Air Transat will open route Vancouver,
San Jose and Liberia in December

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Canadian airline Air Transat will open a route connecting Vancouver, San José, and Liberia, from December 18 to April 25, 2020.

Before the announcement of the new route, President Carlos Alvarado said, "Just as we have been able to overcome the 3 million arrivals for the first time in 2018, we will continue to make progress in strengthening our tourist offer."

The route, on sale from Thursday, June 6, will be offered twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday.

The Airbus assigned to this route is a completely new airplane with a capacity for 199 passengers.

Depart from Vancouver will be at 6.30 a.m. local time and the flight will arrive in Liberia, Guanacaste at 05.25 p.m. local time, with a stop in San José. It will then continue directly to Vancouver leaving Liberia, Guanacaste at 6.40 p.m. local time, to arrive in Canada at 12.20 midnight, local time.

"A new stage is opening for the coordinated operation of both international airports, Juan Santamaría, and Daniel Oduber," said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism. "The fact that Air Transat becomes the second airline offering a route between these two airports is an opportunity to multiply tourism, generate employment and continue to strengthen Costa Rica as a tourist destination."

The trip started in Vancouver, Canada can be completed with the same ticket either in San José or in Guanacaste. Similarly, you can return to Vancouver directly from Liberia with the same ticket or board in San José.

Air Transat operates weekly flights to Juan Santamaría from the cities of Montreal (Monday and Friday) and Toronto (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday).

In the case of routes to the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, these are three times a week to Toronto (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and twice a week to Montreal (Wednesday and Friday).

According to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, in 2018 there were more than 217,000 arrivals were registered from Canada. This amounts to 7 percent of total arrivals to the country and 14 percent of arrivals from North America.

The largest number of arrivals of Canadians occurs in the times from December to March. The average stay is 14 nights, while the average cost per person is $ 109.84 per day.


On May, as A.M. Costa Rica reported, the Canadian government has issued an ‘Exercise a High-Degree of Caution’ advisory for Costa Rica due to crime.

The exercise a high degree of caution on identifiable safety and security concerns or the safety and security situation could change with little notice. For that reason Canadian Government advises its citizens to monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities. The level of ‘high degree of caution’ is in official government of Canada Travel Advisories and is issued when the safety and security of Canadians traveling or living in the country may be compromised.

In its statement, the Canadian government said “the rate of drug-related violent crimes, including homicides, is on the rise in Costa Rica. Drug trafficking is common. Local drug use, including crack, is a major concern.”

The Canadian government adds that violent crime against foreigners, though not frequent, is a concern. Incidents of armed robberies, carjacking and home invasions have occurred in beach areas and on the main highways in the Central Valley region, even in daylight. “Violent assaults against Canadians have occurred in Puerto Limón and Puerto Viejo,” said the government in its statement.

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What could the Minister of Tourism do to increase the number of Canadians tourists?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story.  Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com