Juan Santamaría International Airport
Daylight today(Jul 13, 2026, local time)
About 12h 40m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.
About Juan Santamaría International Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport is the primary international airport serving San José, the capital of Costa Rica. The airport is located in Alajuela Province, 20 kilometres northwest of downtown San José. It is named after Costa Rica's national hero, Juan Santamaría, a drummer boy who died in 1856 defending his country against forces led by William Walker, an American filibuster. It is the biggest and busiest airport in Costa Rica and second in Central America, transiting more than 5 million passengers per year before COVID.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
Live weather
MROCLive departures & arrivals
Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.
Where you can fly from here
Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.
Map
Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.
Runways (1)
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 / 25▸ displaced | 9,882 ft / 3,012 m | 151 ft | Asp | Lighted | Open |
Radio frequencies (6)
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| ACC | COCO CON | 119.600 MHz |
| APP | COCO APP | 120.500 MHz |
| CLD | CLNC | 121.300 MHz |
| GND | GND | 121.900 MHz |
| RDO | COCO RDO | 126.800 MHz |
| TWR | COCO TWR | 118.600 MHz |
Services & operations
The airport offers free WiFi, VIP lounges, duty-free shopping, and currency exchange services.
From the airport’s official website — details may change, so confirm with the airport. Official site
Navaids(2)
Airlines & destinations
Route data from OpenFlights — historical and may be out of date. Check current schedules.
Airspace in this area(6)
| Name | Class | Type | Floor | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTA SECTOR W | Class C | CTA | 8500 ft MSL | 19000 ft MSL |
| CTA SECTOR E | Class C | CTA | 11500 ft MSL | 19000 ft MSL |
| COCO TMA | Class C | TMA | 5500 ft MSL | 11500 ft MSL |
| COCO CTR | Class D | CTR | GND | 5500 ft MSL |
| CTA SECTOR W | Class G | CTA | 3000 ft MSL | 8500 ft MSL |
| CTA SECTOR E | Class G | CTA | 3000 ft MSL | 11500 ft MSL |
Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all Costa Rica airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.
Tall obstacles nearby
| Obstacle | Height AGL | Top (MSL) | Lit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabana Capital | 518 ft | 3,694 ft | — |
| DoubleTree by Hilton La Sabana | 459 ft | 3,652 ft | — |
| Torre Paseo Colón II | 331 ft | 3,717 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 5,863 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 5,804 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 5,823 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 5,814 ft | — |
| Obstacle | — | 5,384 ft | — |
Tallest obstacles within ~10 nm. Data via OpenAIP. Reference only — consult official charts.
Nearby airports
Great-circle distance and true bearing from Juan Santamaría International Airport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICAO code for Juan Santamaría International Airport?
The ICAO code for Juan Santamaría International Airport is MROC, and its IATA code is SJO.
Where is Juan Santamaría International Airport located?
Juan Santamaría International Airport is large airport located in San José (Alajuela), Costa Rica, at an elevation of 3,021 ft (921 m).
How many runways does Juan Santamaría International Airport have?
Juan Santamaría International Airport has 1 runway, the longest being 9,882 ft / 3,012 m.
Which airlines fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport?
Airlines historically serving Juan Santamaría International Airport include AeroMéxico, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia, British Airways, among 21 carriers (based on OpenFlights route data, which may be out of date).
How many destinations are served from Juan Santamaría International Airport?
Historical data lists 38 nonstop destinations from Juan Santamaría International Airport. Always check current schedules.
What time zone is Juan Santamaría International Airport in?
Juan Santamaría International Airport is in the America/Costa Rica time zone (UTC-06:00).
What is the magnetic variation at Juan Santamaría International Airport?
The magnetic variation (declination) at Juan Santamaría International Airport is approximately 2.9° W, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.
What airports are near Juan Santamaría International Airport?
The nearest airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport is Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ), about 4.6 nm to the ese, followed by Carrizal Airport and El Ron Ron Airport.
Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?
No. Juan Santamaría International Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.