Importing from the USA
How to import from the United States to Costa Rica
Buying from suppliers that don't export, pickup in any state, Miami consolidation, CAFTA-DR, documents and customs.
Read article →Import & Logistics Blog
Practical guides on Incoterms, customs, freight and international trade so you can import to Costa Rica without surprises.
Importing from the USA
How much does importing from the USA to Costa Rica cost
Freight, pickup, consolidation, insurance, duties on CIF value and local charges: the complete budgeting formula.
Read article →
Importing from the USA
How long does a shipment from the USA to Costa Rica take
Ocean and air times, East Coast vs West Coast, and the stages that add days before and after transit.
Read article →
Importing from the USA
CAFTA-DR: preferential tariffs with the United States
How to tell whether your goods qualify as originating, why buying in the US isn't enough, and what document you need.
Read article →
Importing from China
Importing heavy machinery from China to Costa Rica
RoRo, flat rack, open top or breakbulk: how to pick the mode, the details that define your quote and arrival via Caldera or Moín.
Read article →
Importing from Asia
How to import from Asia to Costa Rica (not just China)
Vietnam, Korea, India, Thailand, Japan: what each Asian origin offers, transit times and how cargo reaches Costa Rica.
Read article →
Importing from Asia
Importing used cars from Korea to Costa Rica
Purchase, documents, shipping via Caldera, taxes by age and registration: the whole process to bring a used vehicle.
Read article →
Ocean freight
Types of shipping containers: dimensions and uses
20', 40', High Cube, Reefer, Open Top, Flat Rack and Isotank: which cargo goes in each container and how to pick the right one.
Read article →
Customs
Costa Rica's ports of entry by route
Limón, Caldera, Peñas Blancas, Paso Canoas or Santamaría: which customs office your cargo enters through, by origin and mode.
Read article →
Customs & documentation
Certificate of origin: what it is and what it's for
The document that activates FTA preferential tariffs. Without it, you pay the full duty even if your product qualifies.
Read article →
Importing from Europe
How to import from Europe to Costa Rica, step by step
From purchase order to delivery: the 7 steps to import from Europe, with incoterms, documents and customs in plain language.
Read article →
Importing from Europe
The EU agreement that lowers your import duties
How to pay less duty (even 0%) on European goods with the EUR.1 certificate of origin or the invoice declaration.
Read article →
Importing from Europe
How much does it cost to import from Europe?
Every cost component of a European import and the levers to reduce it, including the preferential duty.
Read article →
Importing from Europe
How long does shipping from Europe to Costa Rica take?
Real transit times by sea and air from Europe, port by port, plus the stages that add days to your import.
Read article →
Importing from Europe
Import from anywhere in Europe: hub ports
Your supplier can be in any country, even landlocked: Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Valencia and Le Havre concentrate the continent's cargo.
Read article →
Business
How to reduce your company's import costs
Concrete strategies for your company to lower the total cost of importing, without sacrificing time or compliance.
Read article →
Business
How to choose a freight forwarder for your company
What to evaluate when choosing a freight forwarder: experience, coverage, transparent rates, communication and backing.
Read article →
Importing from China
Common mistakes when importing from China for the first time
The mistakes first-time importers make with China and how to avoid them so you do not lose money.
Read article →
Importing from China
How long does a shipment from China to Costa Rica take
Transit times by sea and air, which stages add days and how to plan your import from China.
Read article →
Importing from China
How to find and vet a supplier in China
Where to look for Chinese suppliers and how to vet them step by step to buy with confidence and avoid scams.
Read article →
Importing from China
How much does it cost to import from China to Costa Rica
All the components of the cost of importing from China to Costa Rica, with a breakdown example and how to lower it.
Read article →
Importing from China
How to import from China to Costa Rica step by step
The 7 steps to import from China to Costa Rica without headaches, from supplier to delivery.
Read article →
Ocean freight
FCL vs LCL: which is best for your cargo?
When full container (FCL) is best and when consolidated cargo (LCL) wins, based on your volume, cost and transit time.
Read article →
Import guide
Ocean vs. air freight: which to choose?
Cost, time and cargo type: when ocean freight is best and when air wins when importing to Costa Rica.
Read article →
Import guide
Import duties in Costa Rica: how they are calculated
Which taxes you pay when importing to Costa Rica and how they are calculated on the CIF value, with a step-by-step example.
Read article →
Logistics & packaging
Euro pallet vs. American pallet: which to choose?
Dimensions, uses and differences between the euro pallet and the American pallet so you pick the right one for your cargo.
Read article →
Customs
Pre-arrival vs. on-arrival (redestino) clearance
Benefits, drawbacks and when the advance declaration beats the on-arrival declaration when importing to Costa Rica.
Read article →
Customs & documentation
What the commercial invoice must include for customs
The mandatory information your commercial invoice cannot miss to avoid rejections and problems at Costa Rican customs.
Read article →
Logistics & packaging
Correct cargo packaging: responsibility and benefits
Why correct packaging protects your goods, cuts costs and avoids legal and customs problems in international transport.
Read article →
Import guide
Incoterms explained: FOB vs CIF vs EXW
What FOB, CIF and EXW mean, who pays freight and insurance, where risk transfers, and which one suits you when importing to Costa Rica.
Read article →