Liberia to San José (Alajuela) Flights LIRSJO

Guanacaste Airport Juan Santamaría International Airport

🇨🇷 Liberia, CR 🇨🇷 San José (Alajuela), CR

The Liberia to San José (Alajuela) route connects Guanacaste Airport (LIR) in CR with Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in CR. This short-haul flight covers approximately 100 miles (161 km) with a typical flight time of 6m. This route is served by 2 airlines: SANSA Airlines, American Airlines. AirportRoutes has tracked 8 daily flights on this route.

About This Route

Route Overview

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The Guanacaste (LIR) to San José (SJO) route is a popular domestic connection in Costa Rica, serving both tourists seeking efficient transfers and business travelers. The flight bridges the gap between the popular beach and resort areas of Guanacaste and the capital city. Typical flight duration is just under one hour. Travelers choose this connection to avoid a lengthy 3-5 hour drive. While not historically significant, the route offers stunning aerial views of Costa Rica's diverse landscapes, from the Pacific coastline to the mountainous Central Valley. The route's importance has grown with Guanacaste's increasing popularity as a tourist destination.

Travel Tips

To secure good prices, it's advisable to book your flight 7 months in advance, with June often being the cheapest month to fly. At Guanacaste Airport (LIR), be aware that it is a smaller airport. At Juan Santamaría (SJO), follow signs for immigration and customs upon arrival. Connecting flights have a different process. Consider the potential for delays, especially during peak season. A useful travel hack is to pack light to avoid baggage claim delays.

Destination Highlights

San José, Costa Rica's capital, offers a blend of culture and urban experiences. Top attractions include the National Theater (Teatro Nacional), a stunning architectural gem, the Jade Museum (Museo del Jade), housing the world's largest collection of American jade, and the Central Market (Mercado Central), a bustling hub of local life and cuisine. What makes San José unique is its role as the cultural center of Costa Rica, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Visit neighborhoods like Barrio Escalante for eclectic dining and nightlife or Barrio Amón for architecture and atmosphere. Indulge in local cuisine like gallo pinto (rice and beans) and casado (a traditional plate with rice, beans, meat, plantains, and salad).

Best Time to Fly

The dry season (December to April) generally offers the best weather in San José, with sunny skies and warm temperatures. However, this is also the peak travel season, so expect larger crowds and higher prices. For good weather and lower prices, consider visiting during the shoulder season (May to July) or late November. Be aware that October is the rainiest month and can bring heavy downpours and floods. Holy Week (Semana Santa) in late March or early April sees many locals heading to the beach, so some businesses may be closed.

AI-Generated Content: This information was compiled using AI from web sources on Dec 25, 2025. Content may not be current; please verify with airlines before booking.

Airport Information

Departure Airport

Guanacaste Airport

ICAO Code:
MRLB
IATA Code:
LIR
City:
🇨🇷 Liberia
Country:
CR
Elevation:
270 ft

Destination Airport

Juan Santamaría International Airport

ICAO Code:
MROC
IATA Code:
SJO
City:
🇨🇷 San José (Alajuela)
Country:
CR
Elevation:
3021 ft

Route Statistics

2

Operators

8

Daily Flights

100

Miles

6m

Flight Duration

Route Map

Great Circle
Flight route map from Liberia to San José (Alajuela)

Operating Airlines

Airline ICAO IATA
SANSA Airlines LRS RZ
American Airlines AAL AA

Flight Schedule Pattern

Day Flights Observed Frequency Activity
Monday 46 13%
Tuesday 41 11%
Wednesday 52 14%
Thursday 44 12%
Friday 60 17%
Saturday 55 15%
Sunday 62 17%

Pattern Analysis

Data Points: 360
API observations used to build this analysis
Weekdays: 243 flights
Weekend: 117 flights
Business Route More active on weekdays

All Flight Routes

2 Routes
Note: This table shows aggregated route data by airline. Each airline may operate multiple daily flights at different times. See the "Spotted Departure Times" section below for all observed departure times.
Airline Flight Numbers Aircraft Type Typical Time Days Active Last Seen Status
- B738 -
M T W T F S S
Sep 5, 2025 Active
LRS201 LRS1102 LRS1151 LRS1045 LRS45 C208 11:40 11:40 AM (Representative)
M T W T F S S
Jan 30, 2026 Active
Total Routes: 2
Active Routes: 2
Unique Airlines: 2
Aircraft Types: 3

Spotted Departure Times

Departure Time Operator ICAO IATA
11:40 11:40 AM SANSA Airlines LRS RZ

Time Information

Times are shown in the departure airport's local timezone (MRLB - America/Costa_Rica).

Total Departure Times: 1
Time Range:
11:40 - 11:40
These are typical departure times observed from actual flights. Times may vary by season and schedule changes.