The flight distance from Melbourne International Airport (MEL) in Melbourne, Australia to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica is 14,243 kilometers (8,850 miles / 7,691 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 18h, flying east southeast at a heading of 109°.

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 Australia with Costa Rica. It is an intercontinental flight between Oceania and North America. Travelers should check visa requirements, customs regulations, and any travel advisories before booking.

Time zone information: When it's 19:21 in Melbourne, it's 02:21 in San Jose. With a 17-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 2,587 feet between the two airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport sits higher than Melbourne International Airport.

The return flight from San Jose (SJO) to Melbourne (MEL) follows a heading of 229° (southwest). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

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