Diquís Stone Spheres — UNESCO World Heritage
The most enigmatic archaeological objects in Costa Rica — hundreds of perfectly round granite spheres, some over 2 meters in diameter, created by t…
Palmar Sur — South Pacific. 30 min to Drake Bay by boat.
Palmar Sur Airport (IATA: PMZ, ICAO: MRPM) serves the agricultural town of Palmar Sur in the valley of the Río Térraba — the regional hub for the South Pacific corridor connecting the Osa Peninsula, the Golfo Dulce, and the Sierpe River access to Drake Bay. At 18 meters elevation in the coastal lowlands, Palmar Sur sits at the center of a network of destinations that are otherwise difficult to reach overland.
The airport's primary strategic value is as a transit hub for travelers continuing to Drake Bay by boat — the Sierpe River access point for Drake Bay boat tours is 35 minutes from PMZ, making a San José → PMZ → Sierpe → Drake Bay routing a viable alternative to the direct San José → Drake Bay flight for groups who prefer a boat journey on the river.
The surrounding Palmar area is also the site of the famous Diquís Stone Spheres — a collection of pre-Columbian granite spheres of unknown purpose, found in the Sierpe delta and now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Pre-Columbian Chiefdom Settlements of the Diquís. Some of the largest examples remain at the Finca 6 archaeological site near Palmar Norte.
The most enigmatic archaeological objects in Costa Rica — hundreds of perfectly round granite spheres, some over 2 meters in diameter, created by t…
The Río Sierpe, 35 minutes from PMZ, flows through the largest mangrove forest in Central America before emptying into the Pacific at the Drake Bay…
The Pacific off the Osa Peninsula, accessible by boat from Sierpe, provides humpback whale encounters from July through October and December throug…
The Río General, running through the Pérez Zeledón valley 1 hour from PMZ, offers Class III–IV white water rafting through agricultural and foreste…
Palmar Sur Airport (IATA: PMZ, ICAO: MRPM) is a regional airport serving Palmar Sur and the South Pacific corridor of Costa Rica. 1,040m asphalt runway, 18m elevation, daylight operations. It is a key transit hub for travelers connecting to Drake Bay via Sierpe.
From PMZ, take a taxi to Sierpe (35 min). Boat tours to Drake Bay depart from the Sierpe dock daily, navigating the mangrove river to the Pacific coast (45 min). Book boat transport in advance through your lodge. Alternatively, AeroRide operates direct private charters from San José to Drake Bay.
The Diquís Stone Spheres are pre-Columbian granite spheres created by the Diquís culture, UNESCO-designated in 2014. The Finca 6 archaeological site near Palmar Norte (15 min from PMZ) is the primary access point for the largest authenticated collection.
PMZ has a 1,040-meter (3,412 ft) asphalt runway at 18m elevation, operating during daylight hours. ICAO: MRPM. Suitable for light propeller aircraft and small turboprops.
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