Shipping to Costa Rica

Shipping from the USA to Costa Rica

Gelle Transport arranges freight from the United States to Costa Rica through vetted international air and ocean partners, building on our experience as a Kansas City trucking company since 2014. We collect your cargo in the US, prepare it for export, book the international leg and coordinate arrival in Costa Rica, with routing and availability confirmed before every booking.

For Canada and Mexico, road freight across the border is often faster and more economical than ocean or air. Caribbean and Central American islands are mainly served by short-sea routes from Florida and the Gulf Coast.

Air freight to Costa Rica

Air cargo from the United States to Costa Rica normally arrives at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). Air freight is the best choice for urgent, compact and high-value shipments such as electronics, spare parts, documents and medical supplies. Typical door-to-door transit from the USA to this region is about 1–5 days, depending on the origin airport, connections and customs clearance. Air cargo is charged on chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight.

Sea freight to Costa Rica

Ocean freight to Costa Rica usually arrives at Moín (Limón) and Caldera. Choose a full container (FCL) for larger volumes or a shared container (LCL) for smaller consignments. Typical ocean transit from the USA to this region is about 1–3 weeks, depending on the US port, sailing schedule and transhipment.

Customs and import documents for Costa Rica

Most shipments to Costa Rica need the following. Product-specific requirements vary, so we confirm them before your cargo leaves the US:

• Commercial invoice with item values
• Detailed packing list
• Bill of lading or air waybill
• Importer registration / tax ID in Costa Rica
• Certificates of origin or conformity where required
• Permits for regulated goods (food, medicines, chemicals)

Import duties and taxes are assessed in Costa Rica in the local currency (Costa Rican colón (CRC)) and are normally paid by the importer. US export rules also apply — some goods, technologies and destinations need an export licence.

How Gelle Transport helps

1. 01

   Assess the shipment

   We confirm the route to Costa Rica, what can be shipped and any restrictions before you commit.

2. 02

   US pickup and export

   We collect from your address or supplier and prepare the cargo and documents for export.

3. 03

   International freight

   Air or ocean booked with vetted carriers, with updates while in transit.

4. 04

   Arrival coordination

   Clearance and delivery in Costa Rica coordinated with local agents where available.

Other countries in North America