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Some Avianca/Taca flights from San Jose to LAX make a stop in Guatemala, i.e. with No Plane Change. Usually the layover is about an hour and I believe if you're not disembarking in Guatemala you simply remain seated for that hour. Does anyone know if it is mandatory to stay on the plane or is it possible to get off and stroll around the airport for a bit maybe shop in Duty Free etc. Thx.

I went through there a few trips ago from Chicago, got off the plane (Taca) in Guatemala City and looked around for about an hour. It was cool to see volcanoes right out the airport windows.

Then re boarded onto different plane. I remember sitting next to chatting with this Gringa chick and her daughter from LAX going to surf school on the short flight down to SJO. I forget if we were on the plane from LAX or not. Sorry if I wasn't much help BT.

If you de-board the plane at Guatemala, make sure you leave any duty free liquids (booze, dolce de leche, etc.) on the plane. You will have to pass through a security checkpoint on the way into the main terminal, and they will sieze your items. This was as of one year ago. I don't know if they are still doing it. Once inside the departure area, you can purchase duty free with no problem.

i think you are asking more on the trip in than on the way out of CR.
i can only comment on the LA to Guat/CR leg but the layover is minimal and i have only disembarked when it was required.
typically they ask you to remain on the plane ime. like a 30-45 minute layover most times.
not much to see in that airport anyway.
on the return there is NO option to remain on board and yes the will make you take all items and confiscate all your CR duty free so pack it in your check in bags.
that is how they interpret US requirements like you somehow managed to smuggle something else in mid air.
personally i think they do it so they force you to buy duty free in Guat instead of CR.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Good information. My point in asking is because I am a huge fan of Ron Zacapa rum which comes from Guatemala. Rather than buy it at the duty free at SJO on my way back to LAX I'm wondering if I would get a better deal if I were able to get off the plane when it stops in Guatemala and pick up a few bottles at the duty free store there.

FYI-If you have a layover in GUA, you CAN'T buy Duty-Free in SJO. You will not be allowed to carry it on in GUA (You have to go through a carry-on check at GUA). If you want to buy duty-free with a layover, you have to do it at the layover airport, not in the originating airport.

BT, yes you will be able to buy zacapa at Guat on the way home. I believe its 2- 23 yr old for 58 last month. pretty sure you actually get a better price there than in CR.
and you will have no choice but to disembark and go through customs per their interpretation of US law.
so works perfect for you.
not so much for me since i prefer 20 yr old centanario and they don't even have that in Guat.
i get around that by buying more on the way in and packing it in my carry on in its box.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

I got phucked in Bogota over duty free I brought from CR. It was a connection switch. I was livid!

Last time I flew into Guatemala City we had to wait on the tarmac while members of the army came aboard brandishing their sub-machine guns. They walked up and down the aisle looking at each passenger. They departed and we pulled to the gate. Each passenger was stopped and questioned before they were allowed to proceed to customs.

If I had the option to remain on the plane for the hour, I'd do just that. An airport's procedures can change overnight. Passengers who are just "in-transit" might be allowed to the concourse or might be required to go through screening or even customs.

At Seoul if you were just in-transit, you use to just turn right instead of left (to customs) and proceeded to your next gate. Now, you still turn right, but have to go through screening again. If you only have an hour between connections you'd never make it.

In Shanghai, I was required to go through customs. No visa is required since I was in-transit, but this threw them for a loop. I was escorted to a "cattle pen" where I waited for an hour for a dour looking fellow in a Maoist uniform to interrogate me and go through my carry-on. I was then escorted to my gate.

I guess my point is, you never know, so take the path of least resistance. Even if you are allowed to wander around the concourse for less than an hour, is it worth having to go through the hassle of the boarding process again?