Nearly every question about charter pricing comes from comparing it to an airline ticket. They are two different things, and understanding how saves half the questions.
First: the price is per aircraft, not per seat
This is the difference that changes everything. You are not buying seats: you are chartering the whole aircraft.
That means the price does not rise as you add passengers while they fit. Two people and four people in a Cessna 206 pay the same.
And it means the reverse too: travelling alone makes nothing cheaper. If a charter seems expensive for one person, it is because you are paying for a complete aircraft.
Where the model shines is with a group. Divide the price among the passengers and compare it with the tickets you will not be buying — plus the time you will not be losing.
Second: there are five categories, and they rise in steps
| Aircraft | Passengers |
|---|---|
| Cessna 206 | 1–4 |
| Piper Seneca | 1–5 |
| Piper Navajo | 1–6 |
| Cessna Caravan | 1–12 |
| King Air | 1–7 |
The price does not grow continuously: it jumps. Going from four to five passengers does not add twenty per cent; it moves you to the next step.
That is why our first question is how many of you there are and what you are carrying. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
And why precision matters: one extra person can change the category, and so can a surfboard or a set of dive gear.
The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Third: short legs cost more per mile
This is what surprises people most, and it has an explanation.
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Drake Bay – Puerto Jiménez | 23.0 NM |
| Liberia – Tamarindo | 23.2 NM |
| Nosara – Tamarindo | 22.4 NM |
A twenty-three-nautical-mile flight does not cost a quarter of a ninety-mile one. On these routes the price per nautical mile runs as much as five times higher than on the country's long legs.
The reason is that much of the cost is not in the air. Positioning the aircraft, the crew, coordination at two fields and the fees are paid the same on a twenty-minute hop as on an hour's flight.
A short flight is not cheap: it is fast. If economy is what you want over twenty nautical miles, there is almost always a road.
Fourth: on short routes, moving up a category costs more
And here is the least obvious figure of all.
On a long leg — Arenal to Nosara, seventy nautical miles — moving from the Cessna 206 to the Navajo adds around a third to the fare.
On a short one — Nosara to Tambor, forty miles — the same step multiplies the price by two and a half.
The reason is the same as before: over a long leg, distance dilutes the fixed cost of the bigger aircraft. Over a short one, there is no distance to dilute it.
Practical consequence: if you travel as a large group, the charter pays off better the longer the leg. On short hops, a party of six pays a considerable premium.
And what is not included
The price covers the aircraft and its operation. It does not cover what happens before or after:
Ground or river transfers from the airport to your accommodation, which at several destinations in this catalogue we do not operate.
Park permits — Corcovado, Guna Yala, Chirripó — with quotas and deadlines of their own.
And border formalities on international routes, which have deadlines independent of distance.
Each destination and route page sets out which apply. 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price per person?
No. It is for the whole aircraft. Two or four passengers in a Cessna 206 pay the same.
Why is a twenty-minute flight not cheap?
Because much of the cost — positioning, crew, coordination, fees — is paid the same whether short or long. A short flight is not cheap: it is fast.
How many aircraft categories are there?
Five, from four to twelve passengers. The price steps between them rather than growing continuously. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
When does a charter pay off most?
With a group and on long legs. The shorter the hop, the higher the premium for moving up a category.
Can a surfboard change the price?
Yes. What does not fit is usually not the weight but the length, and that can move the flight to the next category.
What is not in the fare?
Ground or river transfers, park permits and border formalities. Each route page sets out the ones that apply.