R12 739 Find cheap flights to Costa Rica

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from South Africa to Costa Rica departing on 27/11. 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

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Costa Rica

Best Costa Rica Flight Deals

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

San José
San José2 stopsR22 288
Liberia
Liberia2 stopsR50 612

Good to know

Low season

October

High season

December

Cheapest flight

R12 739
Best time to beat the crowds (6% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (14% more expensive on average)
Flight from Johannesburg to San José

FAQs - booking Costa Rica flights

  • How long is the flight to Costa Rica?

    An average direct flight from South Africa to Costa Rica takes 34h 46m, covering a distance of 20058 km. The most popular route is Cape Town - San José with an average flight time of 29h 27m.

  • What is the cheapest flight to Costa Rica?

    The cheapest ticket to Costa Rica from South Africa found in the last 72 hours was R27 640. The most popular route is from Cape Town to San José and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was R27 640.

  • What are the most popular destinations in Costa Rica?

    Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is San José (83% of total searches to Costa Rica). The next most popular destination is Liberia (17%).

  • 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

  • Book at least 1 week before departure in order to get a below-average price.
  • High season is considered to be July and August. The cheapest month to fly from South Africa is February.
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Costa Rica flight deals.

Top 4 airlines flying to Costa Rica

Need help choosing which airline to fly with from South Africa 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.
7,8
KLMOverall score based on 1350 reviews
7,2Entertainment
7,7Comfort
7,3Food
7,9Boarding
8,4Crew
Airline reviews

Good food. Excellent crew service. Clean aircraft. Narrow seats and isle.

8,0 ExcellentAdi, Nov 2024AMS - YYZ
Read more KLM reviews

Good food. Excellent crew service. Clean aircraft. Narrow seats and isle.

I tried to upgrade to premium economy anis seat online during the checkin process. The payment didn’t work due to a technical glitch on KLM’s website. I wasn’t able to change my seat unless I called Amsterdam. Since I was in Canada and there’s a time difference this wasn’t practical. So when I arrived early to Ottawa airport my seat wasn’t available and I could only get a middle seat in premium economy which isn’t great. These middle seats are priced at the same rate as an aisle seat which makes no sense.

Seats were comfortable crew members support was very good but AVML ordered or selected by us needs a lot of improvement.

Transavia flight, was booked as KLM but i couldnt select seat or access boarding pass with KLM at all. Crammed seating and very no frills experience all around. First and last time.

Transavia flight. Couldn't select seat or anything prior to flight. No connection with klm systems. Seats are very crammed. Extremely no frills.

Flight left a few minutes late, but that's it. I wish the seats could be wider and recline more.

The IFE was quite old, but it worked fine and the content was good. The cabin crew were excellent and the food was as also very good

It’s chaotic at the bus stop outside of the airport because of the Uber meeting point. You need to be alert and look for the KLM bus which is not branded or labeled. Incorrect information was provided to go to gate 28, when in fact the bus was at gate 27. On the plus side the bus left early and arrived early to Ottawa.

Great flight because I upgraded to Premium Comfort. Made a huge difference in the experience.

The baggage service at Malpensa was the worst ever. We wanted for over an hour without any information, they broke my suitcase, and the services of the local luggage services company was below any usual services level of a KLM partner.

I did not get my baggage at my final destination..poor coordination with connecting flights with partner airlines (Saudi airways). Also the food was very mediocre.

Not a good one this time. The absence of internet without any information/notification ahead was really the unacceptable part. Also this new A350-900 has a serious legroom challenge for economy seats. It’s more like a medium-haul flight legroom configuration.

Not great , just ok . I expected better food but it did not deliver . Flight staff was ok . The guy at the drop off bag counter was the only saving grace in this whole trip . He was pleasant, friendly and very helpful . You couldn’t ask for a better assistance from him .

There was 2 hours delay before boarding and 2 hours delay after boarding while waiting in the plane

Boarding was a disaster being moved by Air France by bus to the plane. The plane should have been at the right gate.

They lost my baggage and I still have not got it back. Disgrace

Extremely poor. First - and oddly enough, Air France denied access to the Business Class lounge at CDG to all of us - although we were all flying Business Class. It is amazing that an airline denies lounge access to its passengers flying on business and paying several thousand dollars each ticket. Second, the food on Business Class on absolutely horrible. Air France must have made an effort to prepare bad tasting dishes (not even the ice cream was good). Third, the cabin temperature was too hot and although we complained many times, it never got cooler.

A disaster. Air France is a real joke. They overcharge us customers for absolutely nothing. Service was very poor, food was mediocre, entertainment non existent, etc. We paid thousands of dollars for our business class tickets and then we were told in Paris we could not access its lounge. Really Air France ? Congratulations on irritating your customers to the sky high level and ensuring we will do everything in our power to discourage others to travel with you.

They again did not offer any functioning WiFi in the transatlantic crossing.

At check-in at Guarulhos Airport, I was coerced to pay EUROS 100 for each of my two teenage kids travelling on economy premium on the same flight (total charge of EUROS 200) to AIR FRANCE on the rational that they were on a different class and therefore they would require additional care from the flight crew. My wife and I would be (and actually flew) only a few meters from our kids on business class in the same flight. Air France took EUROS 200 from me in exchange for absolutely nothing. My kids are seasoned travelers and independent, and in any event, they were not given any special or any other assistance or attention by Air France flight crew as result or in connection with the fee charged from me at any given time during the flight to Paris - so ABSOLUTELY NO SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AND THE FEE WAS SIMPLY ANOTHER WAY OF “MILKING “ EXTRA EUROS 200 FROM ME. Worse, Air France made us wait for everyone to deplane in Paris to let us deplane - after an Air France Paris representative ridiculously confirmed that our kids were our kids, with our kids at that time already by our side seating in business class. We almost lost our connection to Malta as a result. Such a scheme from Air France is outrageous – especially because it penalizes its customers flying in business class or in first class. I would have imagined that Air France would have wanted to attract clients to fly its premium classes – not to charge cheap EURO 100 fees and to keep them waiting to deplane with their families after 12 hours flights at their destination. You won’t see us any time soon Air France and best of luck with your strategy !

Plane still had screens for watching movies. Good selection too.

I was not aware that I have to pay for the checked bag on the return flight. It was included in the price when I bought the ticket

Booked a united Air flight with option to pick seat , then found out was on an Air Canada flight with assigned seat , then they wanted a several dollar charge for some 25 cent value entertainment listening ear device

Comfortable as it can be for a basic economy seat. The TV screen on my 15 hour international flight went out after 1 hour or so and it never worked again. The food is very high in processed carbs and sugary items.

Liked that we left on time for each flight. Snacks not the best, but we're okay.

The next flight, Frankfurt to Washington, was the slowest most disorganized boarding and due to that flight was 3m min late and people missed connections

Your seats in the last 5 rows are terrible. My knees were jammed into the seat in front of me and the lady sitting there decided to recline it. Jammed my knees bad. I don’t know if I’ll fly United again.

United service is way below par when compared with other airlines like JAL, ANA, or EVA on the same route especially for business class.

Flight was delayed by an hour and We had to rush and run so we will make it to our connecting flight! And then when we reached Naples, Italy , our luggages were all DELAYED!!! It was a real inconvenience to us!!

Lady was a bit rude during boarding and I was being nice to her.

All and it was good . But no one woke me when meals came around . Please have a don’t not disturb sign if you opted for that . Left very hungry missing all meals .

Not being stuck in the middle seat between strangers but that’s not the airlines fault

Staff and crew where very nice and friendly. Just need to improve the timming om the meal and beverages.

Everything was fine except not posting the gate number until 14 minutes before boarding. In an airport the size of Heathrow, that was unacceptable.

More than 3 hours delayed. And they knew about it the night before already. I had a laugh when the captain said - don’t take out your frustration on the staff. Before take off Business class seats had very little space. My knees were digging into the seat in front

The plane was clean. The crew were lovely. Food was good - but seat 1D is a poor location. - the crews cupboard is right near your feet and they visited them frequently swishing the curtain from the galley onto my feet everytime also creating a swish of cold air each time & then slamming the door.

The front toilet was out of order - which resulted in a late departure from Gatwick and therefore arrival in Cagliari for the return leg - this was then compounded by ATC issues which resulted in our flight back arriving 2 hours 40 mins late. Frustratingly this was the same problem that had resulted in our outbound flight with BA being late the week before - and then the other two toilets went out of action at 30,000ft - also resulting an i delayed arrival.

Great staff, very personable, attentive. We had a spare seat next to us so that helped

Berlin airport one of the most inefficient we have ever encountered. We are in our 70’s and we were on our feet 1.5 hours and traveled 4800 steps )2 miles) just to get to our remote gate and security detours.thank god we were there 3 hours before our flight

They denied us boarding on our scheduled flight and experienced significant disruption to our travel plans because of overbooking the flight!

Book Cheap Costa Rica Plane Tickets

Recent return flight deals

10/3Mon
2 stopsBritish Airways
31h 52mCPT-SJO
25/3Tue
2 stopsBritish Airways
34h 58mSJO-CPT
R22 288
10/3Mon
1 stopUnited Airlines
23h 52mCPT-SJO
25/3Tue
2 stopsUnited Airlines
39h 35mSJO-CPT
R23 658
17/2Mon
2 stopsAir France
34h 05mCPT-SJO
23/2Sun
1 stopAir France
26h 20mSJO-CPT
R24 703
16/2Sun
2 stopsUnited Airlines
31h 49mCPT-SJO
23/2Sun
2 stopsUnited Airlines
36h 25mSJO-CPT
R25 063
17/2Mon
2 stopsAir France
34h 05mCPT-SJO
23/2Sun
2 stopsAir France
25h 55mSJO-CPT
R25 171
12/2Wed
2 stopsUnited Airlines
50h 47mCPT-SJO
26/2Wed
2 stopsUnited Airlines
38h 55mSJO-CPT
R25 495
6/12Fri
2 stopsBritish Airways
33h 25mJNB-SJO
10/1Fri
2 stopsBritish Airways
35h 06mSJO-JNB
R26 991
16/2Sun
2 stopsLufthansa
28h 05mCPT-SJO
22/2Sat
1 stopLufthansa
30h 15mSJO-CPT
R34 198
16/2Sun
2 stopsLufthansa
28h 05mCPT-SJO
22/2Sat
1 stopLufthansa
30h 15mSJO-CPT
R34 216
16/2Sun
1 stopKLM
26h 26mCPT-SJO
22/2Sat
2 stopsKLM
35h 14mSJO-CPT
R35 423

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Recent one-way flight deals

27/11Wed
3 stops
46h 35mJNB-SJO
R12 739
30/1Thu
2 stops
30h 05mJNB-SJO
R15 550
27/11Wed
3 stops
50h 16mCPT-SJO
R16 252
5/12Thu
2 stopsBritish Airways
33h 25mJNB-SJO
R17 874
2/2Sun
2 stopsBritish Airways
30h 35mJNB-SJO
R18 090
2/2Sun
1 stopKLM
26h 30mJNB-SJO
R19 081
27/11Wed
1 stopAir France
30h 15mJNB-SJO
R25 243
22/12Sun
2 stopsUnited Airlines
33h 58mJNB-SJO
R55 567
22/12Sun
1 stopAir France
30h 15mJNB-SJO
R60 144
21/12Sat
1 stopKLM
25h 15mJNB-SJO
R92 522

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Everything you need to know for your flight to Costa Rica

Cabin class types available on flights to Costa Rica

Cabin classes available on flights to Costa Rica. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights and car hire with KAYAK.