Tobias Bolaños Airport in Costa Rica
Most tourist think that Costa Rica has just two international airports, Juan Santamaria International Airport and Liberia’s, Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport – thats not so.
Tobias Bolaños International Airport in Pavas, San Jose is getting known as a private hub for the rich and famous, main airport for various activities of the industry and for its domestic and international small chartered flights from places like Nicaragua, Granada and Panama. Since it is only a few miles from the US Embassy in Pavas it is regularly visited by diplomats.
The airport on the good side is very modern. It has passenger terminals for local and international flights, a high tech control tower that was recently updated, 96 hangers, fuel and oil services, and it maintains the services for many government agencies like, AIS, Airport Police, customs, meteorology, drug control, intelligence and security and MAG. It also is the hub for private businesses like, Natural Air, corporate, and various eco-tours charters. Schools for aviation mechanics and for airplanes and helicopter pilots are also conducted on the facilities.
However, on the dark side, it was common/street knowledge that it was also getting a reputation for many illegal actives because of loose security and just about anyone could pass through immigration.
But that may have changed three months ago when a small chartered plane filled with kilos of cocaine crash in a nearby neighborhood. With said, the government cracked down and suddenly the airport became more secure than San Jose International. On a recent trip we were forced to charter a private plane from Golfito. In the past, going in an out of the airport was a snap; nobody checked your baggage and/or passports. This time it was different as we watched buses, shuttles, and private cars getting searched with a fine tooth comb. One large bus the passengers all had to get out and stand in front of their baggage while dogs sniffed for drugs and passports were systematically checked.
This little security building is what one has to go through at Costa Rica's Tobias Bolanos International Airport - be careful...
Walking out of security, I decided to snap some pictures and was rushed by Federal police waving for me to put down the camera. Needless to say, I only snapped two before one Fed started to level his automatic rifle toward me.
Many locals will tell you this is just brief show of power, but I don’t think so, considering Costa Rica is becoming the new hub for drug traffic where we wrote about back in April, 2009. One of the most powerful drug cartels has established a presence in Costa Rica, and United States officials say there are more to come. Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel has already established a presence in Costa Rica. With no standing army, and a very limited police force, it is easy to see how the Columbia and Mexican cartels, have been stockpiling drugs for shipments north.
Security is very tight - Cars and Buses waiting to searched - Notice on the bus, the passenger is waiting with his baggage. Check out the drug dog behind the white car. Just second after I took this photo, I was instructed to put the camera down with a automatic rifle leveled at me.
It is very obvious that Tobias Bolaños International how has become the staging area to help fight Costa Rica’s war on drugs and with the US Embassy just down the road it now regularly visited by US drug enforcement. One of our accounts said, just the other day a nice motorcade stopped traffic heading to the Embassy.
The name Tobias Bolanos Palma ((1892-1953) is a tribute to Costa Rican’s first pilot and who laid the foundation of aviation in Costa Rica. Bolanos fought in the First World War as part of the French army. For his services, France gave him recognition and a lifetime pension and Costa Rica named an airport after him. Its construction took four years, was inaugurated on December 21, 1975, when it moved from La Sabana.
Travel Tip: If you plan on having someone pick you up (like a driver/taxi etc) they WILL NOT be able to get through the gate unless they have your flight number, airlines and full name of passenger. We have heard in some cases your passport number.
I would like to see that something is being done here in CR, because this narco " people have no right to settle in this land. The times has change and itis not longer a pride to be open for abuse from such a mees-up country such Mexico. T he CR people need to be more informed ( if not already ). Why not get more American training like ( El Salvador ) and presence, this are the very good guys." Regards Vilmi .
I’m a pilot and been through that airport before – One of our passengers left her passport in the hotel safe, and for a while I thought she was going to be arrested, it was real hassle. This airport now has better security than most US. I see the drug dog behind the white car.