The flight distance from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica to Tawau Airport (TWU) in Tawau, Malaysia is 17,073 kilometers (10,609 miles / 9,219 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 21h, flying west northwest at a heading of 302°.

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

Time zone information: When it's 07:30 in San Jose, it's 21:30 in Tawau. 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 2,964 feet between the two airports. Tawau Airport sits lower than Juan Santamaria International Airport.

The return flight from Tawau (TWU) to San Jose (SJO) follows a heading of 57° (east northeast). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

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