Paradise is Calling and Costa Rica Flights are Affordable
Have you been browsing and pricing Costa Rica flights online? Dreaming of escaping to an affordable tropical destination? Are visions of paradise dancing through your head?
Have you imagined yourself owning prime beachfront real estate on the exotic Central American coast? It’s time to turn dreams into reality; Costa Rica is calling!
Costa Rica is Closer than ever and Cost Effective in 2017
According to the US Bureau of Transportation, the average round-trip flights to Costa Rica will cost you $361.
It might surprise you but, you can find non-stop flights to an amazing international destination for a similar and even cheaper price (depending on your city of origin).
A quick search of Kayak’s travel site returned super reasonable results for January/February 2017 airfare to Costa Rica:
- Orlando: 1-stop, round-trip Spirit Airlines flight from Orlando to SJO is currently $174
- Miami: direct, round-trip American Airlines from Miami is listed at $235
- Houston: direct, round-trip United Airlines for only $273
- New York: 1-stop, Delta Airlines from LaGuardia International for $290
It’s hard to imagine, but international airfare isn’t so hard on the wallet when you choose Costa Rica. The wide variety of flights and growing popularity of the country have helped make traveling to Costa Rica more affordable than ever. The tickets are cheap and the flight durations won’t kill you.
The average 1-stop trip to paradise is 6-8 hours from many origin cities. If you are fortunate enough to fly from Florida or Houston, TX, your flight duration will be somewhere around 3 hours (give or take).
The abundance of flights and travel affordability make Costa Rica a top destination for vacationers and those looking to make Costa Rica home.
2017 U.S. Cities with Direct Costa Rica Flights
Costa Rica welcomes flights from North, Central, and South America along with Europe and services nearly 20 airlines. As a growing top location for vacation and expat relocation, the frequency and availability of flights is abundant.
Flying to Costa Rica today is relatively easy, with non-stop flights from the following:
- Los Angeles
- Newark
- New York
- Miami
- Houston
- Fort Lauderdale
- Denver
- Dallas
- Atlanta
Ease of Entry and Visa Requirements
Americans are not required to obtain a visa to enter Costa Rica. Access is simple for those with a valid passport. If you have a current passport, it’s time to plan the adventure of a lifetime! Visitors are allowed 90 days in Costa Rica before they must leave the country. Non-residents must also have a return ticket to the US or another country to be allowed entrance into Costa Rica.
If you fall in love with Costa Rica (as many do) you will need to leave the country for 3 days; you will be granted another 90 days in paradise when you re-enter.
Costa Rica Airport Options
Costa Rica has two international airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is located approximately 20 minutes from downtown San Jose. SJO is centrally located and is the best option for visiting the Central Pacific coast, the southern zone of Costa Rica, and the Caribbean coast.
If you plan on relaxing on the northern beaches of Guanacaste, Liberia International Airport is your best bet but you will find that your flight options decrease a bit.
Costa Rica Departure Tax
Costa Rica requires a small departure tax to be paid upon exiting the country. The current fee is $29 and is included in the price of most Costa Rica flights when you book with the following airlines:
- AeroMéxico
- Air Panamá
- Air Canada
- American Airlines
- Grupo Avianca
- Copa Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- VECA
- Jet Blue Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- IBERIA
- Interjet
- Volaris
- Condor
- Air France
If you are flying aboard Cubana, Spirit Airlines, or British Airways, you will need to pay the tax at a separate departure tax counter in the check-in terminal. The $29 fee is per person (including infants and children). You may pay the fee in US dollars, Costa Rican colones, or by credit card.
