Puerto Jiménez is the most used gateway to the Osa Peninsula, and your budget depends on three things: the category, the park permit, and a comparison almost nobody makes. From 1,495 USD per aircraft.
The five categories
| Aircraft | PAX | From SJO | From Pavas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 206 | 1–4 | 1,595 USD | 1,495 USD |
| Piper Seneca | 1–5 | 2,295 USD | 2,195 USD |
| Piper Navajo | 1–6 | 3,295 USD | 3,195 USD |
| Cessna Caravan | 1–12 | 5,295 USD | 5,195 USD |
| King Air | 1–7 | 4,395 USD | 4,250 USD |
The price is for the whole aircraft. Pavas is 3.9 nautical miles closer, and as this is a long departure from the Central Valley, the King Air is usually priced below the Caravan. If you are seven or fewer, ask about it. 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 runway restricts, and that can change the sums
Eight hundred and twenty-two metres by eighteen. It is not Drake Bay, but it restricts. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
And here is the comparison worth making:
Golfito is 10.0 nautical miles from Puerto Jiménez, has fourteen hundred metres by twenty and does not restrict by size.
With a small group, fly direct to Puerto Jiménez. With a large group and baggage, ask about Golfito too: everyone fits in one aircraft, and from there a regular boat crosses the gulf.
One flight in a large category usually costs less than two in a small one, besides everyone arriving together. The trade-off is the gulf crossing by water, with schedules of its own.
The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
The date is set by Corcovado
If your trip is to the park, Corcovado requires a certified guide and quotas coordinated in advance. We do not handle them. Access requires an authorisation handled by the area’s administration or your local operator, on their own timescales.
That means the flight's date is fixed after the park's, not before. It is the reverse of a normal booking, and worth knowing before anything else is paid for.
What is not included
The transfer from the airport to the lodges, which in Osa can be long and by track. Ground transfer is not included in the fare: your accommodation or a local operator arranges it.
And the boat to Golfito, if your itinerary crosses the Golfo Dulce. It is 10.0 nautical miles, but by water, and we do not operate that service.
And the alternative ways into Osa
| Entry | Distance to Drake | Restricts |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Jiménez | 23.0 NM | Yes |
| Palmar Sur | 17.3 NM | No |
| Golfito | 27.5 NM | No |
If your final destination is Drake Bay rather than Puerto Jiménez, Palmar Sur is closer and does not restrict. Worth comparing before committing.
Puerto Jiménez only wins if you are going to Puerto Jiménez itself, to Cabo Matapalo or to the park's southern sector.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price to private charter to Puerto Jiménez 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.
Which aircraft suits?
It is a long departure from the Central Valley, so the King Air is usually priced below the Caravan. If you are seven or fewer, ask.
Does the runway restrict?
Yes: 822 metres by 18. Not Drake Bay, but it restricts. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
When does Golfito suit?
With a large group and baggage. It is 10.0 nautical miles away, does not restrict by size, and a regular boat crosses the gulf.
When do I fix the date?
After Corcovado's, if you are going to the park. We do not handle the quotas. Access requires an authorisation handled by the area’s administration or your local operator, on their own timescales.
And if I am going to Drake Bay?
Palmar Sur is 17.3 nautical miles from Drake and does not restrict. Compare before committing.