Palmar Sur is the destination where the price of the flight matters less than the price of the whole itinerary. And there is a concrete reason. From 1,295 USD per aircraft.
First: you pay for the aircraft, not the seat
You are not buying seats: you are chartering the whole aeroplane. Two people and four in a Cessna 206 pay the same, and travelling alone makes nothing cheaper.
Where it pays is with a group: divide the price among the passengers and compare it with the tickets you will not buy. We show a "from" price per route; the final fare depends on the date, the group and the baggage, and is confirmed in writing before booking.
The five categories
| Aircraft | PAX | From SJO | From Pavas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 206 | 1–4 | 1,395 USD | 1,295 USD |
| Piper Seneca | 1–5 | 1,595 USD | 1,495 USD |
| Piper Navajo | 1–6 | 2,195 USD | 2,250 USD |
| Cessna Caravan | 1–12 | 3,595 USD | 3,495 USD |
| King Air | 1–7 | 3,995 USD | 3,895 USD |
Pavas is 4.0 nautical miles closer and it shows in the fare. Over a seventy-six-mile leg that is a little over five per cent: here the choice of field weighs less than on short routes.
The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
The calculation that really matters: Palmar or Drake
If your final destination is Drake Bay there are two ways in, and the cheaper one is not the direct one.
| Route | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Direct to Drake | Runway 1,000 × 18 m: restricts severely |
| Palmar Sur + road and boat | Runway 1,400 × 12 m: does not restrict |
With four people, fly direct to Drake.
With six or more the sums change completely. Not because of the runway, but because the category that takes the group prices differently, and sometimes splitting works out better. At Palmar the whole group fits in one aeroplane, and from there it is 17.3 nautical miles to Drake by road to Sierpe and then boat.
One flight in a large category usually costs less than two in a small one. That is the real comparison. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
And there is a second effect: two flights to Drake mean two arrivals at different times, with the group split until the second one.
What is not included
The road transfer to Sierpe and the boat down the Térraba river and the estuary. We do not operate it, and it has tide-driven schedules of its own. The boat leg on the Térraba depends on tides and is arranged by your accommodation or a local operator.
It is the link to confirm before fixing the flight's hour, not after. Many Drake lodges include it in their package — ask them before pricing it separately.
And the terrain, which does not raise the price but does condition it
Fourteen hundred metres do not limit by size. What conditions is the northern approach, which crosses the Térraba river with a mountain immediately north. The surrounding terrain shapes the approach and, with it, which aircraft can work the field.
It does not change the fare; it changes the odds of the day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price to private charter to Palmar Sur per person?
No, for the whole aircraft. We show a "from" price per route; the final fare depends on the date, the group and the baggage, and is confirmed in writing before booking.
Palmar or Drake direct?
With four people, Drake direct. With six or more, Palmar: one large flight usually costs less than two small ones.
How far is Palmar from Drake?
17.3 nautical miles, but by road to Sierpe and then boat, not by air.
Is the boat included?
No. It has tide-driven schedules and must be confirmed before fixing the flight. The boat leg on the Térraba depends on tides and is arranged by your accommodation or a local operator.
For to private charter to Palmar Sur, is Pavas the better departure?
It is 4.0 nautical miles closer, but that does not justify a transfer from Santamaría.
Does the runway at private charter to Palmar Sur limit the aircraft?
Not by size. The northern approach over the Térraba conditions it. The surrounding terrain shapes the approach and, with it, which aircraft can work the field.