Routes out
0
Destinations
0
ICAO
MRBT
Elevation
19 ft
The gateway in a glance
The Essence of Barra del Tortuguero
Location
Tortuguero · L · Costa Rica
Position
10.569°, -83.515° · 19 ft elev.
Visa & Entry
Visa-free entry (many countries)
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A closer look
Living guide content for Barra del Tortuguero — read or listen in 46+ languages.
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TravelerPulse profile
Remote airstrip serving Costa Rica's wild Tortuguero region.
Location
Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Barra del Tortuguero Airport (ICAO: MRBT) is a small general aviation airstrip located near the village of Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It serves as a critical access point to the remote Tortuguero area, which is not connected to the main national road network and can otherwise only be reached by boat or scheduled light aircraft.
The airstrip primarily handles small propeller-driven aircraft operated by domestic charter and scheduled regional carriers serving eco-tourists, researchers, and local residents. The surrounding area is famous for Tortuguero National Park, a globally significant nesting site for green sea turtles.
Given the lack of road access to Tortuguero, the airport plays an outsized logistical role for the community and tourism industry relative to its modest size and infrastructure.
Terminals
The airport has no formal terminal building; passenger handling is minimal and informal, befitting a remote jungle airstrip.
Getting to & from
No road access exists from the airstrip to Tortuguero village; travelers rely on boat transfers along local canals to reach their destination.
Airlines here
Small Costa Rican regional operators such as Nature Air (now defunct) and Sansa Airlines have historically provided scheduled service to the airstrip.
Notable facts
- ›Tortuguero has no road connections to the rest of Costa Rica, making air and boat the only transport options.
- ›The airport serves as a gateway to Tortuguero National Park, a UNESCO-recognized sea turtle nesting area.
- ›The airstrip is unpaved and suitable only for small, light aircraft.
- ›The area receives very high annual rainfall, which can affect flight operations.
- ›Eco-tourism is the primary driver of passenger traffic through the airstrip.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
Airlines serving this airport
No scheduled airline data available.
Routes
No route data available.
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