One hundred and one point eight nautical miles from the Nicoya Peninsula to Osa. It is the leg joining Costa Rica's two Pacific peninsulas, and it brings a variant of the stop the catalogue has been repeating since block 04. From 1,895 USD per aircraft.
Route facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tambor (TMU / MRTR) |
| Destination | Drake Bay (DRK / MRDK) |
| Distance | 101.8 NM · 189 km |
| Destination runway | 1,000 × 18 m |
| Price | From 1,895 USD per aircraft |
Two possible stops, and they are not equivalent
With a large group, what governs is not Drake Bay's width — 18 m — but the length available. But here there are two ways to make it:
| Option | Distance | Final leg |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | 101.8 NM | — |
| Via Quepos | 55.3 + 52.2 = 107.5 NM | 52.2 NM by air |
| Via Puerto Jiménez | 124.6 + 23.0 = 147.6 NM | 23.0 NM overland |
Quepos is the short stop; Puerto Jiménez, the safe one.
If the group fits an aircraft suited to Drake, stopping at Quepos adds five nautical miles and nothing else. If it does not, you have to go via Puerto Jiménez and cover the rest by road and track — forty-six nautical miles more.
The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Why the difference matters
It is the first time the catalogue has two stops solving different things on the same route.
Quepos solves the timing: it is a field with more service, and splitting the run opens combinations the direct does not have.
Puerto Jiménez solves the aircraft: it restricts nothing, and from there the final leg does not depend on the short runway. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Tell us the passenger count and the baggage, and the stop chooses itself.
It is also the first time the catalogue puts a distance price on the eleven-metre restriction: forty-six nautical miles to avoid it entirely.
Overland it is the whole Costanera
The land alternative exists: leave the peninsula by ferry or around the gulf, run down the Costanera Sur and enter Osa.
Two long days with an initial transfer. One hundred and two nautical miles by air.
And the usual Osa links
From the airstrip to the lodges there is a sea or track journey we do not operate. Ground transfer is not included in the fare: your accommodation or a local operator arranges it.
The park requires a certified guide and quotas are coordinated in advance. Access requires an authorisation handled by the area’s administration or your local operator, on their own timescales.
And at the origin, the choice between Tambor and Cóbano is a ground decision, not an air one. We confirm the field’s operating status in the quote, because it changes with the date and the operation.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Tambor to Drake Bay?
The flight covers 101.8 nautical miles. Overland it is two long days with an initial transfer and the whole Costanera Sur.
Which stop suits a large group?
It depends whether the group fits an aircraft suited to Drake. If it does, Quepos adds five nautical miles. If not, go via Puerto Jiménez.
How do the two stops differ?
Quepos solves the timing; Puerto Jiménez solves the aircraft. It is the first route in the catalogue with two stops solving different things.
What does the safe stop cost?
Via Puerto Jiménez it is 147.6 nautical miles against 101.8 direct: forty-six more, with the last 23.0 overland.
Is the transfer to the lodge included?
No. From the airstrip to the lodges there is a sea or track journey we do not operate. Ground transfer is not included in the fare: your accommodation or a local operator arranges it.
Tambor or Cóbano?
A ground decision, not an air one. Neither publishes its own METAR. We confirm the field’s operating status in the quote, because it changes with the date and the operation.