Cheap Flights to Punta Islita Airport

Discover Punta Islita

Costa Rica, a prime eco-tourist destination, is not just about national forests and reserves. Its coastline is also rich in picturesque spots with isolated, yet wonderful stretches of sand lapped by clear waters. The Islita area is one of these breathtaking places, although it is largely inaccessible and lacking in accommodations. Those on the lookout for rugged places to explore, however, will have fun here. To reach this place, one only has to board a plane going to Punta Islita Airport.

A small port of entry serving the community of Islita in Guanacaste, Punta Islita accommodates commercial planes coming from the capital. Even if comparably narrow, the 2,625 ft runway is able to accommodate small planes carrying passengers to check out this remote, yet splendid area in the west coastline. From here, tourists can enjoy a relaxing stay or an adventurous one through the rugged terrain.

What to see & do

In front of Hotel Punta Islita lies a stretch of fine beaches. The beach narrows at high tide, but it can be wide and romantic when the tide is low. Another good beach north of Punta Islita is at Playa Camaronal, where the sand is charcoal grey and strewn with driftwood. Another fine spot to visit is the Playa Samara, where one can bask in the beauty of the easy-to-navigate beach town. One will also find here a strip of pale-grey sand spanning two rocky headlands. One can walk along here, and check out the calm sea. The peaceful atmosphere here is also a delight, which can be restful for those out for some downtime.

From here, tourists can venture to the Playa Bejuco, which has some of the finest, yet least visited beaches in this side of Costa Rica. Playa San Miguel is buffeted by a hulking granite headland with a bunch of palm trees. Playa Coyote on the southern area, on the other hand, looks like a wilderness at times, except during high tide when the silver-grey sand gets swallowed by the water. Both the playas serve as nesting grounds for olive ridley turtles, making a pleasant area for eco-tourists.

Those who want to get a glimpse of the nature paradise Costa Rica is famous for can venture to Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Camaronal. It is a protected nesting site for leatherback, black turtles, and a number of other species. This can be a fascinating sight, although tourists have to be careful when visiting here, so as not to spook the wee creatures. After going around here, tourists can move to Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. The main attraction here starts in July and lasts up to December, when hundreds of Olive Ridley sea turtles. Leatherbacks and Pacific green turtles can also be sighted from October to January. Other creatures to find here include brown pelicans, frigatebirds, coatis, and fishing bulldog bats.

How to get around within Punta Islita

Limited information can be found about public transportation in Punta Islita. Upon landing at the airport, tourists can take the daily buses heading for the towns in the area. Those going to San Jose can also do so via bus. From here, one can go through San Francisco de Coyote and on to Playas San Miguel and Bejuco. Another possible (and more convenient) option is to rent a 4WD to navigate the rugged coastal roads and some river crossings. One can go around from Playa Carrillo to the village of Estrada, while other parts of the region can also be reached, such as Playas San Miguel and Coyote, via San Pedro, Cangrejal, and Bejuco.

How to get there

Tourists venturing to this part of Costa Rica can book flights to Punta Islita Airport. Airlines serving here are Nature Air and SANSA, which take passengers between San Jose and the region.