A private charter to Nosara (NOB) costs from 1,295 USD for the whole aircraft, not per passenger. It is one of the more affordable destinations in the network out of Guanacaste, because the leg is short. Here is what makes up the price and what can push it up.
Quoted per aircraft, not per seat
The fare covers the entire aircraft and does not vary with passenger count. With 4 seats available, the cost per person depends entirely on how many travel.
At Nosara this is especially visible because the typical traveller profile — surf groups, yoga retreats, families — runs to four or six people. The same flight split six ways produces a per-head figure that competes with considerably less comfortable options.
Variable 1: the origin
| Origin | Distance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Liberia (LIR) | 37.6 NM · 70 km | The natural leg, and the cheapest |
| San José (SJO) | 85.6 NM · 158 km | More than double the distance |
The gap is large enough to warrant a plain recommendation: if you enter the country through Liberia, fly from Liberia. The San José route makes sense when your international arrival is at SJO with no prior stop in Guanacaste.
Operational detail for each leg on Liberia to Nosara and San José to Nosara.
Reply within 2 business hours
Variable 2: the aircraft, and the board factor
Nosara is a surf destination, and here the baggage genuinely can move the price.
Boards travel, but their length and quantity determine which aircraft is assigned. A party of four with suitcases and a party of four with four longboards do not fit the same aeroplane, and if the second forces a step up in category, the fare changes.
That is why we insist on declaring them at booking rather than at the counter: it is the difference between a firm quote and a surprise. The same applies to bulky camera equipment or child seats.
Cessna 206 · 4 seats · baggage hold 40 cu ft
Variable 3: the runway and the operating window
Nosara's airport is public, administered by the DGAC, three kilometres inland from the coast and about fifteen minutes by road from the main beaches.
Two features shape operations: runway 04 carries a 125-metre displaced threshold, and there is low mountainous terrain north of the field and through the arc from east to south. It is a strictly daytime, visual field.
That does not change the fare directly, but it does narrow the available departure times. On confirmed weather-related closures: Several fields in the network operate in daylight and visual conditions, and close when the weather does not allow it.
Variable 4: the season
The Guanacaste dry season concentrates demand, and with it pressure on aircraft availability. Booking ahead in those months is not only a price question but a question of whether the option exists at all.
In the green season, roughly May to November, availability improves — and that is also when the road alternative gets worse, as the unpaved sections of the Nicoya Peninsula degrade. The comparison tilts further toward flying.
Empty legs
When a repositioning sector coincides with your route and date, the fare can drop noticeably. They appear at short notice and allow no schedule changes. We work with empty legs: they arise from operations already confirmed, are listed at short notice and are not guaranteed. Ask us what is available that day.
What the fare does not include
It covers the flight. We do not quote services that are not ours: accommodation, surf lessons, retreats, board rental or transfers from the strip to your hotel beyond what we confirm in the booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private charter to Nosara cost?
From 1,295 USD for the whole aircraft. The final figure depends on origin, aircraft assigned and date.
Is the price per person or per aircraft?
Per aircraft. It does not change with passenger count, so the cost per person falls as the group grows.
From Liberia or from San José?
From Liberia it is 37.6 nautical miles; from San José, 85.6. If you enter the country through Liberia, fly from Liberia.
Do surfboards make the flight more expensive?
They can. Length and quantity determine the aircraft assigned, and if they force a step up in category, the fare changes. Declare them at booking.
Are night flights to Nosara possible?
No. It is a daytime, visual field, with a displaced threshold on runway 04 and low mountainous terrain north and from east through south.
When is availability best?
In the green season, roughly May to November. That is also when the road alternative worsens on the unpaved sections of Nicoya.