LPHYS'26

34th Annual International Laser Physics Conference

This page provides practical travel information for participants of the 34th Annual International Laser Physics Conference (LPHYS'26), held in Costa Rica on July 6-10, 2026.

The conference venue is the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen, located in the Greater San Jose area, close to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Detailed on-site information, including registration desk hours, venue layout, conference access, and daily logistics, will be provided later on the Venue and Arrival & Logistics pages.

Quick Route Summary

Main Airport: Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)

The main international airport for LPHYS'26 is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), located near Alajuela and serving the Greater San Jose area. This is the recommended airport for conference participants.

The Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen is located close to SJO. The hotel indicates an approximate distance of 5 km and an approximate driving time of 15 minutes in normal conditions.

Alternative Airports

Costa Rica also has Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) near Liberia. This airport is useful for some Pacific coast destinations, but it is not convenient for the conference venue.

For LPHYS'26, participants should normally choose SJO unless they have separate travel plans in Costa Rica before or after the conference.

Getting from SJO to the Conference Hotel

The conference hotel is close to the airport, so the transfer is relatively short. The most practical options are:

• Hotel shuttle: check the hotel shuttle schedule and reservation requirements before arrival.
• Official airport taxi: available at the airport; confirm the destination before departure.
• Ride-hailing service: convenient if you have mobile internet or airport Wi-Fi access.

Public buses exist in the region, but they are not recommended as the primary arrival option for participants carrying luggage, arriving after a long international flight, or travelling for the first time in Costa Rica.

As a rough local reference, short local transport expenses may be in the range of several thousand colones, for example 5000 CRC (~11 USD / ~9.5 EUR) to 10000 CRC (~22.1 USD / ~19 EUR), depending on time, traffic, service type, and availability. Please check the actual price in the application, with the hotel, or at the airport.

Conference Venue and Address

Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen
700 m west from Bridgestone/Firestone
La Ribera de Belen, Heredia Province
Costa Rica

Please save the hotel name and address on your phone before travelling. This is useful for taxi drivers, immigration forms, and emergency situations.

A dedicated Venue page with internal conference maps and room allocation will be published closer to the conference.

Arrival Timing

We recommend arriving no later than Sunday, July 5, 2026. This gives participants time to pass immigration, reach the hotel, rest after the flight, and be ready for the first conference day on Monday, July 6.

If you arrive on Monday morning, please allow a sufficient buffer for immigration, baggage claim, airport transfer, traffic, and hotel check-in. Detailed registration desk hours will be announced on the Arrival & Logistics page.

International Flights and Connections

SJO is served by direct and connecting flights from North America, Latin America, and Europe. Many international participants will connect through the United States, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, or major European hubs.

If your route connects through the United States, please check US transit requirements in advance. Depending on your nationality and documents, a US visa or ESTA may be required even if Costa Rica itself does not require a visa from you.

Entry, Visa, and Immigration

Entry requirements depend on nationality and travel documents. Please check the Visa page and the official requirements before booking travel.

Visitors to Costa Rica are generally expected to have a valid passport and proof of onward or return travel. An immigration officer may also ask for the address of your accommodation and evidence that you have sufficient funds for your stay.

If you need an invitation letter for visa or institutional purposes, please use the corresponding form in your Participant Personal Page.

Accommodation Address for Immigration Forms

If you are staying at the conference hotel, you may use the following address in airline or immigration forms:

Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen
700 m west from Bridgestone/Firestone
La Ribera de Belen, Heredia Province
Costa Rica

If you are staying elsewhere, please use the address of your own accommodation.

Domestic Transport and Car Rental

Domestic transport is not needed for most conference participants if they arrive at SJO and stay near the venue. Renting a car is useful mainly for participants planning private travel before or after the conference.

Driving in Costa Rica may involve heavy traffic, narrow roads, rain, and limited parking in some areas. If you rent a car, please review the rental conditions carefully, especially insurance, deposits, road restrictions, and return timing.

Departure

For departure from SJO, please allow enough time for traffic, airline check-in, baggage drop, and security control. Even though the hotel is close to the airport, traffic and weather can affect travel time.

For international flights, we recommend checking your airline's required airport arrival time and adding a local traffic buffer, especially for morning and late afternoon departures.