From lush jungle canopies to sparkling white-sand beaches, Costa Rica offers breathtaking vistas from coast to coast. However, tickets to the Central American destination aren't always cheap from Vancouver.
Costa Rica has two main airports: Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, also known as Liberia International Airport (LIR) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). There are no direct flights to either airport from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) but numerous options only include one stopover.
As a rule, flights to Liberia from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) tend to be cheaper, with tickets starting an average of $100 less than those bound for SJO.
Travellers who want a last-minute trip to the sun-soaked country can find several low-cost options departing within weeks but they include excessively long layovers or two stops. Still, the price is right for folks looking to score a cheap deal and escape Raincouver.
For example, a flight departing Vancouver on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and returning from Liberia on Tuesday, March 11 costs $552 including all taxes and fees. However, the flight includes a one-hour layover in Dallas and nine-and-half-hour layover in Miami on the outbound journey. On the return, travellers spend two-and-a-half hours in Miami and eight-and-a-half in Los Angeles on layover (see slide two).
An itinerary with one stop on the same dates is still a bargain at $621, although the layover in Dallas is a whopping 14 hours on the outbound journey and 14.5 on the return.
Tip: Book cheap flights from Vancouver to Costa Rica in advance
Travellers should book their tickets in advance to save money and avoid painful layovers.
For instance, a flight departing from Vancouver on Thursday, Aug. 14 and returning from Liberia on Wednesday, Aug. 20 costs $643 with all taxes and fees through a third party (there are several companies to choose from at this price). Alternatively, the trip costs $766 directly through WestJet (see slide three).
Keep in mind that WestJet's lowest booking class, UltraBasic, doesn't include carry-on luggage or free seat selection during the 24-hour check-in period. Also, checked luggage may cost more than other booking classes on select routes. Always compare options before selecting the cheapest one.
This price is considered "low" for economy or $549 cheaper than usual, according to Google Flights (see slide four).
Building Costa Rica into a bigger trip
Metro Vancouverites may want to purchase a one-way flight to Liberia and then move across Costa Rica and fly home from SJO or fly to another airport in Central or South America.
Unlike return trips, one-way WestJet flights from Vancouver don't drop to their lowest price until April. An itinerary with two stops costs as little as $238 while a one-stop option starts at $256 (and the layover is only a pinch over two hours in Calgary) (see slide five).
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