The flight distance from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica to Nuku Airport (UKU) in Nuku, Papua New Guinea is 14,818 kilometers (9,207 miles / 8,001 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 18h, flying west at a heading of 274°.

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 Papua New Guinea. It is an intercontinental flight between North America and Oceania. Travelers should check visa requirements, customs regulations, and any travel advisories before booking.

Time zone information: When it's 20:30 in San Jose, it's 12:30 in Nuku. With a 16-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 2,151 feet between the two airports. Nuku Airport sits lower than Juan Santamaria International Airport.

The return flight from Nuku (UKU) to San Jose (SJO) follows a heading of 80° (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 Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and Nuku Airport (UKU) detail pages, or use our flight duration calculator to compare other routes.