Getting to Costa Rica from Europe

There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when getting to Costa Rica from Europe wasn’t quite the breeze it is today. The transatlantic journey from the Old World to the Land of Pura Vida meant layovers, passing through different countries, and waiting around. Not totally prohibitive, but enough of a pain for some travelers to not bother with coming to Costa Rica.

Things changed in 2004, when Spanish carrier Iberia began a direct daily service between Barajas Airport in Madrid and Juan Santamaría Airport in San José. For just over a decade, Europeans wanting to avoid those time-consuming and stressful layovers in the States simply went through Madrid instead.

Others used “semi-direct routes,” with airlines like Condor. You used to fly between San Jose and Frankfurt, Germany with a touchdown stop in the Dominican Republic without getting out of the plane. By 2016, the rest of Europe was finally hip to Costa Rica travel, and Air France, British Airways, KLM, and others all began direct flights around that time.

Today, it’s easier and quicker than ever to travel between Costa Rica and any given European country, and in this article, we’ll explore the best ways to do just that.

For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on flying. While it’s possible to visit Costa Rica by sea from Europe, few have the multiple weeks available to do that, unless you’re on a cruise (in which case they’ll handle everything for you). So flying it is:

The most convenient way to get to Costa Rica is via a non-stop flight from a major European hub. Several carriers offer daily or seasonal service directly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, the capital city. Flight times range from around 9 to 12 hours.

From Spain, Iberia and Iberojet fly directly from Madrid. From the Netherlands, KLM has year-round nonstops from Amsterdam. Out of France, Air France operates daily direct service from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport.

For Germans and the Swiss, Lufthansa and Edelweiss (a subsidiary of Swiss Air) both have direct flights from Frankfurt and Zurich. British Airways flies direct from London’s Gatwick Airport to SJO as well.

There are also direct seasonal options. During the December to April high season, there are flights between Europe and Liberia Airport, Costa Rica’s second international airport that serves the beach communities and resorts of Guanacaste. The Edelweiss flights from Zurich to San Jose also stop in Guanacaste. Lufthansa also operates between Guanacaste and Frankfurt on the same basis, while British charter carrier TUI flies from the UK.

As with all international airfare, prices vary. You can find direct flights from Europe to Costa Rica from as little as $400 to $500, ranging into over $1,000, depending on airline, route, and time of year.

If your city doesn't offer a direct flight, another convenient option is a one-stop route through a major hub airport. The most common option is to fly through one of the European cities listed above. Another way is through the U.S., connecting through a gateway like Miami, Atlanta, Houston, or Newark. This is how most people did it before direct flights from Europe started in 2004. Major U.S. carriers like American, United, and Delta operate these one-stop services in conjunction with their European partners.

These one-stop routings through the U.S. add around three or five hours of transit time each way versus a non-stop route. You'll also need to deal with the hassle of clearing U.S. immigration and customs during your layover, which can mean long lines and enhanced security screening.

The upside is often finding lower fares compared to nonstops. Typically, in the $500-$800 roundtrip range for economy class. But the tradeoff is the extra travel time and dealing with the TSA.

There are also options to route through other countries in Central and South America to reach Costa Rica. Copa Airlines, based in Panama City, is a major player with connections from many European cities. The same goes for Avianca out of Bogota, Colombia.

Using these airlines, you could fly something like Paris to Panama City to San Jose. Or connect in Bogota from Madrid on to Costa Rica. Transit times are often similar to U.S. routings, but you avoid the heightened security hassles of an American layover.

The downside is Panama City and Bogota can also have long queues and inefficient airport processes. But many travelers prefer getting their first taste of Latin culture here versus a soulless American airport terminal. Fares can be competitive as well, often undercutting U.S. carrier options.

So if you don't mind the slight extra transit time of a one-stop routing, evaluate your options. Weigh the typical fares, travel times, and personal hassle factors of a U.S. layover versus transiting through Panama City or Bogota instead. Considering Costa Rica's geographic location, you have a few different paths to get here.

Costa Rica has a straightforward entry policy for most European nationals. The majority of European countries fall under Group One, meaning citizens do not need a visa beforehand. Upon arrival at immigration, they will receive an entry stamp valid for up to 180 days (around six months). European Union countries as well as the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, and a few others like Andorra, Monaco, and the Vatican are part of this visa-exempt Group One.

Some other European nations like Russia, Turkey, and several Balkan countries fall under Group Two. Citizens of these countries also do not require a visa, but their maximum stay is limited to only 30 days upon arrival. The only European countries whose nationals must apply for a visa from a Costa Rican embassy or consulate before traveling are Belarus, Moldova, and Kosovo (part of Group Three).

No matter which European country you are from, your passport just needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in Costa Rica, with at least one blank page. Most visitors can enter hassle-free by showing their valid passports. So for the vast majority of Europeans, no visa is required to visit as a tourist, just a valid passport.

When it comes to getting to Costa Rica from Europe, having direct flight access makes the journey much smoother. Here are the best routing options for European nationals, focusing on the major airports offering non-stop service to the capital of San José. We are concentrating here on avoiding travel through the United States. Please note, though, that going to the USA to connect with your flight to Costa Rica may, in some circumstances, work out better in terms of time and/or price.

All this information provides a better idea of which are the closest European cities offering direct flights. Keep in mind it might be less expensive or more convenient to travel other routes, either through the United States, South America, or other European cities. For example, in some circumstances it might work out better to add more stops. For example, if you travel from Athens to Madrid to Costa Rica rather than Athens to Zurich to Costa Rica.

However, if you’re looking for a more direct flight, this is what you can expect. Luckily, Costa Rica is more accessible than ever from Europe. No matter where you're departing from, beaches, rainforests, and pura vida await! If you have more questions, reach out to us. We’ll be happy to help.