Costa Rica Sailing Charters ~ Haiku
  Golfito, Puerto Jimenez, Matapalo, Pavones, Golfo Dulce

Sunset Tours ~ Day Sailing ~ Surf Tours ~ Fishing
Snorkeling ~ Dolphin, Whale, Bird Watching
Multi-day Sailing Tours From Golfito
Panama Pacific Island Tours
Matapalo Surf & Hiking Tours
Pavones Surf Tours
Golfo Dulce Cruise
Isla del Coco
Drake Bay
Isla Caño

Traveling to Golfito

Most international flights arrive at San José's Juan Santamaria international airport. There are good connections to US and Canadian cities and several Latin and South American countries. Travel options after arriving at the international airport are domestic air transfers, rental cars, public buses or private taxis.

**Once you have your destination in mind and the itinerary planned out you can fly from any airport to our location or we have a bi-lingual driver with an 8 passenger mini van that can take you to where Haiku will pick you up. (less expensive than air fare and you can experience the highland rainforests of Costa Rica or the various regions of Panama.)

Golfito by Air

Sansa Airline leaves from Juan Santamaria International airport and has a limited luggage allowance of carry-on and checked baggage to a maximum of 27 pounds per person. Excess baggage is allowed at an extra charge BUT is subject to space or weight capacity and there is an additional $1.00 charge per pound after 27.. A total of 2 surf boards (max. size 6’9”) are allowed per flight. If you want to ship your board check it in early. One way ticket price $92. Flight schedules are variable, but there is generally one early morning departure in and out of Golfito plus an additional flight around mid-day. During the high tourism season, a third afternoon flight will be offered.

Nature Air:  Nature Air has it's hub in Tobias Bolanos International Airport of San Jose located in Pavas, a neighborhood located about 5 miles west of downtown San Jose and about 10 miles from the international airport.  Tobias Bolanos Airport has a number of taxis and shuttle buses waiting curbside that can take passengers to anywhere they would like to go.  Please be aware that check in for international flights is at least one hour before the time of departure. And for domestic flights we are asking for people to check in 45 minutes before their flights. Any passenger not checked in at least 15 minutes before their flight will not be boarded.

Renting a Car
     Renting a car and driving in Costa Rica allows total freedom of movement. You can cover a lot of ground without delay, and you can stop and sightsee wherever you want. Plan your route before you take it, then stop and ask if you need directions. Costa Ricans do not like to say that "I don't know" and sincerely want to be helpful. You may need to ask more that one person and get a consensus.
     Remember to never leave valuables in your car. It is best to carry them with you. There are sometimes young boys in parking lots of nicer restaurants who will offer to watch your car for you while you eat. It is best to agree and then tip them a few hundred colones (approx. $1 U.S.).
     When you get your rental car, the representative will have you check the car for nicks, dents, and adequate tires. Exaggerate this procedure. Also, be sure to fill the car before you return it, or be prepared to pay an excessive amount for a fourth of a tank of gas.
     It is best not to speed, and the speed limit signs are in kilometers. If you are pulled over by the police, they will want to see your rental papers and your passport. Be polite, but never let them keep either of these documents. Also, do not pay the police for the ticket. You pay the ticket to the rental car company when you turn in the car.
     There is about 29,000 kilometers of highway in Costa Rica but only about 14% of that is paved. This is why we recommend 4 X 4 vehicles to most areas. Even Manuel Antonio and Monteverde (as popular as they are) have terrible roads to get there. But, look at it this way, if the roads were great, the places would be too crowded. 

Car rental notes:
     Car rental companies in Costa Rica charge a mandatory minimum insurance per day of approx. $16.00. This is not included in package and is payable direct to the car company on arrival. Car rental companies will require a deposit on a major credit card on arrival of anywhere between $1,000 - $1,500. It is recommended that you check car body and tires for damage and advise personnel before departing with car. Deposit will be refunded on return.

***We accept major credit cards and paypal***

Haiku Sailing Charters Costa Rica
Golfito, Costa Rica, Central America
E-mail: haikucharters@gmail.com
Telephone:  011.506.8387.1246
Captain Craig McBride & Janny Gaines