The airport is relatively small and quite expensive. For example, a coffee costs $5, a hamburger is $24, pizza is $18, and even a simple magnet is priced at $10–11. I recommend making any purchases outside the airport to save money. If you need to rent a trolley for your luggage, it will cost you $5. However, one benefit of staying inside the airport is the air conditioning, which provides a much more pleasant environment, especially in hot and humid weather.

Other than the loud speaker reminding travelers of Laws and regulations every two minutes constantly, this is the friendliest,cleanest, easiest, but hardest to sleep at airport I have ever been on stand by at in my life. It could use some more 24 hour food services in the main terminal and maybe even convert a small area to be a hostile so long waiting passengers can lay down their belongings in a secured area and lay down in a quiet part of the building and get some shut eye for a few hours or days ! just a suggestion but all airports should offer a Free place to get out if the way in a quiet place so one can get some rest area for airline customers only. please think about it no cots would need to be bought just a piece of floor with maybe lockers for personal carry on luggage.

Juan Santamaria International Airport is the primary international gateway serving San José, Costa Rica, and is located in the nearby city of Alajuela. It functions as a central hub for several airlines, providing connections to numerous domestic and international destinations, particularly within North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The immigration and customs processes were notably lengthy, especially during peak hours. Compared to previous years, the check-in procedures have significantly improved, and security lines now progress more efficiently. The airport also features a variety of retail shops and dining establishments within the terminal. However, the prices at these establishments are considerably higher than outside the airport, making it advisable to purchase souvenirs and snacks elsewhere before your trip.

Landing was easy and welcoming. Not many in customs so it took about 30 minutes to make it outside without checked bag or carry on, in October. Leaving is even bigger and with ATMs , a few shops, kid area, charging area, plenty of screens and seats. Licor tastings as well as water sources so being your empty bottle! They even had water for pets. Definitely not a bad experience.

Very small international airport. Wide variety of local products but they are all overpriced. I don’t know how they sell like this. Unaesthetic… Very limited food restaurants. Pack your meals before get here :) Easy check out process

Small but nice airport, friendly staff with the "Pura vida" slogan present but pricy, first the question of what we bring in out bags and carry on as souvenirs, specially coffe as you cannot pass I think more than 250gms of it, "it's not allowed for safety reasons......." big BS as you can buy any size coffe packages once inside. 250, 500 or a kilo at a very high price, a magnet, sticker $5 to $9, food also expensive...a typical breakfast anywhere in CR $15, there $30.

Gorgeous airport, live music, fantastic shops and coffee and chocolate samples. Lots of sales people. Great food options, plenty are vegan. Very clean, looks brand new!

Attended Mass here while on vacation. Mass time was accurately listed online. We parked street side. Beautiful church! I speak very little Spanish, but it was evident that the priest was very enthusiastic about his homily (I wish I could have understood everything that he said!) and the singing was beautiful.

Beautiful church and stunning grounds.

Stunning Architecture with Beautiful Murals

Lovely church with an active park setting

The architecture was stunning and the paintings inside were breathtaking. The exterior landscaping was also very nice.

This is a very beautiful cathedral which is located opposite a park.

All the doors were open, people flowing through freely, children playing near the altar, yet it felt very peaceful.

Free entrance, you are not allowed to take photos inside the museum, I tagged along a tour group & went up to the rooftops . Open 9-5 I didn’t know about William Walker some 19th Century. US private citizen a self proclaimed ‘ President ‘ of some Central American territories… anyway he fell out with some US backers ..but still invaded Costa Rica , ….Costa Rica & several other coalitions defeated him in a battle Mr Walker surrendered at went home He returned to invade again…was captured by the Royal Navy ( British) they handed him over to Honduras , was court marshalled & that was the end of him Look him up … I’ve probably got some facts wrong 😉 Anyway that’s what the guide said , he also said most of the the rifle & cannons were English Worth a visit

A wonderful museum of history and art. Met some wonderful artists doing stitch art pictorials, they were fabulous. The cultural art on the second floor was stunning. The building as a former prison was very nice to visit but I wouldn’t want to be sent there as punishment.

Had some time to kill before our flight. Went to Alajuela and found the museum. The people who work there were really nice. We learned about the history of Costa Rica and saw some great art. All for free and with friendly people. The town of Alajuela is pretty cool too. We were the only Americans anywhere. We got some lunch at a Soda in the market and hung out in the park. Weather was perfect. It was interesting and everyone was very nice.

The museum opens at 9 am. Two floors of interesting exhibits tell about the history, traditions and life of Costa Rica. Many exhibits about the time of the struggle for independence. An interesting hall that shows this in drawings. Separately there are weapons and clothes of warriors. Models of the most important historical battles. On the second floor there are exhibitions of contemporary artists, a gallery of students. You can also go up to the roof and look at the city from above. I recommend it to get to know the country better. Admission is free

The people working there were very kind and obviously care a lot about the history. We practically had a private tour of the place due to a recent holiday. It's also free entry

I really enjoyed this museum! I am a history buff so I really enjoyed all the illustrations and histories of Central American states. I will say, if you don't know Costa Rican history, it may not fascinate you as much so read up before you come! The rooftop was amazing! Great views and you can take a photo with the flag! 🇨🇷

Wonderful little museum with some history about the military events in the 1800s, and lots of smaller exhibitions from local tourists. Entrance is free, there are some explanations in English.

Great mall. Great food. My wife and I stayed at the Hilton nearby so we could catch an early flight out. This mall was an unexpected treat. Great end to an awesome trip. 🇨🇷

Big! Clean! Safe! All spaces occupied....

Visiting from Ohio USA. Pleasantly surprised. This is a large Mall with many different shops and food choices. Clean ,safe, friendly, but not cheap. Be prepared to spend some money

Another big mall with lots of stores and also small stations selling toys, plants, candies, pastry, jewelry and more. Very clean and stores are well organized and attractively showcased. However…, in the ladies restroom there were some small roaches coming from behind the mirror and walking around the wash basin. I love gardening and in Sol Naciente, I found seeds. They have a decent variety of seeds at affordable prices. I bought 4 packets, and at the counter I received one for free. The variety pf gardening products like pots and tools is good. They also have (educational) toys, school supplies, thick socks and more. All at affordable prices but not at the low end. With regard to food, we are vegans and it is a bit difficult to find a balanced meal in the mall, so we ended up buying a medium veggie pizza without the cheese at Domino’s. for 9,900 colones (+/- $20), which tasted nice. Overall pleasant experience at this mall.

Very big mall similiar to what you would find in North America with every store imaginable. There is an extensive food court on the upper level as well as sit down dining options. We were looking for an ATM and found a whole slew of banks on the top floor. If you are looking to exchange currency you can do so here at BAC Credomatic ( lines can be fairly lengthy at times though). Overall a nice way to spend a few hours if you are in the area.

It's pretty good it has a lot of things and places to shop

Big mall. Lots of stores and souvenir shops. 3-4 floors in this mall. A lot to look at and explore the second time around.

I love this part. It’s actually right across the street from the cathedral, which is gorgeous. And the museum is right next-door also. Definitely you will want do when you’re in Costa Rica.

Cool little town park we went to before eating dinner. Small and not room to play around but the statues were pretty neat and we liked the murals as well. If you are here then stop by for some photos and head on for dinner.

Beautiful little park well maintained by the municipality. It's hard not to fall in love with this province. The park is surrounded by several stores and there is a private parking near by as well.

Great atmosphere and great place to take your kid's

Small park, with some canons and a statue of Juan Santamaria. We had a local tico show us around and gave us the history of Juan. The park could be a very nice place except for the large amount of trash left on the ground.

A small but nice park. The city should restore the murals. I watched a dance troupe practicing.

Small shady bit in the center of town. What's not to like. And quite a few little bakeries and coffee shops around too.

Such a great little find. Hand made pasta, meals are fresh and very well prepared. We did not expect authentic Italian hidden away here. They make their own limoncello. They have a strong one and one that is a little milder. Both are fantastic. We stopped in for lunch. We had the scallops, one was chicken & the other was beef. Thinly sliced meat in homemade sauces with a side of pasta & tiny roasted potatoes. Really impressive flavors. Staff was very attentive, everyone was smiling ear to ear.

Came here before my flight. Easy uber ride to and from the airport. Had gluten free pasta with red sauce and zucchini!!! Very good!

Delicious Italian food combined with great service! It wasn’t cheap but it was yummy. We had the spaghetti carbonara, pizza Hawaii and the beef lasagna. And a tiramisu and zucotta for dessert. Also the sangria was very tasty! Highly recommend it.

I knew I made the right choice for dinner as soon as we stepped in the door. Warm greetings like you were invited into the family's home for dinner. We ordered a few pizzas, rissoto marinera, desserts and each were made with love to the utmost delicious perfection. (Don't skip the sangria too!) And to complete the dining experience, house made Limoncello was brought to the table without us even asking. Highly recommend, no notes on the Italian Gem not too far from San José proper

Staff was friendly & attentive. I had a peperoni pizza there wasn't a lot of flavor to it. Will go back to try something else to be fair. Update went back had the meat lasagna was pretty good for desert had the flan good as well.

Amazing food and wine, very friendly service, nice music. Such a wonderful place! Will be coming again. Probably the best carbonara in my life!

The staff was attentive, speedy and friendly. The taste of every dish was absolutely perfect. It was flavorful, and you had the option to make it as spicy as you want. Phenomenal. We had a little mishap with a chill oil spill, but the server cleaned it up quickly and got a new table cloth with minimal interruption. He handled the situation with a smile which we appreciated so much. Let's also talk about the speed. We had a flight to get to and all the food was delivered without any delays and still tasted sublime. Truly a gem. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for high quality Italian food (with amazing vegetarian options!!)

Very fast service. Jelepenos rolls was good for appetizer. Burrito and Chimichanga was OK not great. Owner speaking fluent English was a plus.

We had a lunch menu each here (enchilada with chicken and quesadilla with carne) and the portions were very big and definitely worth the food price! Service was wonderful and the vibes of the place were really nice! Would definitely come back again :)

Jalapeños Central in San José, Costa Rica is a must-visit for Mexican cuisine lovers. The tortilla soup is rich and flavorful, packed with fresh ingredients. The beef quesadillas, chicken tacos, and beef enchiladas are generously portioned and delicious, showcasing tender meats and vibrant flavors. A fantastic dining experience overall!

Excellent food! They were able to accommodate gluten free and soy free food! Absolutely amazing experience!

Such a cute authentic place to eat yummy meals such as tacos, burritos, fajitas and many more. We bumped into this when walking down the street and it was full, so thought we'll give it a try. We weren't disappointed. The atmosphere is superb, all the decoration creates a nice vibe and the stuff is really friendly and attentive. I can very much recommend this place.

Great vibe and great service. The desserts and burria were excellent. My standards for enchiladas are very particular so it was just okay from my POV. I love they give very hot sauce when asked and good guacamole. Next time I'll try what other people posted that looked really good.

Great food and ambiance!

Exactly what you would expect. Fast type foods, with a bit of a more restaurant menu i.e. steak etc. Service is good. A tad pricey. Remember tips are always included. Caters for the hotel foreigners mostly. Ample and safe parking. Also the casino next door. The restaurant does its job.

Overall, I had a very pleasant experience here. The service was exemplary even if the food.was ordinary. The menu seemed a little lacking in items that excited me, but nonetheless, I was able to find enough to leave full and filled. I didn't even have room for dessert. Close to the airport, it makes a great place to get a meal after arriving, or before your flight. Granted, this is homogenized US dishes and not some of the tasty local cuisine, but as a corporate entity, you know what to expect.

Today my family of 6 members went for Sunday breakfast to Denny’s airport and the service given by Mariano, our waiter, was exceptional: great attention, very kind and profesional. Congratulations to the restaurant’s Manager, Braulio, for having such great and motivated staff here. Food was delicious and the atmosphere at the restaurant great, making our waiting time to go to the airport departure terminal very pleasant (it’s a 5 minutes ride by car and better to wait here that outside the terminal, where there is nowhere to sit!). Great choice for a family brunch! ;-)

When visiting Denny's in America, it never disappoints, this one in Costa Rica's Alajuela was positively different. The service was exceptionally fast. Our waiter Alex was super friendly, passionate and a true professional at his job.

David was an excellent server. Really friendly and was a great help. His English was amazing which really helped as it’s our first night in Costa Rica after a long flight. He was very nice and really made us feel welcome. Couldn’t have asked for more.

Not very consistent. Eggs and hash browns undercooked. Bacon, overcooked. Chocolate chip pancakes, chocolate chips all dumped to the middle of the pancake. It was like eating a candy bar. Service was ok. The issue were reported to the staff on duty. The appearance of the food looked ok but once you started eating the food was not quality cooked.

My boyfriend and I had just come from a long shuttle ride and were staying at the holiday inn, we went across the way to this Denny’s and the staff was so friendly! We did a take out order and Valeria and her manager at the front were so pleasant! She complimented my necklaces and was so sweet! The food was 10/10 and super quick!

We ended our Costa Rica vacation with dinner at Pesqueria da Limonta, and it was nothing short of phenomenal! The dishes that Daniel and the team create are amazing. The seafood was incredibly fresh and bursting with flavor. The standout dish was the Trio special—a perfect combination of fish, octopus, and lobster that was cooked to perfection. The atmosphere was just as impressive, with a beautiful outdoor covered terrace that created the perfect dining ambiance. Daniel provided exceptional service, offering thoughtful recommendations that truly elevated our meal. Out of all the amazing food we had in Costa Rica, this might just be our favorite dining experience. Highly recommended!

I was visiting Costa Rica from Las Vegas for a ministry conference. We wanted some fresh seafood and we chose this place based on the reviews. This place was excellent! The owner even came out to greet us and check if everything was tasting good. You can’t go wrong if you’re searching for fresh and flavorful seafood! The food was amazing and the service was great! I will ALWAYS eat at this restaurant whenever I visit Costa Rica!

If you are anywhere close to Alajuela, or if you’re just coming to/leaving the airport, you MUST try this place. I can’t believe my dad and I found such a gem by searching “ceviche near SJO” we were so lucky! The ceviches Neptuno and Tropical were outstanding, and getting a sampler of their iconic dishes was a great way for two people to try as much as possible. What is truly impressive is how simple most of the dishes were, but perfectly executed. We had tuna tartare, wood grilled octopus, and sea bass (nonna Susy), and they were all the best versions of those dishes we’ve ever had. The staff were also absolutely lovely and very helpful.

Daniel was the absolute best! Phenomenal service, phenomenal food. Couldn’t have had a better last meal before catching our flight the next morning after an incredible 10 day visit from the United States. Thank you!!!!

The food is simply great. Even if a lot more expensive than other places, it is totally worth it. Our waiter, Daniel, was a great host. We had the sea bass ceviche, tuna bruschetta and the crispy octopus. Delicious! The place is not big (max 10 tables) so it might need booking if you are there in the evening or during weekends.

Everything was so good I went twice. If you like seafood, this is definitely a place to visit, everything taste so fresh, and the taste of the food matches the descriptions perfectly, no listed ingredient was missing. Food 10/10. Daniel, our server, was attentive throughout the reservation and dining process. There's an open concept with the bar and the kitchen, so you can thank the bartender and chefs on your way out.

Cozy place with outstanding service. Food is perfectly served gourmet style with creativity in each plate. And the flavor of the food, a dream to the palate. Highly recommended must if you are looking for sea food with personal touch and tons of love within its preparation.

Taj Mahal in San Jose is an exceptional spot for Indian cuisine (with many vegetarian options), surpassing even some fine dining Indian restaurants in the US suburbs, like those in the SF Bay Area and New Jersey The Gajar Halwa served with Kulfi was the best I’ve ever eaten—rich, perfectly sweetened, and paired beautifully with the creamy kulfi. Another pleasant surprise was their Masala Papad, which was creatively served in a shot glass format—a unique and fun twist! The Paneer Tikka Masala was spicy and very rich and tasty; Tandoori Roti and Lachha Parathas were soft & fresh. The host was very warm and welcoming, fluent in both English and Hindi, which added to the overall comfort and excellent dining experience. The restaurant is a convenient 15 min drive from the San Jose airport in Costa Rica, making it a perfect stop to or from the airport, for anyone craving traditional and authentic Indian food.

From the drinks to appetizers to main courses and even dessert, everything was beyond delicious! Service was great and the waiters were very attentive. The atmosphere for the restaurant was outdoor seating and very authentic and pleasant to experience while eating our dinner. The quality of the food was very authentic and delicious, I would say it’s one of the best Indian places I’ve been to and highly recommend visiting it if you’re around Alajuela area. Parking is safe and secure when you enter the plaza (gated).

This is a very nice spot near the airport! I have celiacs disease and was looking for a gluten free option. Almost their entire menu is gluten free and they the menu was labeled. The food was amazing and the service was great. The restaurant itself has a wonderful relaxing atmosphere.

Vegetables Handi Masala was amazing. Om was an amazing host. All of it was an experience, plan your lunch and dinner soon.

A family of 16 landed at SJO and needed some immediate food. We headed to Taj Mahal and the place did not disappoint! We were situated quickly for a large party. Ordering for 16 people is challenging but we started with their quinoa aloo tikki and vegetable tandoori. Both were great and helped our extremely hungry family. The main course consisted of malai kofta, shahi paneer, paneer tikka masala, mix vegetables and dal. We also ordered a variety of naan and roti. Overall, this was a great spot and a location we would recommend to others!

Very good food and very nice service. Wang was our waiter and so nice, polite and professional! :) they even cooked my favorite curry for me and it was super delicious!

this place never disappoints. Food is delicious, very tasty, good portions, great service and very convenient for parking. Great variety of vegan options too.