their main South Florida base; Tri-Rail commuter service runs from the airport to West Palm Beach and Miami in 50–90 minutes for around $7. International long-haul has grown via Norse Atlantic to Europe and via JetBlue to London Heathrow daily.
Arriving in San José
Juan Santamaría International serves San José, Costa Rica's capital, 17 km west of the centre. Tuasa bus runs to downtown San José for 690 CRC; taxis cost $25–$30. Fares from US Pacific and Texas hubs peak December–April (US winter demand) with cheaper rates in the May–November green season. SJO is the gateway for Manuel Antonio, Arenal and the Pacific coast resorts; LIR (Liberia) is closer to Guanacaste's Pacific beaches.
Who flies FLL to SJO?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 2h 42m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 2h 42m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 2h 42m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 2h 42m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 2h 42m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 2h 42m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 2h 42m | Economy |
| Allegiant Air | G4 | 2h 42m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly FLL→SJO
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Fort Lauderdale to San José FAQs
Direct flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) to Juan Santamaría (SJO) take approximately 2h 42m for the 1142-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $169. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
8 carriers operate direct service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) to Juan Santamaría (SJO): JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, American Airlines and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — JetBlue Airways typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa-free for US passport holders up to 90 days. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Juan Santamaría (SJO) is the primary international airport for San José. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.