Last update 20.06.2010

Introduction


Key West - cozumel - Guatemala - Costa Rica - Panama - Nicaragua and back

1. Opa Locka (Miami area) - Key West

Departed from Opa Loka, which can be seen below

Opa Loka airport

We flew to Key west along the famous highway US 1, which is visible on top  of the picture below.

Key-West

After having avoided the US navy base before Key West, we landed at Key West Intl APT (KEYW).

Navy base
 

2. Key West - Cozumel (Mexico)

From Key-West we had a long flight (3:40) over the water (and without auto-pilot !) through the Mexico Gulf to reach the beautiful island of Cozumel. We landed at the international APT (MMCZ).  We could see Cuba city as we passed a beautiful coral reef.

Cozumel Island, south west end

3. Cozumel - Guatemala City

From Cozumel we flew directly to Guatemala City (La Aurora MGGT) over Belize and overhead  the intl APT (Philip Goldson MZBZ). The picture below shows the magnificent and unspoiled beaches of Belize.

Along Belize coral coast

We moved to the charming old city of Antigua and spent two days there,  during the Eeastern  week. The main streets of the city were decorated during the night with coloured saw dust for the Eastern procession.

Street decoration completed at Antigua

4. Guatemala City - Liberia (Costa Rica)

With an altitude of 4952 ft and OAT of  36°C, we have experienced what density altitude means. By chance the RWY is long enough but the APT is sourrounded by mountains and climbing to reach an acceptable level was pretty long, the climbing rate was about 150 ft/min. 
Crossing the Nicaragua we could see the famous Lake with its volcanoes rising from the water.

Volcanoes from Nicaragua Lake

And we arrived at Liberia intl APT (Daniel Oduber MRLB) after having simply followed the coast.

Costa rica coast belfore Liberia APT


5. Liberia (Costa Rica) - Panama

Due to a 2000 ft ceiling we flew pretty low above the jungle and pineapple plantations to the Panama city international airport (Marcos Gelabert MPMG). We were number 5 for landing and were cleared for a direct approach on RWY 36. The "new" city of Panama is easily recognised at the right of the picture.

Panama city direct approach RWY 36

6. Panama - Managua (Nicaragua)

Another hot and humid day, which became still warmer in Managua intl APT (Augusto Cesar Sandino airport MNMG) where we land after 3:35 hours of flight. We flew over  the charming city of Granada, on the shore of the Nicaragua Lake.

Flyig over Granada

7. Managua - Tikal (Guatemala)

The METAR of Tikal international airport (MGTK) showed a 4000 m visibility with HZ due to forest fires, which are light intentionall to clear up the jungle. Unfortunately the visibility was really poor over the jungle already one hour before to arrive to the airport. Interstingly the same METAR gave a yellow warning for the Pacaya volcano, which  emitted a lot of smoke when we passed by. 

Active volcano

Crossing the Honduras was made under military control with quite precise routing and altitude, from which we were not allowed to deviate.

8. Tikal (Guatemala) - Cozumel

Beautiful flight over the Belize coast, its lagoon and crystal clear waters, back to Cozumel intl APT (MMCZ).  The picture shows the end of downwind, turning base for Cozumel intl APT. The airport in front is a military one, not the civil one.

Arrival at Cozumel

9. Maya site of Tikal

Maya site of Tikal

9. Cozumel - Key West

Arriving from south west, we were ask to proceed via south of tower and were rapidly cleared for landing RWY 27. Here the turn to final.

turning final RWY 27 at Key west from south west

10. Key West - North Perry

Easy flight back to North Perry (KHWO), hard to find the APT when you don't know well the Miami area, the GPS is definitively useful in such case.


BAck to North Perry

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