Costa Rica Guide

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Airport Photos

Costa Rica has three runways where jets can land, two of them serve commercial flights at Juan Santamaría (SJO) 18 km from San José and Daniel Oduber (LIR) about the same distance outside Liberia in Guanacaste.  The third is at Limón and only used by charters.

There are another 50 or so private and public landing strips around the country that range from a flat strip of dirt bulldozed out of the jungle to asphalt runways, ticket windows and even a waiting room or two.

It’s an adventure taking a small plane in Costa Rica and you should definitely keep your camera ready because every flight is a sightseeing flight.  You can check out a few of our aerial photos of Costa Rica on this page.

Luggage cart at Drake Airport
Luggage cart at Drake Airport – self service. Don’t expect porters unless you’re being met by one of the luxury eco-lodges then the driver will probably help out
Café Britt got into the souvenir business by making Costa Rican coffe a popular takehome item now they control about 80% of the market for all trinkets and artisan objects.
Café Britt was a coffee company that got into the souvenir business by making Costa Rican coffe a popular takehome item now they control about 80% of the market for all trinkets and artisan objects.
Souvenir shop SJO
Souvenir shop SJO – Britt coffee, t-shirts and other memorabilia and geegaws
Tortuguero Airport
Tortuguero Airport (yes that’s all there is to it). This is downright fancy compared to Drake and a big step up from the dirt track in the jungle at Sirena.
Baggage claim, Bahia Drake
Baggage claim, Bahia Drake, Osa Peninsula
Baggage claim, Puerto Jimenez
Baggage claim, Puerto Jimenez
Drivers awaiting arrivals at SJO
Drivers awaiting arrivals at SJO
Passenger is co-pilot
Passenger as co-pilot – Alvaro is the pilot for Air Taxi Alfa Romeo on the Osa peninsula and Golfo Dulce
Limón airport
Limón airport is the third runway in Costa Rica long enough for jets to land but it is not used for commercial flights. John Travolta drops in with his 737 every once in a while but otherwise it’s charter prop planes.
Customs X-Ray machines
Customs X-Ray machines at SJO. At LIR they have gas chromatograph sniffers to detect fruits and other foods (and probably coke and pot as well)
Nature Air and SANSA terminal
Nature Air and SANSA “terminal” ticket office, and waiting area Puerto Jimenez
Old Drake Bay airport, Costa Rica
Drake airport. Yup, that was it…until 2019
just my carryon
And that’s just my carryon baggage… Actually on the little bush plane charter out of Carate airport carryon is the only kind of luggage there is since the plane doesn’t have a cargo hold and no it’s not really all mine – it’s parts of three trekker’s gear.
One of the more popular souvenirs in the airport are hand rolled (while you wait if you'd like) cigars using Cuban tobaccos
One of the more popular souvenirs in the airport are hand rolled (while you wait if you’d like) cigars using Cuban tobaccos
Coming in for a landing
Coming in for a landing
The food court at SJO
The food court at SJO includes a handful of fast food places but there are no upscale restaurants or bars in either airport
Not all of the gates have jetways so passengers load on rolling stairways
Not all of the gates have jetways so passengers load on rolling stairways
Making the flight plan
Making the flight plan for Carate to Drake Bay Alfa Romeo – Alvaro’s office. We were headed out for several days of trekking out of range of cell service or internet so we had to confirm our bush plane reservations ahead of time
Departure LIR
Most of the time LIR is nearly empty, but most flights depart in the early afternoon so around 12:00 it can be a bit of a mob scene with long checkin lines. For a couple of months after the new terminal opened there were some computer and personel problems that delayed travelers significantly, but now it’s relatively smooth and quick.
The LIR Hilton Garden Inn
The LIR Hilton Garden Inn looks like it’s right on the runway, but it’s actually across the highway. As close as it is we’ve never noticed any aircraft noise when we’ve stayed and it’s a great option if you have an early departure or late arrival
Map showing the location of the two airports serving San Jose Costa Rica
Map showing the location of the two airports serving San Jose Costa Rica
Passenger pickup LIR
Daniel Oduber Qurios International Airport west of Liberia Costa Rica (LIR) – private pickups and taxis queue in front and vans and buses are in the parking lot that was directly behind me when I took this photo. If you’re trying to pick someone up they’ll probably be coming out through the closest doors in this photo.
Drivers waiting
Our transportation was awaiting us at SJO holding a sign to the window near the exit “Krueger-Koplin”
Phone SIM Kiosk
ICE kiosk for the purchase of SIM cards near baggage claim (after immigration before customs) at SJO
Abandoned retail
Nearly five years after their construction the retail spaces and office complex across from LIR are still nearly all empty. Anyone have a good idea for a few hundred thousand square feet of floorspace?
Drake Airport
Drake Airport
Alfa Romeo charters
Alfa Romeo charters – Alvaro’s office for Osa and Golfito flights
Departure level - Juan Santamaria Airport SJO
Departure level – Juan Santamaria Airport SJO
Fueling up for the flight to Manuel Antonio - at Pavas regional airport San Jose
Fueling up for the flight to Manuel Antonio – at Pavas regional airport San Jose
Drivers and guides at LIR
Drivers and guides line the exit from customs and hold signs with arriving passenger’s names printed on them at LIR
The last gate at the Juan Santamaria terminal
The last gate at the Juan Santamaria terminal
Weighing passengers at check in
Nature Air check in counter where they will weigh both you and your bags before you can board the plane
Grass Landing Strip at Sirena Station
Grass Landing Strip at Sirena Station Corcovado
Departures Juan Santamaria Airport SJO
Departures Juan Santamaria Airport SJO
SJO passenger pick up can be chaos
SJO passenger pick up can be chaos
Puerto Jiminez landing strip
Approach to the Puerto Jiminez air strip – Gateway to the southern Osa Peninsula
Airport Exchange counter
The exchange counter in the airport is about ten times more expensive than in a bank and as long as you have U.S. dollars there’s no need to convert currency.
Field trip to the airport
School class Field trip to the airport Juan Santamaria Airport SJO
Big Ass Fan
They’ve got giant helicopter size ceiling fans in the new terminal at LIR, just like they did in the old. Manufactured by the “Big Ass Fan” corporation…no kidding.
Carate airport waiting area
Carate airport waiting area – sparse but the beers are only three bucks…
Baggage claim at LIR
Baggage claim at LIR

Ray & Sue

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Photos
  • Tortuguero Beach – National Park & Sea Turtles Nesting
  • Tortuguero Village & Canals Photos
  • Guayabo National Monument
  • San Gerardo de Dota National Park
  • Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve
  • Lower Savegre & Rafiki
  • Savegre National Park
  • Pacuare River Rafting Overnight
  • Portalón Estero Rey National Wildlife Refuge
  • Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge Photos
  • Rainmaker Biological Reserve Photos
  • Hills of Portalón Wildlife Refuge
  • Funny, Quirky, Weird – Costa Rica Humor
  • Bahía Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge Photos
  • Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge Photos
  • La Cangreja National Park Photos
  • Pacuare Gilligan’s Island
  • Rincón de la Vieja – Hacienda Guachipelín Photos
  • Quirky, Weird, Funny – Costa Rica Humor
  • Lankester Botanical Gardens Photos



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