No, you cannot smoke inside Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). There is no airside or indoor smoking anywhere in the terminal — you can smoke only outdoors, in the open air outside the terminal building before security.
Located near Alajuela, just outside San José, SJO is Costa Rica’s main international gateway and the busiest airport in the country, handling most arrivals and departures for visitors to the Central Valley and the Pacific coast.
Where to Smoke
Smoking is allowed outdoors only, landside, in the open air outside the terminal building. There is no marked smoking zone — simply step away from the entrances, doorways, and pedestrian walkways before lighting up.
Costa Rica’s Ley 9028 (2012) is one of Latin America’s strictest smoke-free laws. It does not permit any separate smoking area inside enclosed public buildings or transport terminals, so there is no indoor or airside smoking room at SJO. Connecting passengers must clear immigration and exit the terminal to smoke, then re-enter and clear security again. Fines for smoking in banned areas start at around ₡180,000.
Vaping
Vaping is treated like smoking under Ley 9028 — it is not allowed inside the terminal. Use e-cigarettes outdoors only, outside the building, in the same open-air areas where smoking is permitted.
Summary table
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor | No | No indoor smoking anywhere under Ley 9028 |
| After security / airside | No | No smoking room or lounge past the checkpoint |
| Outdoor (landside) | Yes | Open air outside the terminal, before security |
For Costa Rica’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Costa Rica airport guide.