Your first hour at San José airport: step-by-step

Landing at Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) in Alajuela is generally stress-free, and knowing the sequence — digital form, immigration, bags, customs, then transport — makes your first hour smooth rather than stressful.

What happens right after you land?

Before reaching the immigration officer, every visitor must complete the digital immigration form (Migración Digital) on a kiosk or phone — this replaced the old paper form in 2023 and takes about 2 minutes. At immigration, foreigners use a separate, slower line from Costa Rican citizens. Processing typically takes 15–60 minutes, shortest before 10am and after 8pm, longest between 11am–4pm when most US flights arrive. Border control at SJO and Liberia is generally stress-free. If you're carrying cash or securities equal to or greater than US$10,000, you'll need to complete a designated form at the checkpoint and present it to Customs Authority before finishing immigration.

Where do I get bags and clear customs?

Baggage carousels are immediately after immigration. At the exit, customs uses a red/green button system — green means nothing to declare. Costa Rican customs is generally relaxed unless you're carrying unusual items (over 5 kg of meat products, large cash sums over $10,000, drones, or professional camera gear), which should be declared.

How do I get money and get to the city?

Two BAC ATMs are located inside the airport before customs, offering better rates than exchange kiosks — a first withdrawal of about 40,000 colones (~$75 USD) is enough for tips and small purchases for a week. USD is accepted almost everywhere, but colones are needed for buses, tips, and small shops.

For transport, avoid unofficial "taxi piratas" outside — they're unregulated and often overcharge. Official orange airport taxis operate from a designated stand with regulated rates: roughly $25–35 to San José Centro, $30–40 to Escazú/Santa Ana, and $15–20 to Alajuela. SJO is about 20 minutes from San José hotels. If you pre-booked a shuttle, drivers wait in the open-air arrivals area about 100 meters past customs holding name signs, typically within 2 minutes of clearing customs.

What about connectivity in the first hour?

Free WiFi ("Aeropuerto SJO," no password) works fine for messaging a driver or checking maps. If you want mobile data right away, Kolbi or Claro SIM cards are sold at airport kiosks for $5–10 for a 30-day data plan on unlocked phones.

FAQ

Do I need cash before landing? No — two BAC ATMs are inside the airport before customs, and USD is widely accepted, though colones help for small purchases and tips.

Is it far to other regions from SJO? Journey times vary: La Fortuna/Arenal and Manuel Antonio (~3 hours), Monteverde (~3.5 hours), Tamarindo/Guanacaste (~5 hours), Puerto Viejo (~4.5 hours).

What should I avoid outside arrivals? Skip unofficial "taxi pirata" drivers; use the official orange taxi stand or your pre-booked shuttle instead.

Sources

• https://www.costaricavibes.com/costa-rica-entry-requirements/
• Arriving at SJO Airport: A Local's Guide to Getting from the Plane to Your Hotel
• Entry Requirements - Visit Costa Rica - Guidelines
• https://hotelescentroamerica.com/en/costa-rica/costa-rica-airport-arrival-guide
• What Happens When You Land in Costa Rica? - NY to Costa Rica