New nonstop DC to Costa Rica service launches this weekend

Travelers looking to make their way from our nation’s capital region to one of Central America’s most popular vacation destinations have new flight options. Colombian-based carrier Avianca launched nonstop service yesterday from Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside Washington, D.C. to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The first Avianca flight from D.C. to Costa Rica took off in the very early hours of Saturday morning.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

Going forward, the carrier will operate four weekly flights from IAD to San Jose and four return trips. The southbound flights will operate in the early hours of Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Northbound flights will run in the evening hours on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This schedule should make it relatively easy for U.S. travelers to plan trips to Costa Rica of anywhere from five days to a week or more.

Avianca’s nonstop flights to San Jose mark the Bogota, Colombia-based carrier’s fourth destination out of D.C.’s more international-heavy airport, on top of its flights between Dulles and Bogota, Guatemala City and San Salvador, El Salvador.

Related: The best times to visit Costa Rica

Meanwhile, the airline’s new routes from Dulles to San Jose will mean more options for D.C. area travelers, with United Airlines operating seasonal service between the two cities. Avianca will offer about 1,800 seats on the route monthly, the airline said.

As far as pricing, when I filtered Google Flights for Avianca nonstop flights between Dulles and San Jose, I found many round-trip options hovering around the $400 mark late in the day, though I was able to find this round trip (departing Labor Day and returning the following Sunday) for $384.

As mentioned, the southbound service falls very early in the morning: You’ll depart Dulles at 2:30 a.m., arriving in San Jose at 5:30 a.m. While it's a redeye flight of sorts, at least you’ll be able to get a full first day in Costa Rica. Conveniently, you’ll be able to enjoy a portion of your last day in the country, too, with the return flight leaving just after 5 p.m.

Bottom line

Costa Rica is a popular vacation destination, whether you’re someone that’s looking to hike and spot volcanos or relax at one of its many beach resorts. Now, travelers in the mid-Atlantic will have a more direct link to the Central American country’s largest international airport.