The flight distance from Sandakan Airport (SDK) in Sandakan, Malaysia to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica is 16,981 kilometers (10,551 miles / 9,169 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 21h, flying northeast at a heading of 54°.

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

Time zone information: When it's 20:29 in Sandakan, it's 06:29 in San Jose. With a 14-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 2,975 feet between the two airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport sits higher than Sandakan Airport.

The return flight from San Jose (SJO) to Sandakan (SDK) follows a heading of 305° (northwest). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

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