Book round-trip flights to Costa Rica starting at $265

Looking for a quick retreat filled with sun, beaches and nature all around? Book this deal for round-trip flights to Costa Rica starting at $265.

American Airlines, Copa Airlines and JetBlue Airways are offering cheap fares to the Costa Rican cities of San José and Liberia from a few U.S. cities, including New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

These deals also have a wide range of travel dates, with some availability during spring and summer. There’s even more availability from January through February 2024.

Aerial view of Costa Rica’s rainforests and coast. MATT CHAMPLIN/GETTY IMAGES

Deal basics

Airlines: American, Copa and JetBlue.
Routes: From Austin, Texas; Boston; Denver; Los Angeles; Newark; New York City; and Washington, D.C.
How to book: Search through Google Flights to find your ideal dates, then book directly with the airline of your choice.
Travel dates: Some availability from April through May and between May and early November, but the majority of routes are discounted between January and February 2024.
Book by: Within the next two days.

Thank you to Going for finding these deals. The site’s Premium membership provides discounts of up to 90% and includes a 14-day free trial — all for $49 a year.

The Elite Tier membership also scouts premium, business- and first-class deals.

Sample flights

Among the marked-down flights, the cheapest fares are from the New York City area. Specifically, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) offer flights to Costa Rica at the lowest prices.

The following are a few of the flights we’ve found at reduced rates:

American: EWR to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), starting at $265 (includes a layover in Dallas).
American: LGA to SJO, starting at $265 (includes a layover in Miami).
JetBlue: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Guanacaste Airport (LIR), starting at $273.
American: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to SJO, starting at $322 (includes a layover in Charlotte).
American: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to SJO, starting at $348 (includes a layover in Charlotte).
American: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to SJO, starting at $359 (includes a layover in Dallas).

We recommend finding your best dates with Google Flights and booking your flights directly on the airline’s website since airlines tend to be more dependable if your flight faces a cancellation, delay or booking change.

An American flight departing from LGA to SJO at 6:30 a.m. is one of the cheapest available fares advertised on Google Flights. Even though you’d probably have to get to the airport by around 4:30 a.m., you’re saving a lot in airfare.

Many of the other flights on Google Flights cost at least double the $265 fare.

American also has an 8:15 a.m. returning flight from SJO at the $265 sticker price.

While you’re saving a lot in airfare, keep in mind that these deals only apply to basic economy, which comes with many restrictions.

For example, American’s basic economy tacks on additional fees for seat selection and checked baggage. Passengers are only allowed to bring one free carry-on bag and cannot make changes to their tickets or receive a refund.

Despite the restrictions that come with basic economy, the $265 fare is a steal. The cheapest flights to Costa Rica typically cost anywhere from $770 to $1,150 per person.

Maximize your purchase

When booking your flights, use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Citi Prestige® Card (5 points per dollar spent on airfare), the Citi Premier® Card (3 points per dollar spent on airfare), the Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar spent on airfare), the American Express® Gold Card (3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar spent on travel).

The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

With sunny beaches, lush national parks and many resorts, Costa Rica has a lot to offer. Ample flight availability for much of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 makes it ideal for a serene getaway.

Fares to Costa Rica are usually at least $700, so make sure to snag these flights fast before the fares change.