Domestic Flights within Costa Rica
Find flights around Costa Rica with Alternative Airlines.
Cheap Domestic Flights within Costa Rica
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About Domestic Flights
A domestic flight in Costa Rica is any non-stop flight that both departs and arrives at destinations within the country.
All airlines that operate routes within Costa Rica are small, Costa Rican carriers. There are some bigger airlines such as Avianca Costa Rica and Volaris Costa Rica, however, these airlines focus on providing international flights in and out of the country, rather than internally.
There are many airports in Costa Rica, but not all of them have regularly scheduled flights.
Airlines that fly internally within Costa Rica
SkyWay
SkyWay Costa Rica is a regional airline that flies which focuses mainly on domestic flights.
From its base at Juan Santamaría International Airpot, San Jose, it flies to seven other destinations within Costa Rica, making it one of the most well-connected airlines in Costa Rica.
The airline flies to airports in Drake Bay, La Fortuna/Arenal, Liberia, Osa/Corcovado Puerto Jiménez, Quepos and Tamarindo.
The airline also flies to Bocas del Toro, Panama.
Aerobell Airline
Originally launched as a charter airline, Aerobell Airline started flying within Costa Rica after Nature Air ceased operations in 2018.
Aerobell Airline is one of the more connected airlines in the country. The airline is based at San Jose's secondary airport Tobías Bolaños International Airport, from which it flies to 11 different destinations.
Destinations that it flies to include Bocas Del Toro, Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna, Liberia, Nosara, Pto. Jiménez, Quepos, Tamarindo, Tambor and Tortuguero.
SANSA
SANSA Airlines was created in the 1970s as the domestic airline of LACSA (now Avianca Costa Rica).
SANSA Airlines flies to more destinations within the country than any other airline in Costa Rica, with a total of 12 different airports.
From its base at Juan Santamaría International Airport, SANSA flies to Drake Bay, Golfito, La Fortuna/Arenal, Liberia, Palmar Sur, Puerto Jiménez, Puerto Limón, Quepos/Manuel Antonio, San Isidro de El General, Tamarindo, Tambor, Tortuguero, Nosara,
The airline also flies one international flight to Nicaragua.
TAC
TAC is a Costa Rican airline that's a subsidiary of TAG. TAG specialises in providing flights within Guatemala and created TAC so it can do the same in Costa Rica.
The airline is based at Tobías Bolaños International Airport, San Jose, from which it flies to seven destinations. These destinations include Liberia, Tamarindo, Tambor, Quepos, Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez and Bocas de Toro. TAC also connects Quepos to Drake Bay.
Green Airways
Green Airways is a scheduled carrier that was created by Carmon Air, which is a charter airline in Costa Rica.
The airline offers regular internal flights between its hub at Juan Santamaría International Airport, San Jose, and Tambor, with future plans to fly to Nosara, Quepos, Puerto Jimenez, Golfito, Liberia and Tamarindo, with some destinations operated on a seasonal basis.
Nature Air
For years, Nature Air was one of the top choices for flights within Costa Rica, flying to most major destinations in the country. Unfortunately, in 2018 it ceased operations.
In mid-2019, the airline announced that it's looking to relaunch and is in the process of seeking the finance to do so.
Why book internal flights in Costa Rica?
Although Costa Rica is a small country, flying can still be the most convenient and quickest way to travel. Plus, flights are inexpensive and offer great value for the length of time that can be saved. For example, travelling from San Jose to Puerto Jiminez by bus takes around five hours, whereas flying from San Jose to Puerto Jiminez takes under an hour.
There are quite a lot of airports in Costa Rica for such a small country and, as a result, it's well-connected by air. Most flights travel to/from one of the major airports in San Jose, but some airlines do offer flights between the smaller airports in destinations outside of the country's capital.
Internal Flights Check-In Time
Online check-in isn't available for any domestic airlines in Costa Rica. Airport check-in time will differ depending on which airline you fly on, however, generally, airlines ask that you arrive at least one hour before the scheduled flight departure time.
Skyway
- Online: No online check-in.
- Airport: Passengers are asked to arrive at least one hour before their flight is scheduled to depart.
Aerobell Airline
- Online: No online check-in.
- Airport: Passengers on basic fares must arrive at least 50 minutes before flight departure time. Passengers on Premium fare must arrive at least 35 minutes before flight departure time.
SANSA
- Online: No online check-in.
- Airport: Passengers must arrive at check-in at least one hour before their flight is scheduled to depart.
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Domestic Flights Costa Rica FAQs
Do I need a passport for flights within Costa Rica?
You don't need a passport if you're flying internally in Costa Rica. However, some airlines might ask for photo identification, so it's best to carry some form of government-issued photo identification on you so that you can show it upon request.
How early do I need to arrive for domestic flights in Costa Rica?
This will differ depending on the airline, but as a general rule, you should arrive at least one hour before your flight departure time. If you've never flown from the airport before or are not a seasoned traveller, it's recommended that you arrive earlier than an hour before.
Airport check-in in Costa Rica is mandatory, as no airlines currently offer online check-in.
What is the baggage allowance for flights in Costa Rica?
The baggage allowance for flights in Costa Rica will differ depending on which airline you're flying on. Generally, most airlines give one piece of free carry-on baggage with a maximum weight of 4.5kg and one piece of free checked baggage with a maximum weight of either 9 or 14kg.
Can I buy domestic flights online?
Yes, you can buy flights in Costa Rica online at Alternative Airlines. All you have to do is enter the two destinations that you want to fly between in our search form at the top of the page and click 'search flights'. We'll then show you all flights on all airlines that fly that route on the dates that you want to fly on.