Flying from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Ottawa: what you need to know
The timezone in Ottawa is UTC-4. The city is two hours ahead of San Jose, where Juan Santamaria International Airport is located.
For a relaxed start to your SJO to Ottawa flight, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Flying during a peak month such as July? Major public holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer queues at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to break up your journey and perhaps even explore a different city. When browsing for plane tickets from SJO to Ottawa, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Some popular options include:
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
SJO is about 14 kilometres from central San Jose. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 2 hours 20 minutes.
Searching for a hotel close to SJO? If you've booked an early flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:
Of all flights leaving Juan Santamaria International Airport, 79.83% land on time at their destination.
How to find the cheapest flights from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Ottawa
ر.ق. 807 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa flight. A round-trip ticket right now is ر.ق. 1,754. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Booking in advance is often the key to locking in a cheap flight from SJO to Ottawa. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the nearer you get to departure, the more expensive your ticket may be.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest tickets from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa throughout the entire month. It's a good way to find a bargain if your plans are flexible.
Picking up a cheap flight from SJO to Ottawa is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll get in touch when a lower fare pops up.
Tailor your trip with filters. Select your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa.
Airports in Ottawa
Ottawa Gatineau Airport (YND)
Ottawa Gatineau Airport (YND) is around 24 kilometres from the centre of Ottawa. If you're grabbing a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes about 20 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 40 minutes.
Stay a quick hop from where you land if you're jetting in on a late flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa. Meilleure Auberge is a comfortable option near YND. Or check in and relax at Lovely Room 4mins From Gatineau-Ottawa Airport before continuing to your final destination.
Go beyond Ottawa and discover places that don't always get the spotlight with your own wheels. You can grab an Ottawa Gatineau Airport rental car from Hertz.
Reserve your ride from Ottawa Gatineau Airport several weeks in advance of your flight from SJO to Ottawa. If you're going away during a peak period, book even earlier to lock in the best possible deal.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is about 13 kilometres from the centre of Ottawa. Once you've disembarked your flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa, it'll take you around 20 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you're catching public transport, it'll take about 45 minutes.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel near YOW. Here are a few options where you can check in after your SJO to Ottawa flight:
Forget about public transport schedules or long cab queues. Pick up an Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Check out the rates and availability from Routes Car Rentals, Alamo and Budget.
Snap up the best price by booking your ride from YOW two weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
You'll find Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport at 50 Airport Road.
Best time to go to Ottawa
Before booking your flights from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa, consider which time of year works best for you. High season in Ottawa offers a bustling atmosphere and plenty of activities, while the off-season brings better deals on hotels and smaller crowds.
Lock in a Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa flight ticket with a departure in July to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures to range from 13ºC to 27ºC.
January has average temperatures of between -19ºC and -2ºC. Look for a cheap ticket from SJO to Ottawa around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Ottawa
Once you've booked your flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport to Ottawa, choose a hotel that puts you right where the action is. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Ottawa:
Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill are just two of the major attractions to put on your Ottawa must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to National Gallery of Canada.
Explore more of Canada
Ottawa has its own special appeal, but there are so many other parts of Canada you'll want to see. About 354 kilometres south-west of Ottawa, a trip to Toronto will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with attractions like CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum and Go Tours Canada - Distillery District.
Around 153 kilometres east of Ottawa, Montreal is another favourite stop in Canada. Experience major highlights starting with Mount Royal Park, Montreal Botanical Garden and Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal.
