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Scarlett Martínez International Airport, at Río Hato in Coclé, Panama, is the gateway airport for the Playa Blanca and Farallón resort coast. Sitting just minutes from the beaches in the district of Antón, it was developed to put Panama’s Pacific Riviera within direct reach of travellers, sparing them the drive from the main international airport near the capital.
An airport built on aviation history
The airport occupies the site of the historic Río Hato airfield, a strip with a long military past on this coast. Its transformation into a civilian international airport is part of the wider story of Río Hato’s shift from military base to tourism hub, and it gave the Playa Blanca resort strip a dedicated air gateway. The airport is named in honour of Scarlett Martínez, and locals still often refer to it simply as the Río Hato airport.
Why it matters for the Riviera
- Proximity to the beaches, it is far closer to Playa Blanca, Farallón and Santa Clara than Panama City’s airports.
- Charter and seasonal service, over the years it has handled international charter and seasonal flights aimed at resort visitors.
- Short transfers, guests can be on the sand within a short drive of landing.
- Regional access, it opens up Coclé’s coast to travellers who would otherwise face a two-hour highway trip.
Practical notes
Commercial and charter schedules at regional airports like Scarlett Martínez have varied considerably over the years, with periods of active seasonal service and quieter stretches. If you hope to fly in directly rather than drive, check current airline routes and schedules close to your travel dates rather than assuming service is running. Many visitors still arrive via Tocumen International Airport near Panama City and drive west along the Pan-American Highway, roughly a two-hour journey to the Playa Blanca area.
The bigger picture
Whether or not you fly into it, Scarlett Martínez International Airport is a symbol of how Río Hato reinvented itself, turning a strategic airfield into a doorway for tourism. For the Playa Blanca–Farallón–Río Hato–Santa Clara area, it represents the infrastructure that helped make this quiet Coclé shore one of Panama’s most accessible beach destinations.