Published on Thursday, June 19, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Mexican budget airline Volaris is expanding its international offerings with the addition of two ultra-low-cost routes connecting Costa Rica and the United States, the Tourism Institute announced.

Starting in July, the airline will operate daily direct flights from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela, Costa Rica, to two major destinations in Florida: Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Miami International Airport (MIA).

The new routes are timed to coincide with the U.S. summer vacation season and will be serviced by Airbus A320 aircraft, which accommodate between 150 and 186 passengers.

According to Volaris, one-way fares for the SJO–MCO route will start at $89 plus taxes. Flights will depart Costa Rica at 7:30 a.m. local time and arrive in Orlando at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The return flight from Orlando will depart at 2:00 p.m. ET and arrive in Alajuela at 3:30 p.m. local time.

Tickets for the SJO–MIA route will start at $79 plus taxes. Flights from Costa Rica will depart at 8:20 a.m. local time, arriving in Miami at 1:00 p.m. ET. Return flights from Miami will leave at 2:30 p.m. ET and land in Alajuela at 3:20 p.m. local time.

Full schedules and booking information are available on the airline’s official website.

Volaris joins a growing list of international carriers increasing their presence in Costa Rica. Recently, Porter Airlines, a Canadian carrier based at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, has received approval to begin scheduled international flights to Costa Rica.

As of April 2025, Costa Rica reported more than 1 million international tourists arrived by air.

Tourism continues to be a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s economy. In 2024, the country received over 2.6 million air arrivals, marking a 7% increase over the previous year.

In 2024, the tourism sector generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange revenue, according to the Central Bank of Costa Rica.

The Tourism Institute (ICT), the government agency responsible for promoting tourism, continues to support infrastructure improvements to accommodate growing international interest.

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