Domestic Flights in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a small country, but there are lots of attractions. The land transportation service, domestic flights and marine transportation are all very agile, and it is available throughout the country.

The best way to know more tourist places in the shortest time is through domestic flights. In this way, it is possible to fly throughout the country from coast to coast, and from the North border to the South border. There are two main domestic airlines in Costa Rica that offer public flights, and some other companies that offer helicopter services.

Domestic Flights

One of the airlines that offer local flights in Costa Rica is Nature Air. They operate from the Tobias Bolanos local airport in Pavas, San Jose, and they also operate out of the Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia. They fly to the following destinations: Arenal, Barra del Colorado, Drake, Golfito, Liberia, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jimenez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Nosara, Tamarindo, Tambor and Tortuguero. The prices go between $110 and $190 per ticket (roundtrip). Normally, Nature Air operates with Twin-Otter aircraft (twin-engine) for 18 passengers.

The other airline is SANSA – which shares the same destinations with Nature Air: Arenal, Barra del Colorado, Drake, Golfito, Liberia, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jimenez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Nosara, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero and also Nosara and Coto 47. The prices for the SANSA tickets go between $90 (for example, to Quepos) and $180. Normally, this airline operates Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft for the local flights, and they take up to12 passengers per flight.

There are some other companies such as Paradise Air, that offers charter planes and helicopters. Some companies help coordinate the same type of flights, too.

It is very common that the hotels also offer information on how to book local flights, and they help to coordinate local transportation (air, land and marine) throughout the country.