Avianca Launches Direct Flights Between San José and San Juan 

For the first time in two decades, tourists can fly nonstop between Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, all thanks to Avianca Airlines. From March 31, 2025, the airline is introducing a new direct flight from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, reinstating a much-missed link between the two cities.  

For years, travelers willing to travel between Costa Rica and Puerto Rico faced indirect layovers and flights, which wasted precious time and made things more complicated. This new service changes all this, providing an easy way for tourists and businesspeople to travel between Central America and the Caribbean. Travelers will operate three weekly flights on Mondays and Thursdays. The schedule is set up to offer flexible travel opportunities for those wanting to see relatives, experience a new city, or enhance business relationships between the two regions.  

Tickets on the route are available now, with fares beginning at $100.85 one-way for customers flying with only a personal item. For customers carrying checked bags, fares will be in the range of $162.50. Though there may be different prices, this new direct service makes it possible to travel between these two places more affordably and conveniently than in years.  

Regarding flight schedules, the San José to San Juan sector will take off at 7:30 AM and arrive in Puerto Rico at 12:40 PM local time. The flight from San Juan back to San José will take off at 2:10 PM and return to Costa Rica at 3:25 PM local time. These flight times are convenient for both business and pleasure travelers, ensuring a seamless, direct flight without unnecessary layovers or complex itineraries.   

With this new route, Avianca is adding 4,500 new seats monthly to its growing network, making Costa Rica even more connected to the Caribbean. It’s not about convenience but bringing back a connection that had been absent for too long. This route is a game changer for tourists who have long dreamed of an easier travel route between these two hot spots. 

One thing that tourists must remember is the entry requirements. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, tourists coming from Costa Rica will require a valid U.S. visa for entry. Always verify visa requirements and travel documents to prevent surprises before departure.   

This release is part of Avianca’s overall initiative to grow its global presence. Indeed, it follows closely on the heels of the airline’s introduction of its new San José–Miami route on March 30, 2025. These new routes reflect Avianca’s ongoing commitment to simplifying travel for Costa Rican travelers, enhancing tourism prospects, and increasing business ties between major regions.  

The good news is out for others who have long been waiting for a more straightforward route between Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. Whether off to San Juan’s lively streets or discovering Costa Rica’s natural beauty, this new Avianca route makes it easier, quicker, and more economical.