Punta Hermosa Airstrip

The closure was a direct consequence of the shutdown of the Coiba Penal Colony. After the prison closed, the entire island's management was transferred to Panama's environmental authority. In 2005, Coiba National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Maintaining an active airstrip was incompatible with the new, strict conservation and preservation mandates for the island's unique and fragile ecosystem.

The site is now an abandoned runway within the highly protected Coiba National Park. Satellite imagery confirms it is a distinct clearing in the jungle but is completely overgrown with vegetation and is not maintained. It is unserviceable for any type of aircraft. The area is being reclaimed by the surrounding tropical forest and is part of a sensitive ecological zone managed for conservation and scientific research. All access to the island for tourism or research is now conducted by boat.

Punta Hermosa Airstrip was not a public or commercial airport. Its historical significance is tied entirely to the infamous Coiba Penal Colony (1919-2004). The airstrip was a vital logistical link to the isolated island prison. It was used by the Panamanian government and military to transport prison staff, guards, government officials, and critical supplies. It also served as a crucial facility for emergency medical evacuations from one of the most remote and feared penal colonies in the Americas.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening the airstrip. Its location within a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national park with strict environmental protections makes any future development for aviation purposes highly improbable. Reopening the airstrip would require extensive environmental impact studies and would likely face strong opposition from conservation groups and UNESCO. The Panamanian government's focus for Isla de Coiba is on low-impact ecotourism and scientific study, which precludes the development of aviation infrastructure.