Commercial LCL shipping from Canada to Costa Rica
Samples, spare parts, stock for a small shop or goods for a customer abroad do not need a whole container. A1 ships commercial cargo in shared ocean containers (LCL) from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to San Jose. The rate starts at USD 9 per cubic foot to San Jose, and the carrier estimates 40–50 days in transit depending on the gateway and the city.
Costa Rican citizens returning after a long stay abroad and pensionado or rentista residents can apply for duty exemptions on used household goods; others pay import taxes. A local customs broker handles clearance, and the consignee should have the residence documents ready before the cargo arrives.
Costa Rican importers and the Central Valley. Commercial cargo for San José travels the same way, with Toronto and Montreal ten days quicker than Vancouver. The tariff names no extra conditions, but the importer's customs broker needs a clear commercial invoice with HS codes, quantities and unit values, and a packing list that matches it. ISPM 15 applies to every wooden pallet. The invoice value may not exceed CAD 2,000 and dangerous goods are not accepted. Deliver the cargo to our warehouse already palletized; the destination charges are confirmed by the carrier and prepaid in Canada.
Costa Rican importers who need goods quickly should have them delivered to Toronto or Montreal, where the estimate is about 40 days; Vancouver takes about 50. Put the importer's tax identification and the full delivery address in San José on the commercial invoice and on every pallet label, and send the invoice and packing list to the broker as soon as the booking is confirmed.
Commercial cargo rates to Costa Rica
| Destination | From Toronto | From Montreal | From Vancouver |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | USD 9 / cu ft 40 days · min. USD 611.14 | USD 9 / cu ft 40 days · min. USD 609.93 | USD 14 / cu ft 50 days · min. USD 787.34 |
Example: a small commercial shipment from Toronto to San Jose
- A few cartons (0.4 CBM, 80 kg): USD 611.14
- One pallet, 120 × 100 × 150 cm, 350 kg (1.8 CBM): USD 837.18
- Two such pallets (3.6 CBM, 700 kg): USD 1,409.37
The totals include the A1 processing fee, surcharges and solar fee. The carrier charges by volume or by weight (1,000 kg per CBM), whichever is greater. Destination charges are confirmed by the carrier before you pay; customs duties and taxes are paid by the importer in Costa Rica.
Which Canadian gateway: one pallet to San Jose
- From Toronto: USD 837.18, about 40 days
- From Montreal: USD 837.18, about 40 days
- From Vancouver: USD 1,155.06, about 50 days
Toronto is both the least expensive and the fastest gateway to San Jose. Choose the warehouse you can reach; from other Canadian cities the calculator shows the lowest of the three.
Dense goods are charged by weight: 1 CBM of tiles or metal parts weighing 800 kg costs USD 611.14 to San Jose, against USD 611.14 for 1 CBM at 200 kg.
Documents for commercial cargo
- Commercial invoice. Our commercial invoice (PDF): seller and buyer, a clear description of each item, quantity, unit value, total value, currency and country of origin. HS codes help customs in Costa Rica classify the goods.
- Packing list. The packing list (PDF) gives the pieces, packed dimensions and gross weight of every pallet, crate or carton, matching the invoice.
- Customs value. The customs value of the shipment may not exceed CAD 2,000.
The importer's details that the carrier conditions below ask for (tax or registration numbers) go on the invoice and the booking. More help: commercial shipping documents.
Pallets and crates
Commercial cargo travels palletized or crated. Wood packaging must be ISPM 15 heat-treated and stamped, or the cargo can be refused at the destination. Stack the cartons squarely on the pallet, no wider than the pallet itself, and stretch-wrap and strap them; label every piece with the consignee's name and city in Costa Rica. You deliver the cargo, already palletized or crated, to our receiving warehouse in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver: A1 does not offer pickup and does not palletize. The warehouse measures and weighs the cargo, and the final price follows those measurements.
Carrier conditions for Costa Rica
The carrier's tariff lists no special conditions for Costa Rica beyond the general rules on this page; the destination charges are confirmed for each booking.
How to book
Calculate the price in the calculator above with the cargo type "Commercial cargo", accept the quote and upload the commercial invoice and packing list on your booking page. After the carrier confirms the destination charges, you pay and receive the labels and the warehouse delivery instructions. Sending your own belongings rather than goods? See personal effects shipping to Costa Rica.
Shipping to Costa Rica by service
- All shipping to Costa Rica: rates and destinations
- Personal effects shipping to Costa Rica from Canada
A1 services from Canada: Ocean LCL shipping, personal effects, commercial cargo, air freight (on request).
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Costa Rica?
One pallet of 120 × 100 × 150 cm weighing 350 kg from Toronto to San Jose costs about USD 837.18 including all A1 fees. Destination charges, duties and taxes are confirmed separately.
Which documents does a commercial shipment to Costa Rica need?
A commercial invoice and a packing list, plus anything the carrier conditions for Costa Rica require. The customs value of the shipment may not exceed CAD 2,000.
Does A1 pick up or palletize the cargo?
No. You deliver the cargo, already palletized or crated, to our receiving warehouse in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver.
Rates valid through December 25, 2026; totals include A1 fees of USD 265.00. Destination charges are confirmed by the carrier, duties and taxes are paid by the consignee, and transit days are the carrier's estimate.