Where the spa is and how to get here
The spa is in Plaza Río Segundo, next to Escuela David, in Río Segundo de Alajuela. From the terminal it is a short drive, about 15 minutes in normal traffic. Is there Uber in Costa Rica? Yes: Uber is widely used in the Central Valley, and official airport taxis wait outside arrivals. Either one knows the plaza.
Type "Plaza Río Segundo" into the app, or ask us for a location pin on WhatsApp for your driver. If you are staying at one of the airport hotels in Alajuela or Río Segundo, you are already close. Hotel shuttles belong to the hotels, so check with your front desk if you hope to use one.
How much time to allow on a layover
For a 60-minute massage, plan roughly two hours away from the terminal: the ride here, the session and the ride back, with a margin for traffic. A 90-minute session needs about two and a half hours. Add the time your airline asks you to be at the airport before departure, and a layover of five hours or more is comfortable.
Tell us your flight time when you book and we suggest a session length that gets you back with time to spare. We are open every day 9 AM – 11 PM at the regular price, and until 1 AM with a late-hour fee (spa: +$20 for a start at 11 PM, +$30 at midnight, +$40 at 1 AM), so a massage before a late evening departure or after a late arrival is simple to arrange.
Massage before a flight, or right after landing
- Before a long flight: a relaxation massage loosens the back and shoulders before hours in a seat and helps many travelers sleep on the plane
- After landing: deep tissue work on the neck, lower back and hips eases the stiffness of a long flight; see our jet lag massage page
- Thai massage: stretching and compression without oil, so you dress and go straight back to the terminal
- Couples and families: two people side by side, or groups of 3 to 5 at the same time, each with their own therapist
- Luggage: come straight from the airport with your bags and mention them when you book
Prefer not to leave your airport hotel?
If you would rather stay put, a therapist comes to your room at the airport hotels in Alajuela and Río Segundo with a massage table, fresh linens and oils. Mobile prices include the travel, nothing to add: relaxation from $80 / ₡40,000 and deep tissue from $90 / ₡45,000 for 60 minutes; details and timing are on our airport layover massage page.
At the spa itself, relaxation massage starts at $40 / ₡20,000, deep tissue or Best Combination at $55 / ₡25,000 and Thai at $80 / ₡35,000 for 60 minutes. You pay at the end in cash (dollars or colones), SINPE Móvil, BAC transfer, PayPal, Zelle or Venmo.