Madrid to San José (Alajuela) (MAD–SJO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
MAD–SJO is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. Iberia and Iberojet lead the route. The flight covers 5,282 miles in approximately 10h 14m. Beyond nonstop, 36 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IB Iberia Also: BA, QR | 7 | 332 | 11h35 | – | Oneworld | BA, QR |
| E9 Iberojet | 3 | 359 | 10h14 | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
MAD: CEST · SJO: CST
When it's 6:00 PM in Madrid, it's 10:00 AM in San José (Alajuela).
Spanish passport holders enter Costa Rica visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 1 day beyond your planned departure. Bring a return or onward ticket. Immigration officers do check for this, and airlines may deny boarding without one.
There is no formal extension process for tourists. After 90 days you must leave the country. The standard workaround is a short trip to Panama or Nicaragua and re-enter for a fresh 90 days. There is no official minimum time outside the country, but some border officers want to see at least 72 hours.
Costa Rica charges a departure tax of USD 29, which is usually included in your airline ticket price. If not, you can pay it at the airport before clearing security.
Metro Line 8 runs from Nuevos Ministerios (central Madrid) to T1/T2/T3 in 12–15 minutes (€6, including the airport supplement). T4 requires an additional free shuttle from T2; add 10 minutes. The Cercanías commuter train (Line C-1) reaches T4 from Atocha station in 25 minutes (€2.60, no supplement).Taxis have a fixed fare of €30 from central Madrid zones. The ride is typically 20–35 minutes depending on traffic. Avenida de América bus hub serves several airport bus routes (€5).
MAD–SJO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from MAD to SJO
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) are connected by nonstop service from Iberojet and Iberia. With 24 weekly departures, this is a well served route.
MAD to SJO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from MAD to SJO ranges from 10 hours 14 minutes to 11 hours 35 minutes. The route covers a distance of 5,282 miles (8,499 km). There are approximately 24 weekly flights outbound and 17 return, totaling 41 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
36 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 5 hours via LTN. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.