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SJOSan Jose·Juan Santamaria International·San Jose, Costa Rica
How long is your layover?
30 min45 min1 hr1¼ hr1½ hr2 hr2½ hr3 hr4 hr
Recommended minimum1 hour 45 min
Quick Stats
Concourses
2
Main International Terminal, Domestic Terminal (Sansa/regional carriers)
Max Transit
15m
via walking
Avg. Security
20m
Primary Hub
Sansa Airlines
Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
45min
Domestic → International
60min
International → Domestic
75min
International → International
100min
San Jose skylinePhoto by Mario Spencer on Pexels
AD PLACEMENT — CONTEXTUAL
Getting Between Concourses
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.
Busyness — Connection Risk
12a6a12p6p12a
Low risk
Moderate
High risk
Key Facts
no sterile international transit
separate domestic terminal building
manual bag recheck required
compact single-terminal layout
Airlines at SJO
Sansa Airlines
Common Questions
Is 30 minutes enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 45 minutes enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 1 hour enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 1 hour 15 min enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 1½ hours enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 2 hours enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 2½ hours enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 3 hours enough for a layover at SJO?

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

Is 4 hours enough for a layover at SJO?

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

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AD PLACEMENT — BEFORE FOOTER