โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
75
minutes
International โ Domestic
75
minutes
International โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Two terminals: Terminal M (main/international, 3 levels) and Terminal D (domestic, Sansa flights only). Three VIP lounges: Avianca Club, Copa Club, VIP Lounge BAC Credomatic (Gate 19-20, 4:30 AM-4:30 PM), Star Alliance VIP Lounge (Gate 5, 4:30 AM-8 PM). Free WiFi for 3 hours. Starbucks 24/7, other dining near Gates 5-8.
Walking between the farthest gates takes only about seven minutes, which is one of SJO's quiet strengths for self-managing a connection. The airport also offers free luggage wrapping services and a fast-track security option on the second floor, so experienced travelers can often save time by heading upstairs instead of joining the first screening line they see at ground level.
Under construction: $62.2M west terminal expansion with self-service facilities (2025). 2.6 million tourists (2024). Orange taxis with yellow medallions use meters.
๐ Connection Tips
Immigration and customs processing at SJO can take over an hour during peak tourist seasons (December-April). For ground transportation, use only official orange taxis with yellow medallions, which are metered and available 24/7 Operationally, a pre-arranged pickup or host contact is the useful backup, because the airport is really the handoff into San Josรฉ rather than a place to wait around. The meaningful alternates are Panama City, Barra del Colorado Airport, Tobรญas Bolaรฑos International Airport, which is why the backup plan matters more than the terminal amenities. Scheduled service is carried by Avianca Costa Rica, Copa Airlines, American Airlines, so the first bank of the day is the one to watch. In practice, that means the airport works as San Josรฉ's time-saving link to the rest of Costa Rica.
If connecting between the main terminal (Terminal M) and the domestic Sansa terminal (Terminal D), allow at least 15 minutes for the walk and re-clearing security When delays ripple through the schedule, a pre-arranged pickup or host contact is the useful backup, because the airport is really the handoff into San Josรฉ rather than a place to wait around. The meaningful alternates are Panama City, Barra del Colorado Airport, Tobรญas Bolaรฑos International Airport, which is why the backup plan matters more than the terminal amenities. Scheduled service is carried by Avianca Costa Rica, Copa Airlines, American Airlines, so the first bank of the day is the one to watch. In practice, that means the airport works as San Josรฉ's time-saving link to the rest of Costa Rica.
Uber is available but drivers may ask to meet at the departures level or the bus stop to avoid taxi conflicts At street level, a pre-arranged pickup or host contact is the useful backup, because the airport is really the handoff into San Josรฉ rather than a place to wait around. The meaningful alternates are Panama City, Barra del Colorado Airport, Tobรญas Bolaรฑos International Airport, which is why the backup plan matters more than the terminal amenities. Scheduled service is carried by Avianca Costa Rica, Copa Airlines, American Airlines, so the first bank of the day is the one to watch. In practice, that means the airport works as San Josรฉ's time-saving link to the rest of Costa Rica.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Mojica Airport (CSC/MRMJ) is a vital regional aviation facility located in the municipality of Caรฑas, in the Guanacaste Province of northwestern Costa Rica. As a primary air link for this productive agricultural and geothermal region, the airport provides essential transportation for local residents, government services, and international tourists visiting the nearby Palo Verde National Park and the Tenorio Volcano area. It primarily facilitates domestic flight operations, including private charters and occasional regional services that connect Caรฑas with major hubs like Liberia and San Josรฉ.
The terminal infrastructure at Mojica is a basic and functional structure designed to manage the modest regional passenger volume with Costa Rican hospitality. Inside, travelers will find a unified departures and arrivals hall, which includes basic check-in counters and a sheltered waiting area with seating. Amenities at the airport are focused on the essentials, such as clean restroom facilities and general information signage about the region's unique natural attractions and wildlife. Due to its regional focus and smaller scale, there are no extensive retail shops or diverse dining options available on-site, so visitors are encouraged to make any necessary food or supply purchases in the town center of Caรฑas before their flight.
Operational capacity at Mojica Airport is supported by a single paved runway measuring approximately 1,000 meters in length, which is designed to support a wide range of light general aviation aircraft and small regional turboprops. Navigation through the terminal is exceptionally easy due to its compact and logical layout. For ground transportation, the airport is located within a few kilometers of the city center, with official taxi services and private vehicle transfers readily available to transport visitors to their final destination or to the many eco-lodges in the surrounding Guanacaste region. Travelers should be mindful of the tropical climate, which can occasionally impact flight visibility during the rainy season.
๐ Connection Tips
Mojica Airport (CSC) should be treated as a niche domestic-access field in Guanacaste rather than as a normal connection airport. The airport may be useful for charters or limited local flying, but the broader travel structure in Costa Rica still centers on San Jose and Liberia. That means most meaningful onward travel decisions happen at those larger gateways, not in Canas.
For travelers headed toward Tenorio, Rio Celeste, or nearby ranch and eco-lodge areas, the airport's value is simply reducing the final road leg if a charter or local service is available. It does not create a robust transfer environment. If the trip begins on an international arrival, the customs, immigration, and baggage reality is still handled at the major airport, and the regional or private movement afterward should be treated as a separate, more fragile segment.
Use CSC only with a destination-specific plan. Confirm whether the flight is truly operating, keep baggage light if the aircraft is small, and arrange the receiving ground transport before departure. The airport can be helpful for reaching inland Guanacaste efficiently, but all the resilience in the itinerary needs to sit at San Jose or Liberia, not at Canas. It is a useful shortcut, not a place where a missed wider connection can be easily repaired.
โ Back to Juan Santamarรญa International Airport