About an hour or more before landing in Costa Rica, the flight attendants will hand out two forms that need to be filled out prior to exiting the aircraft. One is an immigration form (AS375-1) and each person needs to fill one out. The other is a customs form and only one is required per family.
Upon arrival at Juan Santamaria Airport, which is actually in Alajuela, not San Jose, you must first clear immigration. Follow the signs for “Immigración”. You will have to wait in line for up to an hour—it moves slowly sometimes. Have your passport and immigration form ready to hand to the agent.
The immigration agent will stamp your passport, and now you proceed down the escalator to the baggage claim. There are three carousels, each with a digital sign in the middle listing which flight’s luggage may be found on that carousel. While waiting for your luggage, which is also often slow, note that there is a duty free shop in the corner that would have been to your left as you exited the escalator and entered the baggage claim room.
If you checked large items (pets, surf boards, etc), they will come up on a separate conveyor belt, located near the duty free store in the opposite corner. There are free luggage carts available for carrying your luggage through the customs station, which is your next stop.
Notice that there are two different types of lines. One is for nothing to declare and the other is for things needing a custom inspection. If you do not have anything to declare, you hand in your customs form and your luggage goes through a scanner and you’re free to go. If you have items to declare, proceed to the appropriate line and have the items inspected.
You can exchange money or check in for your rental car just beyond the customs check point. If you need a taxi, it is a good idea to have colones handy (make sure to get some small bills too like the 1000 colon bill, approx. $2). The airport exchanges money at a very poor rate, so exchange only enough to get you by until you can get to a bank. Once you exit through the doors, you can not re-enter.
The Global Exchange office at the airport is open daily from 5 a.m. until midnight
As you exit these doors, you will see many people with their faces pressed against the glass in anticipation of arriving friends and family. It’s kind of a funny feeling as everyone appears to be staring at you.
Before you actually get outside, while still in the glassed in area, you must abandon your baggage cart. This means you either have to be able to carry all of your own luggage or find a bellboy to help you. There are many anxious helpers looking to earn a little extra change. You can turn to the right or left from inside this glassed in area, either direction leads to the sidewalk outside of the airport.
Once outside, if you are part of a tour, look for your name. There are many people holding up signs for groups or individuals.
There are plenty of eager people offering taxi services. If you have a lot of luggage or are in a hurry, the orange airport taxis are the easiest, though often a little more expensive. You pre-pay at the airport taxi window located to the left once you are outside. They speak English here, so this is an appealing option for travelers lacking Spanish skills.
If you can speak a little Spanish and are mobile with you luggage, venture out to the main road (just walk left after exiting the airport (from the outside) and the main road is visible and very close). Here you will find a plethora of red taxis ready to help load your luggage and take you to your destination. If you are little sleepy from your trip, the taxi ride will invigorate you. There are nothing but crazy drivers here in Costa Rica. (see Driving in Costa Rica) The public buses are also located here along the main airport road.
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