List of the busiest airports in Central America
Ranking of airports , 2014
Table:
Country
Airport name
IATA/ICAO Code
City served
Passengers

1.
Panama
Tocumen International Airport
PTY/MPTO
Panamá City
12,782,167[1]

2.
Costa Rica
Juan Santamaría International Airport
SJO/MROC
San José
3,917,573[2]

3.
El Salvador
Comalapa International Airport
SAL/MSLP
San Salvador
2,453,217[3]

4.
Guatemala
La Aurora International Airport
GUA/MGGT
Guatemala City
2,216,915[4]

5.
Nicaragua
Augusto C. Sandino International Airport
MGA/MNMG
Managua
1,311.965[5]

6.
Costa Rica
Daniel Oduber International Airport
LIR/MRLB
Liberia
779,757[2]

7.
Honduras
Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport
SAP/MHLM
San Pedro Sula
772,504[6]

8.
Honduras
Toncontín International Airport
TGU/MHTG
Tegucigalpa
617,526[6]

9.
Belize
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
BZE/MZBZ
Belize City
577,970[7]

10.
Honduras
Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport
RTB/MHRO
Roatán
286,738[6]

11.
Panama
Enrique Malek International Airport
DAV/MPDA
David
260,603[8]

12.
Panama
Albrook International Airport
PAC/MPMG
Panamá City
239,315[9]

13.
Honduras
Golosón International Airport
LCE/MHLC
La Ceiba
133,768[6]

14.
Panama
Panamá Pacífico International Airport
BLB/MPHO
Panamá City
132,205[8]

15.
Guatemala
Mundo Maya International Airport
FRS/MGTK
Flores/Tikal
111,075[4]

16.
Costa Rica
Tobías Bolaños International Airport
SYQ/MRPV
San José
88,363[2]

17.
Panama
Bocas del Toro International Airport
BOC/MPBO
Bocas/Isla Colón
80,378[10]

18.
Nicaragua
Corn Island Airport
RNI/MNCI
Corn Islands
50,700[10]

19.
Nicaragua
Bluefields Airport
BEF/MNBL
Bluefields
45,500[10]

20.
Nicaragua
Puerto Cabezas Airport
PUZ/MNPC
Puerto Cabezas
41,000[10]

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The International Air Transport Association ( IATA /aɪˈɑːtə/ ) is a trade association of the world 's airlines founded in 1945 . IATA has been described as a cartel since , in addition to setting technical standards for airline , IATA also organized tariff conferences that served as a forum for price fixing . Consisting of 290 airlines , primarily major carriers , representing 117 countries , the IATA 's member airlines account for carrying approximately 82% of total available seat miles air traffic . [ self-published source ? ] IATA supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards . It is headquartered in Canada in the city of Montréal , with Executive Offices in Geneva , Switzerland .
The International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ; French : Organisation de l'aviation civile internationale ; Chinese : 国际民航组织 ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations . It changes the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth . Its headquarters is located in the Quartier International of Montreal , Quebec , Canada . The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation , its infrastructure , flight inspection , prevention of unlawful interference , and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation . ICAO defines the protocols for air accident investigation that are followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation . The Air Navigation Commission ( ANC ) is the technical body within ICAO . The Commission is composed of 19 Commissioners , nominated by the ICAO 's contracting states and appointed by the ICAO Council . Commissioners serve as independent experts , who although nominated by their states , do not serve as state or political representatives . International Standards And Recommended Practices are developed under the direction of the ANC through the formal process of ICAO Panels . Once approved by the Commission , standards are sent to the Council , the political body of ICAO , for consultation and coordination with the Member States before final adoption . ICAO is distinct from other international air transport organizations , particularly because it alone is vested with international authority ( among signatory states ) : other organizations include the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) , a trade association representing airlines ; the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization ( CANSO ) , an organization for Air navigation service providers ( ANSPs ) ; and the Airports Council International , a trade association of airport authorities .
Tocumen International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen ) ( IATA : PTY , ICAO : MPTO ) is the international airport of Panama City , the capital of Panama . The airport serves as the homebase for Copa Airlines and is a regional hub to and from The Caribbean , South , North and Central America and additionally features routes to some European and Asian cities . There is high terrain to the north of the airport . The Tocumen VOR-DME ( Ident : TUM ) and non-directional beacon ( Ident : AT ) are located just south of the field .
Panama City ( Spanish : Ciudad de Panamá ; pronounced [ sjuˈða ( ð ) ðe panaˈma ] ) , also simply known as Panama , is the capital and largest city of Panama . It has an urban population of 880,691 , with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area . The city is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal , in the province of Panama . The city is the political and administrative center of the country , as well as a hub for banking and commerce . The city of Panama was founded on August 15 , 1519 , by Spanish conquistador Pedro Arias Dávila . The city was the starting point for expeditions that conquered the Inca Empire in Peru . It was a stopover point on one of the most important trade routes in the American continent , leading to the fairs of Nombre de Dios and Portobelo , through which passed most of the gold and silver that Spain took from the Americas . On January 28 , 1671 , the original city was destroyed by a fire when privateer Henry Morgan sacked and set fire to it . The city was formally reestablished two years later on January 21 , 1673 , on a peninsula located 8 km ( 5 miles ) from the original settlement . The site of the previously devastated city is still in ruins , and is now a popular tourist attraction , and is regularly visited by school trips .
Juan Santamaría International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría ) ( IATA : SJO , ICAO : MROC ) is the primary airport serving San José , the capital of Costa Rica . The airport is located in the city of Alajuela , 20 km ( 12 miles ) west of downtown San José . It is named after Costa Rica 's national hero , Juan Santamaría , a courageous drummer boy who died in 1856 defending his country against forces led by US-American filibuster William Walker . The airport is a hub of a local airline Sansa Airlines , bases for Avianca Costa Rica and Volaris Costa Rica , and a focus city for Copa Airlines . It was the country 's only international gateway for many years , but nowadays there is also an international airport in Liberia , Guanacaste . Both airports have direct flights to North and Central America and Europe , with the difference that Juan Santamaría International Airport also serves cities in South America and the Caribbean . Juan Santamaría International Airport was once the busiest airport in Central America , but currently it is ranked second after Tocumen International Airport in Panamá . In 2016 , Juan Santamaría International Airport received 4.6 million passengers ( both international and domestic ) . In 2011 , the airport was named the 3rd Best Airport in Latin America - Caribbean from the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International
San José ( Spanish : [ saŋ xoˈse ] ; literally meaning Saint Joseph ) is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica , and the capital of the province of the same name . It is located in the centre of the country , specifically in the mid-west of the Central Valley , and contained within San José Canton . San José is the seat of national government , the focal point of political and economic activity , and the major transportation hub of Costa Rica . The population of San José Canton was 288,054 in 2011 , and San Josés municipal land area measures 44.2 square kilometers ( 17.2 square miles ) , with an estimated 333,980 residents in 2015 . Together with several other cantons of the central valley including Alajuela , Heredia and Cartago it forms the Greater Metropolitan Area of the country , with an estimated population of over 2 million in 2017 . The city is named in honor of Joseph of Nazareth . Founded in 1736 by order of Cabildo de León , the population of San José rose during the 18th century through the use of colonial planning . It has historically been a city of strategic importance , having been the capital of Costa Rica three times . More than 1 million people pass through the city on a daily basis . It is home to the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica , the National Theatre of Costa Rica , and La Sabana Metropolitan Park . The Juan Santamaría International Airport serves the city . San José is notable among Latin American cities for its high quality of life , as well as for its security , level of globalization , environmental performance , public service , and recognized institutions .
El Salvador International Airport Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional de El Salvador San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez ) , ( IATA : SAL , ICAO : MSLP ) , previously known as Comalapa International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional de Comalapa ) is an airport that serves to San Salvador , El Salvador . It is located in the south central area of the country , in the city of San Luis Talpa , Department of La Paz , and occupies a triangular plain of 2519.8 acres , which borders the Pacific Ocean to the south , to the east with the Jiboa river , and to the northwest with the coastal highway . Being close to sea level , it allows aircraft to operate efficiently at maximum capacity . It is connected to the capital of San Salvador , El Salvador through a modern four-lane motorway , with 42 kilometers ( 26 miles ) travel in an average time of 30 minutes . It is the third of Central America in movement of passengers with 3,411,015 annually , counted without methodology , suggested by ICAO . It is classified as category 1 by the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States ( FAA ) and is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority ( CAA ) . Being the first in the isthmus to achieve these certifications In the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2015 it was recognized as the third best airport in Central America and the Caribbean . According to the World Economic Forum , it is the second in the region with the most competitive infrastructure achieving a score of 4.8 - 7.0 being the highest score - exceeded only by Panama ( 6.2 ) . In addition , ICAO recognizes it as one of the airports with the best security standards in the continent , only exceeded by United States and Canada .
San Salvador ( Holy Savior ) is the capital and the most populous city of El Salvador and its eponymous department . It is the country 's political , cultural , educational and financial center . The Metropolitan Area of San Salvador which comprises the capital itself and 13 of its municipalities has a population of 2,404,097 . As a beta global city , San Salvador is also an important financial hub of Central America . The city is home to the Concejo de Ministros de El Salvador ( Council of Ministries of El Salvador ) , La Asamblea Legislativa ( The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador ) , the Corte Suprema de Justicia ( The Supreme Court ) , and other governmental institutions , as well as the official residence of the president of the Republic . San Salvador is located in the Salvadoran highlands , surrounded by volcanoes and prone to earthquakes . The city is also home to the Catholic Archdiocese , as well as many Protestant branches of Christianity , including Evangelicals , Latter-day Saints , Baptists , and Pentecostals . San Salvador has the second largest Jewish community in Central America and a small Muslim community . San Salvador has been the host city for various regional and international sporting , political , and social events . It hosted the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1935 and 2002 , and the Central American Games in 1977 and 1994 , as well as the Miss Universe 1975 pageant . San Salvador was also the host city of the 18th Ibero-American Summit , held October 29-31 , 2008 , the most important sociopolitical event in the Spanish and Portuguese sphere . The Central American Integration System ( SICA ) has its headquarters in San Salvador .
La Aurora International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora , IATA : GUA , ICAO : MGGT ) serves Guatemala City , Guatemala . It is located 6.4 km ( 4.0 mi ) south of Guatemala City 's center and 25 km ( 16 mi ) from Antigua Guatemala . It is administered by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil . La Aurora International Airport is the primary airport of Guatemala . The airport went through a massive modernization and expansion . The airport is now able to accept a greater number of flights and larger aircraft . It provides high standard installations to the traveler . The old terminal has been renovated in accordance with its original design . It was partly demolished and was expanded with a new glass-designed concourse and is now able to accommodate up to twenty-two aircraft . [ citation needed ] The greater project was completed by December 2008 . The airport currently has two terminals : Central and North . La Aurora International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Central America in terms of passenger traffic , surpassed by Tocumen International Airport in Panamá , Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica , and Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in El Salvador .
Guatemala City ( Spanish : Ciudad de Guatemala ) , locally known as Guatemala or Guate , officially Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción ( New Guatemala of the Assumption ) , is the capital and largest city of Guatemala , and the most populous urban area in Central America . The city is located in the south-central part of the country , nestled in a mountain valley called Valle de la Ermita ( English : Hermitage Valley ) . It is estimated that its population is about 1 million . Guatemala City is also the capital of the Municipality of Guatemala and of the Guatemala Department . Guatemala City is the site of the Mayan city of Kaminaljuyu , founded around 1500 BC . [ citation needed ] Following the Spanish conquest , a new town was established , and in 1776 it was made capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala . In 1821 , Guatemala City was the scene of the declaration of independence of Central America from Spain , after which it became the capital of the newly established United Provinces of Central America ( later the Federal Republic of Central America ) . [ citation needed ] In 1847 , Guatemala declared itself an independent republic , with Guatemala City as its capital . The city was almost completely destroyed by the 1917-18 earthquakes . Reconstructions following the earthquakes have resulted in a more modern architectural landscape . [ citation needed ] Today , Guatemala City is the political , cultural , and economic center of Guatemala . It is served by La Aurora International Airport .
Augusto C. Sandino International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Augusto C. Sandino ) ( IATA : MGA , ICAO : MNMG ) or ACS is the main joint civil-military public international airport in Managua , Nicaragua named after Nicaraguan revolutionary Augusto Nicolás Sandino and located in the City 's 6th ward , known locally as Distrito 6 . Originally christened as Las Mercedes Airport in 1968 , it was later renamed Augusto C. Sandino International Airport during the Sandinista government in the 1980s and again in 2001 to Managua International Airport by then-president Arnoldo Alemán . Its name was changed once more in February 2007 to its current name by President Daniel Ortega to honor the revolutionary . Managua also has an alternative landing strip at Punta Huete Airport . Punta Huete was designed for larger aircraft . This alternative landing site , however , does not service commercial aircraft . The airport is managed by the state-run Administrative Company of International Airports , more commonly known as the EAAI given its Spanish name , the Empresa Administradora de Aeropuertos Internacionales . The runway at the airport is 8,012 ft long , and it is located at an elevation of 194 feet . With 1.4 million passengers in 2013 , ACS is currently the fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic in Central America . Augusto C. Sandino International Airport has direct scheduled service to destinations in the United States , Canada , Mexico , Central America and South America .
Managua ( Spanish pronunciation : [ maˈnaɣwa ] ) is the capital and largest city of Nicaragua , and the center of an eponymous department . Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua and inside the Managua Department , it has an estimated population 1,042,641 in 2016 within the city 's administrative limits and a population of 1,401,687 in the metropolitan area , which additionally includes the municipalities of Ciudad Sandino , El Crucero , Nindirí , Ticuantepe and Tipitapa . The city was declared the national capital in 1852 . Previously , the capital alternated between the cities of León and Granada . The 1972 Nicaragua earthquake and years of civil war in the 1980s severely disrupted and stunted Managua 's growth . It was not until the mid-1990s that Managua began to see a resurgence . [ citation needed ] Managua 's population is composed predominantly of mestizos and whites who are mainly of Spanish descent , with a minority being of French , Jewish Nicaraguan , German Nicaraguan , Italian , Russian , Greek and Turkish descent . [ citation needed ]
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Daniel Oduber Quirós ) ( IATA : LIR , ICAO : MRLB ) , also known as Liberia International Airport , is one of four international airports in Costa Rica . It serves especially as a tourism hub for those who visit the Pacific coast and western Costa Rica . The airport is named for Daniel Oduber Quirós , who served as president of Costa Rica from 1974 to 1978 . The airport is 11 kilometres ( 7 mi ) west-southwest of the city of Liberia in Guanacaste Province . The Liberia VOR-DME ( Ident : LIB ) is located on the field .
Liberia ( Spanish pronunciation : [ li.ˈβe.ɾja ] ) is the capital and largest city of Guanacaste province , Costa Rica , located 215 kilometres ( 134 mi ) northwest of the national capital , San José , in the canton with the same name . It is a major center for the country 's tourism industry . Liberia has been nicknamed la ciudad blanca ( the white city ) due to the white gravel that was once used to make the citys roads and the whitewashed colonial houses which used to make up a large part of the city . It had a population of 56,899 in 2013 .
Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Ramón Villeda Morales ) ( IATA : SAP , ICAO : MHLM ) , also known as La Mesa International Airport , is located 11 kilometres ( 7 mi ) southeast of the city of San Pedro Sula , in the Cortés Department of Honduras . The airport is named after Ramón Villeda Morales , who served as President of Honduras from 1957 to 1963 . It is the major and busiest airport in Honduras , handling about 1,022,924 passengers in 2018 . The airport also handles about 150 flights internationally and domestically . The airport provides short connections to tourist attractions such as La Ceiba , and the Caribbean beaches of Roatán and Tela .
San Pedro Sula ( Spanish pronunciation : [ san ˈpedɾo ˈsula ] ) is the capital of Cortés Department , Honduras . It is located in the northwest corner of the country in the Sula Valley , about 50 kilometers ( 31 miles ) south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean Sea . With a population of 661,190 in the central urban area ( 2019 calculation ) and a population of 1,445,598 in its metropolitan area in 2019 , it is the nation 's primary industrial center and second largest city after the capital Tegucigalpa .
Toncontín International Airport ( IATA : TGU , ICAO : MHTG ) or Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport is a civil and military airport located 6 km ( 4 mi ) from the centre of Tegucigalpa , Honduras . The History Channel programme Most Extreme Airports ranks it as the second most extreme airport in the world . The approach to the airport is considered to be one of the most difficult in the world to all aircraft , especially in inclement weather conditions .
Tegucigalpa ( UK : /tɛˌɡuːsɪˈɡælpə/ , US : /təˌ-/ , Spanish : [ teɣusiˈɣalpa ] ) , formally Tegucigalpa , Municipality of the Central District ( Spanish : Tegucigalpa , Municipio del Distrito Central or Tegucigalpa , M.D.C. ) , and colloquially referred to as Tegus or Teguz , is the capital and largest city of Honduras along with its twin sister , Comayagüela . Claimed on 29 September 1578 by the Spaniards , Tegucigalpa became the country 's capital on October 30 , 1880 , under President Marco Aurelio Soto , when he moved the capital from Comayagua . The current Constitution of Honduras , enacted in 1982 , names the sister cities of Tegucigalpa [ a ] and Comayagüela [ b ] as a Central District [ c ] to serve as the permanent national capital , under articles 8 and 295 . After the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America in 1841 , Honduras became an individual sovereign nation with Comayagua as its capital . The capital was moved to Tegucigalpa in 1880 . On January 30 , 1937 , Article 179 of the 1936 Honduran Constitution was changed under Decree 53 to establish Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela as a Central District . Tegucigalpa is located in the southern-central highland region known as the department of Francisco Morazán of which it is also the departmental capital . It is situated in a valley , surrounded by mountains . Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela , being sister cities , are physically separated by the Choluteca River . The Central District is the largest of the 28 municipalities in the Francisco Morazán department . Tegucigalpa is Honduras ' largest and most populous city as well as the nation 's political and administrative center . Tegucigalpa is host to 25 foreign embassies and 16 consulates .
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport ( IATA : BZE , ICAO : MZBZ ) is an airport that serves the nation of Belize 's largest city , Belize City along the eastern coast of Central America . It was named after politician Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson , who died in 2001 . Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is about 30 minutes drive from Belize City 's centre , in Ladyville . The airport is at an elevation of 5 m ( 16 ft ) and this means both the airport and the entirety of Belize City are at risk of serious flooding due to its low elevation and coastal location . For this reason , Belize 's capital has been moved to Belmopan , but it remains the largest and busiest in the country . With stable passenger growth , Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport is currently the seventh busiest airport in Central America .
Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras . According to the 2010 census , Belize City has a population of 57,169 people in 16,162 households . It is at the mouth of the Haulover Creek , which is a tributary of the Belize River . The Belize River empties into the Caribbean Sea five miles from Belize City on the Philip Goldson Highway on the coast of the Caribbean . The city is the country 's principal port and its financial and industrial hub . Cruise ships drop anchor outside the port and are tendered by local citizens . The city was almost entirely destroyed in 1961 when Hurricane Hattie swept ashore on October 31 . It was the capital of British Honduras ( as Belize was then named ) until the government was moved to the new capital of Belmopan in 1970 .
Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Manuel Gálvez ) ( IATA : RTB , ICAO : MHRO ) is an international airport located on the island of Roatán , in the Caribbean Sea 50 kilometres ( 31 mi ) off the northern coast of Honduras . Roatán is in the Bay Islands Department of Honduras . The airport serves national and international air traffic of the island , the nearby cities and for the region . The airport is named for Juan Manuel Gálvez ( 1889-1972 ) , the former president of the Republic of Honduras in 1949-1952 . It was known previously as Roatán International Airport .
Roatán ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ro.a.ˈtan ] ) is an island in the Caribbean , about 65 kilometres ( 40 mi ) off the northern coast of Honduras . It is located between the islands of Útila and Guanaja , and is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras . The island was formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan . [ citation needed ] It is approximately 77 kilometres ( 48 mi ) long , and less than 8 kilometres ( 5.0 mi ) across at its widest point . The island consists of two municipalities : José Santos Guardiola in the east and Roatán , including the Cayos Cochinos , further south in the west .
Enrique Malek International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Enrique Malek ) ( IATA : DAV , ICAO : MPDA ) is an international airport serving David , a city in the Chiriquí Province of Panama . During heavy travel times , the airport registers 900 operations monthly , serving approximately 20,000 passengers from Mexico , the United States , Canada and Central America . [ citation needed ]
David ( Spanish pronunciation : [ daˈβið ] ) , officially San José de David , is a city and corregimiento in the west of Panama . It is the capital of the province of Chiriquí and has an estimated population of 144,858 inhabitants as confirmed in 2013 . It is a relatively affluent city with a firmly established , dominant middle class and a very low unemployment and poverty index . The Pan-American Highway is a popular route to David . It is named after King David from the Bible . The development of the banking sector , public construction works such as the expansion of the airport and the David-Boquete highway alongside the growth of commercial activity in the city have increased its prominence as one of the fastest growing regions in the country . The city is the economic center of the Chiriqui province and produces more than half the gross domestic product of the province , which totals 2.1 billion . [ clarification needed ] It is known for being the third-largest city in the country both in population and by GDP and for being the largest city in Western Panama .
Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional de Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert ) ( IATA : PAC , ICAO : MPMG ) is a public airport located 1.5 kilometres ( 1 mi ) west of the center of Panama City , in the Panamá Province of Panama . It is on the site of the former Albrook Air Force Station . Previously , the airport was located in the area of Paitilla Punta Paitilla [ es ] , operating approximately 70 years until January 1999 , when the airport moved operations to Albrook . The name was changed to honor the Panamanian aviator Marcos A. Gelabert , whose contributions to Panamanian aviation included founding Panama 's first airline and first school for training pilots . Air Panama offers daily flights to many cities in Panama from Albrook Airport . Its corporate headquarters are located on the airport property . The runway length does not include greater than 230 metres ( 750 ft ) displaced thresholds on either end . There are hills in all quadrants . The Tocumen VOR-DME ( Ident : TUM ) is located 10.3 nautical miles ( 19 km ) east-northeast of the airport . The Taboga Island VOR-DME ( Ident : TBG ) is located 11.2 nautical miles ( 21 km ) south of the airport .
Golosón International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Golosón ) ( IATA : LCE , ICAO : MHLC ) is an airport located on the western side of the city of La Ceiba , in the Atlántida Department on the north coast of Honduras . It is also known as La Ceiba Airport ( Aeropuerto de La Ceiba ) and Hector C. Moncada Air Base ( Base Aérea Hector C. Moncada ) .
La Ceiba ( Spanish pronunciation : [ la ˈseiβa ] ) is a port city on the northern coast of Honduras in Central America . It is located on the southern edge of the Caribbean , forming part of the south eastern boundary of the Gulf of Honduras . With an estimated population of over 200,000 living in approximately 170 residential areas ( called colonias or barrios ) , it is the third-largest city in the country and the capital of the Honduran department of Atlántida . La Ceiba was officially founded on 23 August 1877 . The city was named after a giant ceiba tree that grew near the old dock . The city has been officially proclaimed the Eco-Tourism Capital of Honduras , as well as the Entertainment Capital of Honduras . Every year , on the third or fourth Saturday of May , the city holds its famous carnival to commemorate Isidore the Laborer ( Spanish San Isidro Labrador ) . During this time , the city is host to approximately 500,000 tourists .
Panamá Pacífico International Airport ( IATA : BLB , ICAO : MPPA ) is a commercial airport in Panama . It is located on the site of the former Howard Air Force Base , a United States Air Force base that was within the Panama Canal Zone . Panama City can be reached by crossing the nearby Bridge of the Americas . Commercial airline service started in 2014 , with VivaColombia being the first to begin operations . The airport receives larger jet aircraft like the Airbus A320 from VivaColombia Airlines and Boeing 737 from Wingo Airlines .
Mundo Maya International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Mundo Maya , IATA : FRS , ICAO : MGMM ) , formerly Flores International Airport as indicated by its 3-letter code , is an international airport located in the suburb of Santa Elena , in the city of Flores , Guatemala . It serves national and international air traffic for the areas of Flores , Santa Elena , and San Benito , as well as all the Maya sites like Tikal or Yaxhá and destinations like Guatemala City and Belize . Mundo Maya Airport , like other airports in Guatemala , is going through some expansions , to provide a better service to passengers and airlines , so it will be able to accept a greater number of flights and larger aircraft . In 2012 , the ICAO airport identifier for Mundo Maya International Airport changed from MGTK to MGMM .
Flores is the capital of the Petén Department , Guatemala 's landlocked , northernmost department . The population is 13,700 ( 2003 ) . Flores is the seat of the municipality of Flores ( population 22,600 ) . Its Catedral Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios y San Pablo Itzá is the cathedral episcopal see of the Apostolic Vicariate of El Petén ( formerly a territorial prelature ) .
Tikal ( /tiˈkɑːl/ ) ( Tikal in modern Mayan orthography ) is the ruin of an ancient city , which was likely to have been called Yax Mutal , found in a rainforest in Guatemala . It is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization . It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala . Situated in the department of El Petén , the site is part of Guatemala 's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya . Though monumental architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BCE , Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period , c. 200 to 900 CE . During this time , the city dominated much of the Maya region politically , economically , and militarily , while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the distant Valley of Mexico . There is evidence that Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacan in the 4th century CE . Following the end of the Late Classic Period , no new major monuments were built at Tikal and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned . These events were coupled with a gradual population decline , culminating with the site 's abandonment by the end of the 10th century . Tikal is the best understood of any of the large lowland Maya cities , with a long dynastic ruler list , the discovery of the tombs of many of the rulers on this list and the investigation of their monuments , temples and palaces .
Tobías Bolaños International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional Tobías Bolaños ) ( IATA : SYQ , ICAO : MRPV ) is one of four international airports in Costa Rica , and the secondary airport serving the city of San José , after Juan Santamaría International Airport . It is located in downtown San José , in Pavas District , San José Canton . The airport is named for the Costa Rican pilot Tobias Bolaños Palma ( 1892-1953 ) , first pilot graduated and who laid the foundation of aviation in Costa Rica . This airport is the main base for general aviation in the country , as well as most private flight operations , charter flights , tourism . and aviation schools . Several companies offer charter services from this airport : Aerobell , CarmonAir , and Taxiaereo among others . Runway length includes a 50 metres ( 160 ft ) displaced threshold on the west end . The El Coco VOR-DME ( Ident : TIO ) is located 5.9 nautical miles ( 11 km ) west-northwest of the airport . The Horcones non-directional beacon ( Ident : HOR ) is located 9.1 nautical miles ( 17 km ) to the west .
Bocas del Toro Isla Colón International Airport ( Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional de Bocas del Toro Isla Colón ) ( IATA : BOC , ICAO : MPBO ) is a public airport located 1.5 kilometres ( 1 mi ) northwest of the center of Bocas del Toro , a town on Isla Colón ( Colón Island ) in the Bocas del Toro Province of Panama . A small terminal exists at the east end of the runway . International arrivals must clear Panamanian customs at the airport . Taxis and telephones are available . No aviation fuel is available . The airport operates from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily . The airport has a control tower and runway lights . The single runway is aligned in an east-west direction and designated Runway 08/26 . The runway measures 1,500 m × 26 m ( 4,921 ft × 85 ft ) . The airport can accommodate business jets such as Bombardier Global Express , Gulfstreams , Dassault Falcon . The biggest scheduled plane is Air Panama Fokker 50 . The David VOR-DME ( Ident : DAV ) is located 58.1 nautical miles ( 108 km ) south of the airport .
Bocas del Toro ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈbokaz ðel ˈtoɾo ] ) , also known colloquially as Bocas Town , is the capital of the Panamanian province of Bocas del Toro and the district of Bocas del Toro . It is a town and a tourist resort located on the southern tip of Colón Island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in the Caribbean Sea . Bocas Town had 12,996 residents in 2008 . Bocas del Toro is served by Bocas del Toro Isla Colón International Airport which hosts daily commuter flights from and to Panama City and San José in neighboring Costa Rica .
Colón Island ( Spanish : Isla Colón ) is the northernmost and main island in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago located in Bocas del Toro Province , Panama . The capital city of the province , Bocas del Toro , is located on the island and is one of Panama 's main tourist attractions with over 150,000 visitors per year and an 8% annual rate of growth in tourism .
Corn Island International Airport ( IATA : RNI , ICAO : MNCI ) is an airport that serves Corn Island , Nicaragua . A new terminal has been built and the runway was refurbished so that medium-sized jet aircraft can land the airport . Buses and taxis are both available for transport around the island . It has x-ray machines , two immigration offices . The Bluefields NDB ( ident : CIS ) is located at the airport .
The Corn Islands ( Spanish : Las Islas del Maíz ) are two islands about 70 kilometres ( 43 mi ) east of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua , constituting one of 12 municipalities of the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region . The official name of the municipality is Corn Island ( the English name is officially used in Spanish-speaking Nicaragua ) .
Bluefields International Airport ( IATA : BEF , ICAO : MNBL ) is an airport serving Bluefields , a harbor city in the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region of Nicaragua . It is the busiest airport in the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua . A new terminal was opened recently and extension of the runway is planned . Currently , the airport serves only domestic and small international destinations , but plans are to make it international in the future . Taxicab and bus service are available . The airport is just south of the city on the Bluefields Bay shore . North approach and departure are over the water . The runway length includes a 175 metres ( 574 ft ) displaced threshold on Runway 23 . The Bluefields VOR/DME ( ident : BLU ) is located on the airfield .
Bluefields ( Spanish pronunciation : [ bluˈfjelds ] ) is the capital of the South Caribbean Autonomous Region ( RAAS ) in Nicaragua . It was also the capital of the former Zelaya Department , which was divided into North and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Regions . It is located on Bluefields Bay at the mouth of the Escondido River in the municipality of the same name . Bluefields was named after the Dutch pirate Abraham Blauvelt who hid in the bays waters in the early 17th century . It has a population of 87,000 ( 2005 ) and its inhabitants are mostly Mestizo . Minority groups include Afro-descendant Creoles , and indigenous Miskitu , as well as smaller communities of Garifuna , White People , Chinese , Mayangnas , Ulwas , and Ramas ; that is the reason why English is the most spoken language in the city 's urban area . Bluefields is Nicaraguas chief Caribbean port , from which hardwood , seafood , shrimp and lobster are exported . Bluefields was a rendezvous for English and Dutch buccaneers in the 16th and 17th century and became capital of the English protectorate over the Mosquito Coast in 1678 . During United States interventions ( 1912-15 , 1926-33 ) in Nicaragua , US Marines were stationed there . In 1984 , the United States mined the harbor ( along with those of Corinto and Puerto Sandino ) as part of the Nicaraguan Revolution . Bluefields was destroyed by Hurricane Joan in 1988 but was rebuilt .
Puerto Cabezas Airport ( IATA : PUZ , ICAO : MNPC ) is an airport serving Puerto Cabezas , Nicaragua . Also known as Bilwi Airport , it is located on Nicaragua 's Caribbean coast in the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region ( RACCN ) , approximately an hour from Managua by aircraft . Operated by the state of Nicaragua , it mainly serves the city of Puerto Cabezas , located close to the northeast corner of the country . It has an asphalted runway , 2,472 m × 51 m ( 8,110 ft × 167 ft ) . The Puerto Cabezas VOR-DME ( Ident : PZA ) is located on the field .
Puerto Cabezas ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈpweɾ.to ka.ˈβe.sas ] ; English : Bragman 's Bluff ; Miskito : Puerto Cabezas ) is a municipality in Nicaragua . It is the capital of the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region ( RACCN ) . The municipality and the entire region are indigenous lands . The city of Puerto Cabezas is a beautiful place which borders The Community of Ten Communities . Hurricane Felix hit Puerto Cabezas on September 4 , 2007 , killing about 100 people .