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Small domestic gateway serving Costa Rica's northern zone.
Location
Upala, Costa Rica
Upala Airport (IATA: UPL, ICAO: MRUP) is a small domestic airport serving the town of Upala in the Alajuela province of northwestern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua. It primarily supports light aircraft operations and serves as a regional link for communities in the northern lowlands.
The airport is operated under Costa Rica's civil aviation authority and is served by small regional carriers offering scheduled and charter flights, primarily connecting Upala to San José. Its importance lies in providing air access to an otherwise relatively remote agricultural region where road travel can be difficult, particularly during the rainy season.
Terminals
The airport has a basic single terminal facility suited to small domestic operations with limited passenger amenities.
Getting to & from
Ground transport from the airport into Upala town is primarily by taxi or private vehicle, as no formal public bus connections serve the airport directly.
Airlines here
SANSA Airlines has operated scheduled service at Upala, connecting it to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José.
Notable facts
- ›Upala Airport serves one of Costa Rica's key agricultural regions, known for pineapple and palm oil production.
- ›The airport is located at a low elevation in Costa Rica's northern lowlands near the Nicaraguan border.
- ›It primarily handles light single- and twin-engine propeller aircraft.
- ›Air travel is especially valuable for this region due to poor road conditions during the wet season.
- ›The airport falls under the administration of Costa Rica's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC).
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 Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
