LAU
Lamu
Kenya
13,894 km
8,634 miles
SJO
San Jose
Costa Rica
Distance
13,894 km
8,634 mi / 7,502 nm
Est. Flight Time
17h
Ultra-long-haul route
Time Difference
-9h
Africa/Nairobi
Heading
281°
west

Airport Comparison

LAU SJO
Airport Name Manda Airstrip Juan Santamaria International Airport
IATA Code LAU SJO
ICAO Code HKLU MROC
City Lamu San Jose
Country Kenya Costa Rica
Timezone Africa/Nairobi America/Costa_Rica
Elevation 20 ft 3,021 ft
Coordinates -2.250000, 40.910000 9.990000, -84.210000

Lamu (LAU) to San Jose (SJO) Flight Distance

The flight distance from Manda Airstrip (LAU) in Lamu, Kenya to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica is 13,894 kilometers (8,634 miles / 7,502 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 17h, flying west at a heading of 281°.

This is an ultra-long-haul route, one of the longest in aviation. It requires wide-body aircraft with extended range capability such as the Airbus A350-900ULR or Boeing 777-200LR. Passengers should prepare for an extended flight with multiple meal services.

This is an international route connecting Kenya with Costa Rica. It is an intercontinental flight between Africa and North America. Travelers should check visa requirements, customs regulations, and any travel advisories before booking.

Time zone information: When it's 18:14 in Lamu, it's 09:14 in San Jose. With a 9-hour time difference, travelers should plan for significant jet lag. It typically takes one day per hour of time difference to fully adjust.

There is a significant elevation difference of 3,001 feet between the two airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport sits higher than Manda Airstrip.

The return flight from San Jose (SJO) to Lamu (LAU) follows a heading of 86° (east). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

For more information about these airports, visit the Manda Airstrip (LAU) and Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) detail pages, or use our flight duration calculator to compare other routes.

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