We recommend at least 1 hour 45 min for a comfortable connection at Juan Santamaria International. The minimum connection time is 45 minutes for domestic flights and 100 minutes for international flights. Transit between terminals takes up to 15 minutes.

Domestic-to-Domestic: 45 min. Domestic-to-International: 60 min. International-to-Domestic: 75 min. International-to-International: 100 min. These are the shortest layovers airlines will sell at Juan Santamaria International.

SJO is a compact single-terminal airport that keeps most connections simple for domestic hops, but true international-to-international transfers are complicated by Costa Rica's lack of a sterile transit corridor — everyone deplaning internationally must clear immigration, collect bags, and pass through customs before rechecking in. It's manageable if you build in buffer time, but not an airport for tight self-transfer itineraries. The main terminal handles all international traffic and most domestic flights on larger carriers, while a small separate domestic building (used mainly by Sansa Airlines) sits a short walk or quick shuttle ride away. Because Costa Rica has no international transit facility, arriving international passengers must exit through immigration, retrieve checked bags, clear customs, and then re-enter through check-in and security for their next flight — there is no way to stay airside.

Still under the domestic MCT and impossible for any itinerary involving international re-entry. See full 30 min guide →

Meets the bare domestic-domestic MCT but leaves zero buffer if lines are long. See full 45 min guide →

Meets the domestic-international MCT exactly, assuming immigration and check-in move quickly. See full 1 hr guide →

Matches the international-domestic MCT but international arrivals hitting a busy immigration hall could still be squeezed. See full 1¼ hr guide →

Close to the international-international minimum but only advisable if immigration lines are short at the time of arrival. See full 1½ hr guide →

Comfortably covers immigration, baggage claim, customs, and re-check-in even during a moderate rush. See full 2 hr guide →

Ample time to handle any international-international connection here without stress. See full 2½ hr guide →

Generous buffer that easily absorbs peak-hour immigration queues or baggage delays. See full 3 hr guide →

More than enough time for any connection type, including slow customs processing or rebooking needs. See full 4 hr guide →