howman74

Eagerly anticipating our trip in a couple of weeks, but a question just popped into my mind: At the end of our trip, we are returning to San Jose from Puerto Jiminez via Nature Air at 10:35 AM, but our flight home out of SJO doesn't leave until 5:30PM. Is there a place to store luggage at the airport or does anyone have any suggestions based on past experience how to bridge that time gap with the luggage?

Thanks again for all the advice in planning this trip.

plumboy

You are aware that the airport that Nature Air uses is a different airport than SJO, the international airport? It should take you about 20 to 30 minutes to reach SJO from the Pavas airport.

Can't you just check your bags when you get to SJO?

crblogger

Nature Air offers a bag storage service for $5 per bag... and the airport is less than 10 minutes from downtown San Jose, so either leave your bags there when you get in and pick them again (though that involves going back to that airport before heading to the international airport 20 minutes away).

I'd say with you free time the best bet is to enjoy a slow lunch downtown. You could try the gourmet restaurant at Hotel Grano de Oro, something typical like Mi Tierra (which is also across the street from a great souvenir market) -- in either case you could bring your bags and set them next to your table.

There is less to do closer to the SJO international airport -- a Denny's, Casino, or a bar on the other side of the airport with runway views.

You'll love Puerto Jimenez, and the flight is gorgeous enjoy!

hipvirgochick

If you can't check your baggage early at SJO you can store it until you're ready. Lots of good restaurants not just Denny's and places to pick up last minute souveniers around there just ask your taxi driver. Would not go all the way to the city.

hsmithcr

I don't know of anyplace at SJO where you can store baggage -- is this something new, hipvirgochick?

I would go ahead and make your way to Alajuela. If you can't check in that early, you can pay your departure tax, at least, and if baggage storage is a problem, then you can take a taxi to the Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express which are both very close to the airport, ask your driver to wait for you, drop your bags (for a small fee, probably)and then head to the center of Alajuela (5 minutes, about $4). Tell your driver to drop you off at the cathedral. Then you can walk around town, have something to eat, buy some souvenirs, sit in the park and have some ice cream before you flag down a taxi to take you back to the airport.

I say this because sometimes in traveling from San Jose to Alajuela you are met with an ugly surprise: accident, bridge closing, strike, etc and that 30 minute trip will end up being lots more.

hipvirgochick

I should clarify that remark about storing at SJO. I'm bringing some electrical things down for a friend who owns a lodge and she said she would either send someone to pick it up from the airport or my hotel...? I e-mailed her to ask where I would leave at SJO but she opted for the hotel option I didn't follow up on the SJO part. So maybe she meant someone would MEET me at the aiport to pick it up? ...This all happened within the last couple of days so it's possible I made a wrong assumption.

That said, I still believe it is worth the time wandering around Alejuela vs. heading to the city IF you can check in that early...not sure how many hours in advance they allow.

hsmithcr

As far as I know, there is no storage available at SJO - this was about a month ago. As for checking in early, it seems to depend on the airline. I have checked in this early if there is someone at the counter - maybe an earlier flight is leaving - but I have also been there when there was no one at the counter until about three hours before the flight.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

What airline are you flying out on?

I'm not aware of any luggage storage at SJO either.