Juan Santamaria International Airport — San Jose, Costa Rica

A Peters (USA) - May 13, 2013
I'm glad I've found myself amongst the equally dissatisfied. I recently took a trip to CR and left my cell in the little back-pocket on the plane. Since then, I've accumulated almost "every" number at that airport trying to get to the Lost and Found. Every time I called . . . busy signal!!! Then I get back to the states and file a complaint. TWO WEEKS LATER I get a semi-canned response stating that they're sorry for my situation and to call the Lost and Found at that airport . . . and they give me the SAME NUMBER AGAIN!! Nice to know I've had two "round trips" to CR now! It's not even about the phone anymore since I had to buy another one. I just can't believe this type of service is actually allowed!!

J Dobo (UK) - April 3, 2013
Do not use your credit card to pay the departure tax! The airport deceitfully process the payment as a cash withdrawal without informing anyone. This means you will incur a cash fee and resulting interest. The tax charged also does not tally up to the details on the signs of how it is distributed which is telling.

A Moraes (Brazil) - March 29, 2013
Please, what is the name of the restaurant located outside the terminal,on your right as you exit the building.
i think is just pass the puclic phones!
Thank You,

RC - March 19, 2013
My cell phone was stolen out of my carry on luggage, most likely as my bag was 'searched' going through security or out of the taxi I took. Don't let anyone touch anything you own that is of value or you can expect it to disappear. Sad.

LaVonne Airdo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - March 10, 2013
i have traveled back and forth from San Jose airport to florida several times and I've never had any problems at the San Jose airport, all these reviews i've read about them stealing things, have never happened to me and I've brought over many things to CR. So i'm very happy with the airport until now, they have lost my daughers whole backpack after she volunteered to help out Spirit airline by taking a later flight, now her backpack is gone and no one has helped her in locating her backpack, i've called the airport and get a busy signal, no other phone number is available to call. This is just unbelievable this is all of my daughters belongings she has in her life and to lose this is priceless no compensation can replace what she's lost. So i'm very upset that i can't even get a hold of anybody at the airport. Please fix this problem because then you'd be the perfect airport.

Peter Farr (NYC) - March 5, 2013
I have been to San Jose many times and find the buses fine for my purposes. I will be flying in on Spirit next time and arriving a little after midnight. Do the buses run all night? Is there a schedule anywhere?
Thanks

Joe - March 3, 2013
El sistema de verificar equipaje es uno super anticuado y ni las mismas personas que hacen la verificacion del equipaje antes de abordar entienden los requisitos.

En mi viaje mas reciente a Costa Rica, la persona verificando mi equipaje no pudo darme una razon por la cual no podia utilizar mi bolsa transparente donde guardo mis liquidos y gel de pelo. Solo decia que tenia que ser en una ziplock porque asi lo exigia TSA y que al llegar a los Estados Unidos tendria porblemas. Les recomiendo que se eduquen pues esto no es cierto. El ejemplo de la ziplock es porque es lo mas economico y todos saben lo que es.

La verdad que se complican muchisimo y no tiene sentido que luego de haber pasado por el chequeo de rayos x haya que verificar todo el equipaje al 100%.

Lamentable que en este tiempo tengan un sistema tan anticuado y mas aun, denigrante e incomodo.

Joe (USA) - March 2, 2013
Security check point is a joke. Why do they have to go through every single carry-on after you've gone through the x-ray machines and metal detectors. This makes no sense whatsoever. Furthermore, the "security" check does not gives you a valid reason as to why certain items are not allowed. It seems the security person liked my hand sanitizer and wanted to keep it. She told me it was only allowed in a ziplock bag, so I pulled one out to put the hand sanitizer in it and she told me it was too late, so she kept it.

Well done Costa Rica TSA.

Ashley - February 5, 2013
My kindle was lost or stolen. I flew into San Jose on 1/25/13 and it has a purple case. Please contact me if found!!! Thank you!

monica zuniga (costa rica) - January 26, 2013
Be very careful with luggage you bring from us to Costa Rica, security and whom ever is checking the luggage steal everything. I had new clothes for myself to wear over there that were stolen, red bulls that were in my check bags stolen, I have had my camera in my carry on and my daughters ds stolen. Be sure to wrap your suircases in plastic when going to costa rica and when departing. Also, be careful in san jose. I had a taxi pick me up in san jose and I seen them put my luggage in back trunk, but when I got to destination the suitcases were miracuoulosly gone when we opened the truck to retrieve my luggages. I was told that it is possible when at a stop light professional thieves can open trunk and steal them. Id advise keep luggage by your side at all times, locked and platic wrapped. This country is suffering and people there including airport will rob and steal anything they can, and there is never reimbursement or any answers. Just your loss for being stupid. Beautiful country , but most dishonest people. Can definitely not trust airport security. Number 1 thieves! !!

Victor Roth - January 23, 2013
In looking at the recent comment by Matthew it seems that the new scam when paying the departure tax is to use the cash advance option. Not only was i charged a $10 cash advance fee, but I was charged $57 (for one person)when paying the departure tax with the cash advance. Who would I speak to in order to correct this?
-Victor

Gil Garcia (Honduras) - January 18, 2013
Can any one confirm the cost of taxis to town, This page says abput $20.00 but cant tell how long ago that was.

Thanks
GG

FM (California, USA) - December 19, 2012
The airport shops (Britt) run a scam where they swipe your credit card multiple times and then produce your payment receipt. Actually what they are doing is running multiple charges against your card and taking the extra funds. Trying to correct the situation is impossible once you discover the error. Avoid using a card when paying at the airport shops.

Matthew Hayden (United States) - December 1, 2012
My wife and I recently departed San Jose. I paid for the departure tax with my credit card. The woman at the desk processed each person seperatley and then when I returned home I found a $5 charge for each of us as a cash advance. No one told me this, nor was there a sign or anyting to tell me I would be charged and additional $5 fee for using my credit card. The FEE Costa Rica charges is higher than anywhere in the world and adding this is insult to injury. I am extremely dissapointed in how this aspect of Costa Rica's tax process is handled and suggest you correct it immediately. In addition, we would like that $10 back as we did not authorize it.

james morgan (massachusetts, USA) - November 27, 2012
This is by far the most backward airport in the world. You have to buy exit tax before check in so everyone is crowded by luggage everywhere. There is a fast line for creditcard but the sign does not tell you about the feesthat come with it. After being checked once you must be body searched at gate. No more food court but new stores selling overpriced crap.

Janet M. Forni (New Martinsville, WV USA) - November 8, 2010
I was encouraged by the staff-many people-to purchase small bottles of a tomato salsa instead of a large bottle.
(I had a recipe from a chef in Atenas that used this salsa.) The bottles were too big, the security said as I was about to
board the plane. I believe the amount ub tge bittke was 135 ml. I don't know how I could damage a plane with salsa. I think there should be no checks at boarding if you've already gone through security.
I loved the country, but the airport security needs a mediator at the boarding station.

terrance phillips (united states) - October 29, 2010
with the remodeling of the CR airport to look more "western" has come the rude security people that we suffer through in the US. They also have no food available except the crappy fast food we try to get away from when leaving the US. SO SAD for Costa Rica.

H Christensen (OHIO) - October 22, 2010
I am disappointed and concerned. Upon check in yesterday I had my 2 nice travel umbrella confiscated. They were in my carry on and supposedly not allowed. Who travels CR in the rainy season without rain gear! Security web sites say umbrellas are allowed after bring inspected. TSA states that umbrellas - allowed in carry-on baggage once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed. This should not have happened.

Rosa (Florida) - August 28, 2010
Security in the airport is very poor. In the regardes that they do not tell you why they take something. I tried to ask but the man did not know any english and I tried the semi spanish I knew. He took a bag of shells and some glass pebbles I bought from a local vendor. The shells I come to find out are not allowed to leave the country by law. But when I asked about my glass he just gave me a "oh-well" look and walked away. The shells I could live without but the glass I bought I should of been able to carry it on. Why should I put money into their country if I cannot buy and take my goods home?

Ana Chavez (Costa Rican) - July 9, 2010
I always have been proud of my Country because of their coordiality and consideration for the elderly, the pregnant women but this time around ,being 7 months pregnant I had to stand over an hour to check in my feet were killing me, my belly was hurting and still they did let me go thru to a faster lane , but they did let families with young children in their strollers to go to a faster lane.
Why is that? they are in an stroller any ways? they are not getting tired?.
This time you guys really dissapointedme

Angie (Florida USA) - May 1, 2010
Telephones are a big rip off in San Jose International airport! Our plane had mechanical problems and was delayed for 48 hours. I had to call home from the airport to notify my babysitter. They do not post the rates on the phone! When I returned home 2 days later, a 5 min phone call to Florida was $85.00!! I had made a few calls, all $85 each. Do not use these phones. Shame on the airport for letting the vulnerable tourists be ripped off!

Carrie Jones (Ontario) - March 25, 2010
Need a contact for lost and found - my daughter left her Nintendo DS on American Airlines flight end of February and I am told by airline this would have been left at the arriving airport? Thanks!

MIkhail Mustafin (Russia) - December 21, 2009
I lost my wallet in the area of Juan Santamaria Internetional airoport on my back travel home on th 13th of december. I was notified that i can request it back, since it was found by airport administration. How can i get it back? There was cash, two credit cards,(citybank and lumibank), driver license, padi diving sertificate. Can you send it back by plane? I am ready to pay any mean you will provide.

N. Tipton (Colorado) - October 26, 2009
We have a group arriving at different times of the day. Is there a secure place to lock up our baggage in the airport so we can explore while waiting for the rest of our group?

Sara Perkins (United States) - July 5, 2009
How do I get a phone number for lost and found at the security check-in station?

paul j. bonchi (usa) - April 3, 2009
i brought a skateboard into costa rica, the security in america let me take as carry on, which is correct procedure, a skateboard is not listed as a banned item for carry on.
When leaving costa rica, the security man said that i was not allowed to take my skateboard as carry on luggage. so i do my best to put it in my back pack. when i get home and and unpack my things, my skateboard is cracked. this skateboard is a work of art, that took many hours to create. So because of the Security of SJO, i have a broken skateboard. I don't blame Spirit, they handle bags rough, obviously. That is why it i wanted my precious item on as carry on. please get this right with your security, and me if you "live pure".

Doris J Birkett (Tampa Fl) - December 13, 2008
It was nice, when I arrived, but I desperately need to find out the taxi fare from calle 6 avendia 5y7, 45 metros sur Iglesia, De fatima-Heredia. to the airport, I want to be sure I have enough colones to pay for the taxi, can anyone help me.

Gina Ramirez (Miami Florida) - February 24, 2008
The only thing that you do not provide is a customer service phone number...the reason is I am in need to locate a person at the airport and there is no phone number for contact.....