Fifty-nine point two nautical miles to the northern Caribbean refuge, with the second narrowest runway in the whole catalogue. Departure from Juan Santamaría or from Pavas. From 1,095 USD per aircraft.
Route facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Juan Santamaría (SJO / MROC) |
| Alternative | Tobías Bolaños (SYQ / MRPV), 58.7 NM |
| Destination | Barra del Colorado (BCL / MRBC) |
| Distance | 59.2 NM · 110 km |
| Runway | 1,000 × 12 m, asphalt |
Five categories, and a choice of departure field
| Aircraft | PAX | From SJO | From Pavas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 206 | 1–4 | 1,095 USD | 1,095 USD |
| Piper Seneca | 1–5 | 1,395 USD | 1,250 USD |
| Piper Navajo | 1–6 | 1,895 USD | 1,695 USD |
| Cessna Caravan | 1–12 | 2,995 USD | 2,895 USD |
| King Air | 1–7 | 3,795 USD | 3,695 USD |
The price is per aircraft, not per passenger. Departing from Pavas comes out cheaper in four of the five categories, and in the Cessna 206 it costs the same from either.
If your party fits the 206 and you land intercontinental at Juan Santamaría, there is no reason to transfer across to Pavas. 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 specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Twelve metres wide
This is the figure that decides the aircraft, and it deserves stating plainly: the runway is a thousand metres long by twelve wide.
Only Drake Bay, at eleven, is narrower anywhere in the catalogue. Length is not the problem; width is.
In practice that means the larger categories in the table exist on paper more than on the strip. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Ask with the exact passenger count and baggage before fixing dates: at a field like this, the answer can be the 206 even when the budget allows more.
Barra and Tortuguero are twelve nautical miles apart
BCL–TTQ: 12.7 nautical miles. Two almost neighbouring fields, and yet two different destinations.
Tortuguero is the national park, the canals and the turtles. Barra del Colorado is the wildlife refuge and, above all, the fishing: tarpon and snook at the mouth of the Colorado.
Anyone coming to fish comes here. Anyone coming for turtles goes there. Twelve nautical miles and two completely different trips.
No road, like all this seaboard
No road reaches Barra del Colorado. You arrive by air or by river, with a boat from the Puerto Lindo or Cariari area.
From the airport to the lodges there is a river transfer we do not operate, and as at Tortuguero, it has a last departure of the day. The final access is by river and is arranged by your accommodation, on its own timetable.
And most fishing lodges work on a closed package that includes that transfer. Lodges in the area usually include the transfer from the strip: confirm before booking it separately. Confirm it before booking the flight: you may already have it covered.
Frequently asked questions
What does the flight to Barra del Colorado cost?
From 1,095 USD per aircraft in the Cessna 206. The price is for the whole plane, not per passenger. 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.
Pavas or Juan Santamaría?
Pavas comes out cheaper in four of the five categories. In the Cessna 206 they cost the same from either.
What limits the aircraft?
The runway width: twelve metres. Only Drake Bay, at eleven, is narrower in the catalogue.
How does it differ from Tortuguero?
They are 12.7 nautical miles apart, but Tortuguero is the park and the turtles; Barra del Colorado is the refuge and tarpon and snook fishing.
Is there a road?
No. You arrive by air or by river, and from the airport to the lodge there is a river transfer with a last departure of the day. The final access is by river and is arranged by your accommodation, on its own timetable.
Is the transfer included?
We do not operate it, but many fishing lodges include it in their package. Confirm before booking the flight. Lodges in the area usually include the transfer from the strip: confirm before booking it separately.