Flying in Costa Rica: a pilot's guide
A pilot's reference for flying in Costa Rica: the civil aviation authority (the national civil aviation authority), licensing and where to find 144 airports and the surrounding airspace.
Flying in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has 144 airports and airfields in our database, of which 10 have scheduled airline service. Civil aviation is overseen by the national civil aviation authority.
Licensing & regulations
Pilot licences, ratings, medicals and currency are issued and regulated by the national civil aviation authority; confirm current requirements with the official authority.
Major airports
- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
- Juan Santamaría International Airport
- Aerotortuguero Airport
- Golfito Airport
- La Fortuna Arenal Airport
- Limón International Airport
Browse all 144 Costa Rica airports and the airspace around them.
Reference and flight-planning context only — not for navigation. Licensing, airspace and entry rules change; always confirm with the national civil aviation authority and the current AIP before you fly.
Costa Rica aviation by the numbers
144 airfields on record (10 with scheduled service), 22 airspace volumes, 9 navaids.
- Small airport115
- Medium airport15
- Heliport8
- Closed4
- Large airport2
- Juan Santamaría International Airport9,882 ft
- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport9,022 ft
- Limón International Airport5,906 ft
- Tobías Bolaños International Airport5,138 ft
- Chacarita Airport4,921 ft
Counts computed from The Pilots Desk reference data (OurAirports, FAA, OpenAIP).