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Logistics

Shipping Belongings
to Costa Rica

By Puerto Viejo Rentals Updated April 2026 ⏱ 5 min read

Shipping belongings to Costa Rica is one of those relocation topics where the honest advice differs significantly from the instinctive one. Most people planning an international move assume they should ship their stuff. Most people who have moved to Puerto Viejo Costa Rica will tell you they shipped far too much and left behind the wrong things. This guide covers what actually makes sense to bring, what to leave, how shipping works, and how to avoid the import duty surprises that catch people unprepared. 📦

The Core Rule — Bring Less Than You Think

Puerto Viejo has a functional furnished rental market. The standard long-term rental comes with furniture, beds, kitchen equipment, and basic household goods. There is a supermarket in town and a Walmart-equivalent in Limón 45 minutes away. Anything you can buy in a mid-sized Costa Rican city is available, albeit sometimes at higher prices for imported goods. The things that you genuinely cannot replace or that cost dramatically more in Costa Rica are the things worth shipping. Everything else is a cost and a logistics challenge in exchange for marginal benefit. 🧳

What to Bring

Electronics you depend on: Laptop, phone, camera, external hard drives, and any specialist equipment you use for work. Electronics have 15–30% import duty in Costa Rica and prices are significantly higher than in the US. Your personal devices arriving as part of a personal move have more favourable duty treatment — but document them carefully. 💻

Specialty medications: Any prescription or specialty medication that may be unavailable or require different documentation in Costa Rica. Bring a meaningful supply — at least three months — of anything you depend on. Costa Rican pharmacies stock many common medications but the specific brand or formulation you use may not be available.

Work equipment: Anything you use for professional work that is expensive to replace or not available in Costa Rica. Standing desks, monitor arms, specialist keyboard setups, professional audio equipment, professional cameras — if they are part of your income-generating setup, they are worth bringing.

Sentimental items: The things that cannot be replaced at any price. Pack these yourself and carry them in your luggage rather than shipping.

What to Leave Behind

Furniture: Puerto Viejo furnished rentals include furniture. Shipping a sofa from the US to Costa Rica costs more than the sofa is worth and requires a place to store it during the transition. Leave it behind, sell it, or donate it. 🛋️

Kitchen goods: Standard cookware, dishes, utensils — furnished rentals include these and anything missing is available in Limón at low cost. The one exception: speciality cooking equipment that matters significantly to your cooking practice.

Books and paper items: Heavy, high customs scrutiny, and available in digital form. Leave physical books unless they are irreplaceable editions.

Appliances: Puerto Viejo uses the same 110V current as the US and Canada, so voltage is not the issue — but shipping appliances is rarely cost-effective. Leave them behind.

Shipping Methods

For a full household move: consolidated container shipping with an established carrier (Crowley, King Ocean, MECO) is the most economical for volumes above a few cubic metres. A consolidation shipper fills a shared container with multiple relocators' goods — you pay for your cubic footage. Transit time from US ports: 10–20 days to Puerto Limón. For ground transport within Costa Rica — moving belongings from San José to Puerto Viejo or between locations on the Caribbean coast — we recommend Transportes Acosta. They are the safest, most reliable, and most economical transport company operating in the region. If you need help coordinating your move logistics or have questions about what to ship and what to leave, contact us directly — we have helped many people navigate this process and are happy to point you in the right direction. 🚢

For smaller volumes: air freight is faster (3–5 days) but significantly more expensive per kilogram. Courier services (UPS, FedEx, DHL) work for packages but trigger duty assessments on higher-value items. The postal service (EMS) is cheap but slow and has inconsistent customs treatment.

Customs and Duties — The Non-Negotiable Reality

Used personal effects accompanying a relocating legal resident to Costa Rica are typically exempt from import duty up to a threshold — but this exemption has specific documentation requirements (residency status, proof that items are genuinely used personal property, not new goods for sale). New items are dutiable at Costa Rica's standard rates: electronics 15–30%, clothing 15%, furniture varies. The customs process in Costa Rica is bureaucratic and slow — budget 2–4 weeks for clearance. Hire a local customs broker (agente aduanero) in Costa Rica to manage the import process — their fee is small relative to the potential cost of mistakes. ⚠️

Practical Tips

Document every item being shipped with photos, serial numbers for electronics, and estimated used value. Overvaluing items triggers higher duties; undervaluing triggers fines. Keep all shipping documents for customs use. Ship 4–6 weeks before you need items — customs delays are real. If bringing electronics as part of your move rather than shipping separately, carry them in your personal luggage to avoid the most aggressive customs scrutiny. For the full logistics of arriving in Puerto Viejo including the ground transport from San José, see how to move to Puerto Viejo step by step.

In This Article
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth shipping furniture and household goods to Costa Rica?
For most people: no. Puerto Viejo's furnished rental market means you do not need to bring furniture, cookware, or most household goods. Shipping costs plus import duties on used household goods typically exceed the cost of buying replacements in Costa Rica or simply renting furnished.
What has high import duties in Costa Rica?
Vehicles (50–80% of declared value), electronics (15–30%), luxury goods, and many new items. Used personal effects brought by a relocating resident are typically exempt from duty up to a certain value, but this exemption has specific requirements and documentation. New items are dutiable.
Can I bring a car to Costa Rica?
Yes but it is expensive — import duties run 50–80% of the declared vehicle value, plus taxes and registration. For most people relocating to Puerto Viejo specifically, a vehicle is not necessary (bicycle and taxi-bikes cover daily life), making the expense difficult to justify. Buying a used vehicle in Costa Rica after arrival is often more economical.
What should I not bring to Costa Rica?
Certain agricultural products, plants, and seeds require permits or are prohibited. Firearms require extensive permits and are generally not worth the administrative complexity. New electronics and appliances you plan to bring in large quantities will trigger import duty assessments. Check current customs regulations with your shipping company.
Which shipping companies work for sending belongings to Costa Rica?
Several international freight forwarders offer services to Costa Rica: Crowley, King Ocean, and MECO are among the established carriers. For smaller shipments, courier services like UPS, FedEx, and DHL work for packages but with duty risk on higher-value items. A consolidation shipper that fills a shared container with multiple customers' goods is often the most economical for mid-sized moves.
🔗 Explore More About Puerto Viejo

If you're imagining yourself here already, you're not alone. Dive into our Ultimate Guide to Puerto Viejo Costa Rica to see what it's really like to spend more time on the Caribbean coast.