In this series of posts, we answer common Costa Rica questions. Today, we’re talking about something that confuses many people planning to stay long-term: how to receive mail and packages in Costa Rica. We’ll share what we’ve learned about the options available and what works best.
Question
“My husband and I plan to live in Costa Rica for 1 year. We’re not opposed to living there longer, it’s just that we have agreed, for now, to commit to 1 year. We’re getting it all laid out and it’s all coming together nicely (thanks to bloggers like you :)), but I do have a question. Would you mind giving me the scoop on the postal service in Costa Rica? We will need to occasionally receive mail and packages from the U.S. We are looking to relocate to Uvita, if this helps you. Thanks for your time!”
Answer
Getting mail in Costa Rica works a lot differently from what you may be used to in the United States or Canada. Here’s some information that should help.
Mail Forwarding Services
If you are selling your home or don’t want to bother family or friends with checking your mail, you could consider a mail forwarding service. There are several companies in the US that will allow you to set up a new mailing address. We did this and changed our address permanently to keep receiving important tax notices, etc.
The way it works is that the mail service company will receive your mail, scan it, and send you a PDF copy by email. You can have them forward items internationally or shred things you don’t need. With the service we use, you also can store pieces of mail for a monthly fee.
Main Ways to Receive Mail and Packages in Costa Rica
During our years living here, we’ve found there are two main ways to get mail and packages into Costa Rica.
Correos de Costa Rica (Costa Rica’s Post Office)
One way to receive mail is to set up a post office box at your local Correos de Costa Rica. This is the government-run mail service. If you live in a gated community with house numbers, you may even be able to receive mail right to your doorstep, but you should still register with the office nearest to you. For rural areas where formal addresses are rare (second house past the large mango tree), a P.O. Box is more reliable.
You can easily set up a post office box with your passport. They are not very expensive in our experience (less than $100 per year).
With a P.O. Box, you can receive letters and some packages (Amazon, for example), but read the section below about what might get held up or even lost in customs.
In your case, there is no post office in Uvita, but the Uvita Information Center rents P.O. boxes and Correos delivers there.
Otherwise, the nearest post offices are in:
– Quepos (45 minutes north of Uvita)
– San Isidro de El General (45 minutes inland from Uvita)
Shipping and Forwarding Companies
This is usually the most convenient option for receiving packages.
There are many services in Costa Rica that will receive your packages in the US and forward them to Costa Rica for pickup. This usually takes about 1-4 weeks depending on what you order and which company you use.
We’ve tried a few of these and they have worked well. However, it can be expensive, sometimes doubling the cost of the item shipped. See more on import taxes below.
When we lived in the Uvita area (Dominical), we used a local company called Get It There Jerry several times.
Now that we live closer to Jaco, we use a company called American Export, which has offices in Alajuela, Herradura, and Quepos. We’ve been happy with them as well.
With these services, you get a mailing address in the US (usually Florida). Once they receive the package, they will send you an email asking you to submit receipts or an inventory of the items. This is so that they can calculate the import tax you’ll need to pay.
The company will then ship the package to Costa Rica (by container ship or plane), handle the customs documents and permits when necessary, and send you an invoice once it has been cleared. You can then pick up the package or arrange for delivery.
The drawback here is that you don’t exactly know what the final cost will be until everything clears customs and you also don’t know exactly when you will receive it.
Shipping costs are typically based on the size and weight of the item.
Other Options for Shipping Packages
DHL, UPS, and FedEx
Popular package delivery services like DHL, UPS, and FedEx deliver to Costa Rica and there are some local offices scattered around the country. If none are near you, they can deliver to a specific address (we usually choose a business we know to make it easier).
We once used DHL for an important document (letter size). We needed it rushed so we paid around $90 for two-day international delivery. Because of a holiday (Mother’s Day) and weekend, we received it in five days.
Ordering Direct from Amazon or Other Websites
We have used Amazon successfully in the past, having it shipped directly to our P.O. Box. You have to select the Ship to Costa Rica option when ordering. Amazon will do all the customs paperwork and estimate the taxes.
Although this sounds appealing, it can be hard to tract your package once it arrives in Costa Rica. Some of our packages were sent using Correos to the nearest post office, while others were delivered using local Costa Rica shipping companies. A lot of this depends on where you live in Costa Rica and the specific size/product that you ordered.
After having some frustration tracking down our Amazon packages, we always use a shipping company now.
Shipping Your Own Packages to Costa Rica
It’s important to remember that you usually can’t just ship a package to your Costa Rica address or P.O. Box and expect to receive it. All packages and international mail go through customs first.
If you have an undocumented package arrive, they will likely just place it on a shelf until someone comes to look for it. This means your package might get held up or even lost in customs or that you will need to go to a customs office in San Jose, Puntarenas, or Limon to claim it.
In our experience, it is much better to use a company that will handle all the paperwork.
Import Taxes
All items shipped into Costa Rica go through customs. They are taxed based on categories (e.g., electronics, books, clothing, grains, etc.).
We weren’t able to find an exact list of rates but according to the shipping company Get it There Jerry, most categories are taxed from 14% to 58%. The crazy thing is that there are almost 20,000 different categories!
In our experience, customs and shipping costs typically double the cost of the item.
Specialty Items
Keep in mind that some specialty items like cosmetics, foods, batteries, etc. may need a special permit as well. Usually, the shipping company will have information about these items on their website but if you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to ask before ordering. Depending on the permit needed, it could get very expensive!
Conclusion
Although getting mail in Costa Rica may seem complicated at first, you’ll find that with a little planning, it’s manageable. If you have friends or family visiting, you’ll definitely want to ask them to bring some things too, saving the hassle (and taxes) altogether!
Looking for more information about moving to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Home Decor and Furniture Stores in San Jose, Costa Rica – Sometimes it is easier to buy things locally and pick them out by hand. This post covers some good shopping options near San Jose.
Buying a House in Costa Rica – Buying a house is stressful as it is but in a foreign country even more so. This post breaks down the process so that you know what to expect.
Living in Costa Rica Category – Browse our living in Costa Rica category for more helpful information about life in paradise.