Smoking at Costa Rica Airports (SJO, LIR)

English

At San José’s airport, smoking is only in the open air outside the terminal. Costa Rica has one of Latin America’s strictest smoke-free laws (Ley 9028), so there is no airside or indoor smoking, no exceptions.

For international travel through Costa Rica, San José (SJO) is the main gateway; Liberia (LIR) serves the Guanacaste resorts.

How Costa Rican Airport Smoking Works

Ley 9028 (2012) bans smoking in all enclosed public buildings and transport terminals with no exceptions:

No indoor smoking and no airside smoking at San José
Smoking is only outdoors, outside the terminal building (landside)
Vaping is treated like smoking — outdoor areas only
Fines for smoking in banned areas start around ₡180,000; compliance is high

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)

Costa Rica’s main gateway, near San José. There is no indoor or airside smoking room — Ley 9028 permits no separate smoking areas inside enclosed public buildings. Passengers on a pure airside connection cannot re-exit to the curb; those whose itinerary clears immigration and re-checks in can smoke outside and then re-clear security.

Liberia Guanacaste Airport (LIR)

Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport serves the Guanacaste beach resorts; its operator reported a record 1,910,354 passengers in 2024, up 16% on 2023. The same Ley 9028 applies: no indoor or airside smoking room is published, and open-air smoking outside the terminal, landside, is permitted before security.

Tips for Smokers at Costa Rican Airports

Neither SJO nor LIR publishes an airside smoking facility — plan to smoke before security or accept a no-smoking layover
Open-air smoking outside the terminal, landside, is permitted at both airports
Costa Rica enforces its smoke-free law — don’t smoke in banned areas (fines apply)
Vaping is banned indoors and airside too — landside open-air only

Costa Rica Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security

Airport	After security	Indoor room	Outdoor area
Smoking at Liberia Guanacaste Airport – LIR	–	–	Yes
Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)	–	–	Yes

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at San José Airport (SJO)?

Yes — outdoors only, in the open air outside the terminal at Juan Santamaría International Airport, before security. Costa Rica’s Ley 9028 bans smoking in all enclosed public buildings and transport terminals with no exceptions, so there is no airside or indoor smoking.

Is there smoking after security at San José Airport?

Smoking at San José is landside only — the open air outside the terminal, before security. Ley 9028 grants no separate-smoking-area exceptions, so there is no airside or indoor smoking area. A passenger staying airside has no smoking option; one whose itinerary clears immigration and re-checks in can step out to the curbside and then re-clear security.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Costa Rican airports?

Vaping is allowed in the same outdoor areas as cigarettes, outside the terminal. Ley 9028 treats e-cigarettes like smoking, so they are not permitted indoors or airside.

Where can I smoke at San José Airport?

Outdoors only, in the open air outside the terminal building (landside, before security). There is no smoking option inside the terminal.

How strict is Costa Rica on smoking?

Very — Ley 9028 (2012) is one of Latin America’s strictest smoke-free laws, banning smoking in all enclosed public places, transport terminals, and even some outdoor areas like parks, with fines starting around ₡180,000 and high compliance.

Can you smoke at Liberia Guanacaste Airport (LIR)?

Yes — open-air smoking outside the terminal building, landside, is permitted under Ley 9028, which applies the same nationwide. LIR publishes no designated area, and no smoking facility after security is confirmed.