Seattle-Tacoma to Juan Santamaría
3407 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 7h 15m with 8 airlines operating direct service from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to Juan Santamaría (SJO). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $449 return), with peak prices in August (around $1347). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Seattle-Tacoma
Seattle-Tacoma is Alaska Airlines' principal hub and Delta's growing Pacific Northwest base. The Link Light Rail Red Line runs from the airport's elevated station directly to Westlake in downtown Seattle in 38 minutes for $3.25 — possibly the easiest big-city transfer in the country. International long-haul has expanded sharply post-2023 with new direct service to Tokyo, Seoul, Frankfurt, London Heathrow and Auckland. Weather delays are rare; SEA is one of the most operationally reliable winter airports in the US.
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 SEA to SJO?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 7h 15m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 7h 15m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 7h 15m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 7h 15m | Economy |
| Korean Air | KE | 7h 15m | Economy |
| ANA | NH | 7h 15m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 7h 15m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 7h 15m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SEA→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.
Seattle to San José FAQs
Direct flights from Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to Juan Santamaría (SJO) take approximately 7h 15m for the 3407-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 $449. 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 Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) to Juan Santamaría (SJO): Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Korean Air and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Alaska Airlines 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.