Wingo passengers only learn they’re flying to St. Maarten upon landing, third annual “Destino Oculto” event

GREAT BAY--Hundreds of Colombian tourists boarded two aircraft on Thursday without knowing where they were going, only to discover upon landing at Princess Juliana International Airport that their mystery Caribbean vacation destination was St. Maarten. The unusual arrival formed part of Colombian airline Wingo's third annual Destino Oculto, or Hidden Destination, adventure, which invites travelers to purchase an entire vacation without knowing where they will spend it.

The two special flights departed from Bogotá and Medellín on Thursday, October 22, bringing visitors to the island for a four-day, three-night vacation experience. Approximately 400 people connected to the visit are staying at Divi Resorts, providing a substantial boost to the property's occupancy and bringing another group of Colombian visitors to St. Maarten.

Unlike traditional vacation packages, Wingo's Destino Oculto offers travelers the opportunity to purchase flights, hotel accommodation, meals, drinks and activities without being told their destination. Participants know their departure date, the length of their vacation and what is included in their package, but the airline keeps the destination a secret until their aircraft lands.

The concept has proven popular in Colombia. When Wingo opened sales for its third edition on September 15, all available vacation packages sold out in just 19 minutes, setting a new record for the annual adventure. Packages started at US$1,599 per person, with the experience marketed under the theme "One Destination, Two Paradises."

For the 2026 edition, Wingo partnered with Corona and O Boticário to organize the experience, including a planned itinerary of entertainment, activities and surprises. The visitors will spend October 22 through 25 enjoying their vacation before returning to Colombia.

The initiative was first launched in 2024 when Wingo surprised travelers with a vacation to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Its second edition, held in 2025, brought Colombian visitors to Montego Bay, Jamaica, where the airline's mystery vacation packages sold out in 32 minutes.

The selection of St. Maarten for the third edition introduces the island to another group of Colombian travelers through a tourism experience designed around discovery and surprise. The concept also creates opportunities for the destination to receive exposure through visitors sharing their experiences on social media and through other travel-related content.

The arrival is particularly interesting from an air connectivity perspective. Wingo is a Colombian low-cost airline serving destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Although the two flights to St. Maarten are part of a special tourism initiative rather than an announced scheduled service, the visit places St. Maarten before Colombian travelers as a potential vacation destination.

There is also a precedent worth noting. Following Wingo's 2025 mystery flight experience to Jamaica, the airline introduced seasonal direct service between Bogotá and Montego Bay in December of that year. No similar announcement has been made concerning scheduled Wingo service to St. Maarten.

For St. Maarten, the October 22 arrivals represent an opportunity to showcase the island to visitors who committed to a vacation before even knowing its location. Their stay will introduce them to the island's beaches, hospitality and tourism offerings, while demonstrating the potential of creative travel marketing to attract visitors from markets beyond St. Maarten's traditional tourism sources.

What started as a mystery at two Colombian airports ended with the passengers discovering that their destination was St. Maarten.

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