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Find cheap flights to Costa Rica from £236

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the United Kingdom to Costa Rica departing on 3/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Mon 27/5
Mon 3/6

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Best Costa Rica Flight Deals

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

San José
San José2 stops£503
Liberia
Liberia1 stop£550

Good to know - Cheap tickets to Costa Rica

Low season

September

High season

January

Cheapest flight

£236
Best time to beat the crowds (14% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 13% lower on average.
Flight from London Gatwick Airport to San José

FAQs - booking Costa Rica flights

  • Are there non-stop flights to Costa Rica?

    There are non-stop flights that you can take to Costa Rica. For example, you could fly from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) with TUI directly to Liberia Airport. You can’t fly directly to the capital San Jose though. For example, if you fly from Heathrow Airport (LHR) with Iberia, then you will need to change along the way, at an airport such as Madrid Airport (MAD).

  • What London Airport is best to fly from to Costa Rica?

    The airport you depart from in London is likely to depend on whereabouts you are travelling from. For instance, if you live to the north of London, then Stansted Airport (STN) and Luton Airport (LTN) are usually the most convenient. Conversely, if you live to the south of London, Gatwick Airport (LGW) is probably the most suitable airport. Heathrow Airport (LHR) is great for anyone in the centre or west of London, whereas London City Airport (LCY) offers easy access for those in the east of the capital.

  • Can I reduce my carbon emissions when flying?

    You can lower your carbon footprint by choosing an airline which emits less CO2. For example, KLM fly from Heathrow to San Jose Airport releasing around 39% less CO2 than the industry standard. Rather than emitting 2119 kg CO2 per passenger, this airline emits about 1291 kg CO2 per person.

  • What are popular stopover locations on flights from UK to Costa Rica?

    Common stopover locations include Charles de Gaulle Airport, if you are flying with Air France from Manchester Airport (MAN) or Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Costa Rica. Flights with KLM from the same two airports normally transfer at Amsterdam Airport (AMS), whereas a flight with Aeromexico from LHR to San Jose Airport (SJO), would normally stop at Mexico City (MEX).

  • Which UK airports have a fast-track service?

    You can speed up your journey through UK airports so that you don’t get stuck in the queues. For instance at Gatwick Airport (LGW) and Manchester Airport (MAN), you can pay about £5 for this service. Whilst at Heathrow Airport it’s about £12.50 per person.

  • Is there internet on board flights from UK to Costa Rica?

    You can stay in touch with your loved ones by flying with an airline that provides passengers with Wi-Fi. For example, Air France and British Airways have internet, but you must pay extra for this. United Airlines also offers Wi-Fi to passengers, which is free to some passengers who use specific mobile providers.

  • Can I relax at lounges ahead of my flight to Costa Rica?

    You can relax at lounges at UK airports before you fly to Costa Rica, so you’ll be all set for your flight. For instance, at Gatwick Airport there is the Club Aspire Lounge, at Manchester Airport you can use the Escape Lounge and at Heathrow Airport there is the Plaza Premium Lounge.

  • Which airports are hubs for airlines that fly to Costa Rica?

    Air France provides regular flights to Costa Rica, with all flights requiring a change at its hub Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). As a result, flying with this airline means you’re likely to benefit from lower cost fares.

  • Are flights likely to be more expensive around Fiestas Palmares?

    If you are planning to fly to Costa Rica in January, you should be aware that Fiestas Palmares takes place for two weeks during this month. It is likely that this event will increase flight tickets. This fantastic street party is highly anticipated, but if you’re not visiting for this reason, you might want to fly during a different period so that you can get cheaper tickets.

  • Are flights likely to change prices during Christmas?

    Costa Rican citizens tend to celebrate Christmas with exuberance, so it's a vibrant and fun time to visit the country. Ticket prices are likely to cost more over the festive period, therefore, if you’re not visiting for that reason, you might want to fly at an alternative time to get cheaper tickets.

  • How long is the flight to Costa Rica?

    An average direct flight from the United Kingdom to Costa Rica takes 28h 34m, covering a distance of 5366 miles. The most popular route is London - San José with an average flight time of 14h 55m.

  • What is the cheapest flight to Costa Rica?

    The cheapest ticket to Costa Rica from the United Kingdom found in the last 72 hours was £515. The most popular route is London Heathrow to San José Juan Santamaria Intl and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was £527.

  • What are the most popular destinations in Costa Rica?

    Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is San José (91% of total searches to Costa Rica). The next most popular destination is Liberia (9%).

  • How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Costa Rica

  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Costa Rica flight deals.
  • If you are a British citizen then you do not need to have a visa to enter Costa Rica as you can stay for up to 90-days without one. Your passport needs to have at least one-day remaining on it from the day you leave the country.
  • If you want to visit Parque Nacional Tapantí - Macizo de la Muerte - you should fly to Juan Santa Maria International Airport (SJO), which is about 70 km (43 miles) from the National Park.
  • If you plan to visit Costa Rica to celebrate Carnival, which takes place for a week in October, then you should be prepared that flights tend to cost more during this period. If you do not plan to visit the country for this reason then it’s advised that you book around these dates so that your trip costs less.
  • There are two main airports in Costa Rica. Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is near to the capital and gives you access to the south of the country. Alternatively, Liberia Airport (LIR) is in the north of the country, and is a good airport to fly to for access to a range of beaches.
  • For those that plan to hire a car at an airport in Costa Rica, then you should make sure that you’re aware of the rules of the road before you drive. For instance, everyone in the car needs to wear a seat belt and children under 12 years old, or smaller than 145cm, need to be in a suitable child seat.
  • If you are a Business Class traveller, then you can make use of the chauffeur service that’s offered by some airlines. British Airways, for example, allows you to use your Business Points to arrange for a chauffeur from your home to the terminal. This service is only available for those that live within a 100 mile radius of specific airports, such as Edinburgh Airport (EDI).
  • If you plan to visit more than one city when you’re in Costa Rica then you should consider flying to a hub airport, such as San Jose Airport (SJO). From here you can take domestic flights to places like Liberia Airport (LIR), which is about a 20min drive from Liberia in Costa Rica.
  • If you are flying from London Heathrow (LHR) and want to save on time then you can use the Reserve and Collect service in the terminal. This enables you to do your duty free shopping online and collect it once you arrive at the airport
See more tips

Top 5 airlines flying to Costa Rica

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from the United Kingdom to Costa Rica? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.5
Air FranceOverall score based on 1809 reviews
8.2crew
7.2food
7.5boarding
7.4comfort
7.1entertainment
Airline reviews

Old cabine without flat bed in business for a 12 hour flight is not acceptable

4.0 OkayAnonymous, Apr 2024JNB - CDG
Read more about Air France reviews

Old cabine without flat bed in business for a 12 hour flight is not acceptable

Generally good. The crew is excellent. The food could be better.

Excellent apart from transport to actual plane 10 minutes from the actual gate , walking out in the tarmac in the rain and having to climb stairs to enter while holding luggage.

Business class in the second leg - CDG-EVN was a disaster.

worst experience ever i choose my seat in advance and also have my seat selected in my boarding and the they told me that my seat has been changed without notify me

The line at boarding was not well organized and managed

Je n'ai pas pû incliner mon siège et une des hôtesses ne comprenait pas ce que je disais. Je devais parler fort

Flight was more then 3 hour late and I did not get my luggages

I paid extra for a seat with more leg room but they changed the plane and found myself in an ordinary seat. This is expensive at 50€

Pros: "The premium economy- it was the most uncomfortable - tight seats. The back of the seats are not reclining It’s not worth the money you pay for premium services"
Cons: "The premium economy should be eliminated and should be labeled for what it is: couch class with some perks"

I liked everything about the flight. The service was excellent!

Quit making seats narrower and narrower. The guy beside me spilled over in to my seat.

Textbook great flight. On-time departure and arrival, clean plane, good food, friendly flight attendants. Checked baggage delivered promptly.

Liked Seat space in Premium Plus Disliked delay, poor management of boarding groups, missed meal at landing.

Did not like the seat spacing. The seat was very narrow and tight.

I had very little time to change planes originally in Denver after my flight from Omaha. I had an hour and a half layover in Denver originally and my flight leaving Omaha was delayed an hour because they had to change a tire, which I can understand. When I reached Denver my other flight was late, fortunately, but I still had only 10 minutes to run about a mile through the airport to get to my flight. Again, fortunately, I am a healthy 71-year-old and was able to accomplish this feat. However, the stress was more than necessary to bear.

The wi-fi was awful. I paid $8 each way and got little , except frustration. .

I liked being upgraded to first class. The flight was a redeye, so I did sleep most of it.

I was seated to an oversized overweight person that spread over to my seat. His shoulder overlapped my seat very uncomfortable.

Late start, late arrival and very uncomfortable seating. If they schedule a takeoff at a specific time, how can they not know the traffic at the airport will be heavy and delay flights at that time? I paid for legroom but when seated next to an oversized person, I had no elbow room. Also, who wants to rub hips with a large stranger for over 2 hours? I ended up leaning toward the aisle the entire flight and being bumped every time someone passed by. Paying for legroom should include side-to-side space, too. This happened on both domestic flights I had within the past 2 weeks.

Was delayed, did not end up flying to Victoria. Was not offered alternative accomodation or travel. Very dissapointed. Had to pay out of pocket for taxi, ferry, food etc.

Crew members were very polite and prompt in service. Cooling was very comfortable for a long journey but it's seats were stiff which are uncomfortable for a long travel

Plane was a Rouge vacation flyer for some reason. No legroom and entertainment. People were desperately looking for USB ports and such. And then there is this notorious and unsolved space problem where not all carry-on fits in the cabin….

There were no free snacks…little pretzel bag or cookies like we had on our flight out.

It was good.. it was an emergency flight as had to get home for.my Mom who was dying. She passed away 5 hours after I got home so thankfully I made it with the help.of Kayak.

It was a refreshing experience from the past few times I have travelled with Air Canada.

Flight was delay for 3hours then later canceled. I missed my work. It was a bit ectic and frustrating

Greetings to all the employees, they were very kind and welcoming. Excellent pilot, thank you for your efforts

I missed my connection flight, I don't have anywhere to stay I am lost

I like air Canada. Very efficient… all on time and staff v good and engaging. If I have a criticism it’s that despite being provided with a gluten free meal (which was fine), there were none of the snacks that other passengers received (or a gluten free version) meaning that I was really very hungry but the something else was provided (after a 6-7 hour wait). I’m sure they could be a little more creative.

We paid to have overhead carry-on baggage. When we got to the gate we were told that our carry on bags would need to be checked and go below because the flight was full. Notably we were nowhere near the last people to board and about 30 other passengers also had to check their carry-on bags. Other than that the flight was fine.

Very bad plain although I paid A business class ticket I was stuck in a stiff fixed seat without any entertainment or Wi Fi for 5 hours I will never ever book a flight on British airline.

Self check in Kiosk did not recognize that I had prepaid for my luggage. This caused a 40 minute delay even though I had my British Airways email receipt for the prepaid luggage.

Crew were very friendly and helpful. They explained to us in detail the delay in our takeoff due to the storm that rolled in from Belfast and did their best to make up the time. Always great to fly BA!

Staff were very helpful. The free WiFi for messages was also very useful to keep in touch

Crew was more interested on looking at their phones than welcoming passengers during boarding.

The crew was very attentive and kept busy serving a variety of treats!

Terrible. Missed my flight to final destination because of delayed British Airways flight. Had to spend 12 hours in airport and $1500 for new plane tickets

The crew on board were all very pleasant and happy to help. The flight had the old business class seats. The departure board in the business lounge did not update and kept on saying ' gate open' but never said boarding. When I got nervous about the departure time and walked to the gate I was told off rudely for being late.

Offered vegetable curry when it was actually tofu which I don’t care for.

The flight was delayed over 2 hours, we should off left the plane2 late passengers as it’s not fair on everyone who’s followed the rules.

Dreamliner. Yes great if maintained. I didn't see anyones screen work consistently during either of our flights. Worse was their ability to not only dump you out of premium but separate couples and seat someone's carer at the opposite end of the aircraft. This poor gentleman had no hand so his partner who assists him, being seated at the other end of the aircraft, well that really showed us all what Tui think :( It was fairly dire all in all, they advertise all the perks of the dreamliner only in reality you don't have the features and they change the windows and colours to suit their constant sales pitches. Ironically they were so low on stock for the return flight that all their sales pitches were a waste of time! Their contract only favours them and 'operational changes' well they cover every excuse and Tui use it. Surprisingly we haven't reinstalled the Tui app or booked with them since. It's a shame as I rated them highly during the pandemic.

One flight attendant not wearing a mask over nose, 50% of passengers not either, and no effort to correct. Boarding was very late with no information - lots of standing around waiting.

Book Cheap Costa Rica Plane Tickets

Cheapest flights to Costa Rica from the United Kingdom found in 2024

Recent return flight deals

7/5Tue
2 stops
49h 46mLGW-SJO
19/5Sun
1 stop
16h 49mSJO-LGW
£503
8/5Wed
2 stops
17h 04mLGW-SJO
19/5Sun
1 stop
16h 49mSJO-LGW
£506
18/6Tue
1 stopAir France
17h 40mLHR-SJO
9/7Tue
1 stopAir France
19h 25mSJO-LHR
£529
6/5Mon
1 stopKLM
31h 04mMAN-SJO
16/5Thu
1 stopKLM
17h 15mSJO-MAN
£531
6/5Mon
1 stopAir France
17h 40mLHR-SJO
12/5Sun
1 stopAir France
23h 15mSJO-LHR
£539
26/9Thu
1 stopKLM
26h 48mLHR-LIR
10/10Thu
1 stopKLM
17h 02mLIR-LHR
£550
31/5Fri
1 stopAir Canada
17h 30mLHR-SJO
15/6Sat
1 stopAir Canada
15h 15mSJO-LHR
£566
30/5Thu
2 stopsAir Canada
33h 00mLHR-SJO
10/6Mon
2 stopsAir Canada
39h 20mSJO-LHR
£570
11/5Sat
2 stopsUnited Airlines
27h 00mLHR-SJO
21/5Tue
2 stopsUnited Airlines
39h 00mSJO-LHR
£612
24/5Fri
1 stopUnited Airlines
31h 40mLHR-LIR
2/6Sun
1 stopUnited Airlines
36h 27mLIR-LHR
£616

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Recent one-way flight deals

3/6Mon
2 stops
17h 04mLGW-SJO
£236
3/6Mon
1 stop
29h 47mLGW-SJO
£250
5/6Wed
3 stops
20h 15mLGW-SJO
£276
30/8Fri
1 stopAir France
17h 40mLHR-SJO
£458
11/6Tue
1 stopAir France
14h 55mLHR-SJO
£459
12/6Wed
2 stopsKLM
17h 25mLHR-SJO
£482
11/6Tue
1 stopKLM
26h 45mLHR-LIR
£487
15/5Wed
1 stopLufthansa
30h 50mLGW-SJO
£691
11/6Tue
1 stopLufthansa
16h 45mLCY-SJO
£758
13/5Mon
2 stopsUnited Airlines
20h 32mMAN-SJO
£1,190

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Last minute flights to Costa Rica

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

29/4Mon
multi-stopLufthansa
37h 00mLHR-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopLufthansa
15h 15mSJO-LHR
£590
29/4Mon
multi-stopAir Canada
37h 00mLHR-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopAir Canada
15h 15mSJO-LHR
£594
29/4Mon
multi-stopAir Canada
33h 05mLHR-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopAir Canada
15h 15mSJO-LHR
£608
29/4Mon
multi-stopUnited Airlines
32h 13mLHR-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopUnited Airlines
20h 30mSJO-LHR
£663
28/4Sun
multi-stopIberia
15h 35mLHR-SJO
3/5Fri
multi-stopIberia
14h 05mSJO-LHR
£768
28/4Sun
multi-stopUnited Airlines
20h 29mLHR-SJO
3/5Fri
multi-stopUnited Airlines
14h 26mSJO-LHR
£818
29/4Mon
multi-stopKLM
27h 10mLCY-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopKLM
19h 49mSJO-LCY
£852
29/4Mon
multi-stopKLM
27h 10mLCY-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopKLM
19h 09mSJO-LCY
£853
29/4Mon
multi-stopIberia
25h 10mLGW-SJO
23/5Thu
multi-stopIberia
20h 40mSJO-LGW
£940
28/4Sun
multi-stopSWISS
29h 40mLGW-SJO
3/5Fri
multi-stopSWISS
20h 05mSJO-LGW
£1,389

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