LCL shipping to Alajuela, Costa Rica from Canada
Alajuela lies in Costa Rica's Central Valley just west of San José, next to the country's main international airport. It has no tariff line of its own, so A1 quotes ocean LCL freight to the destination warehouse (CFS) in San José, and the short final leg to Alajuela is up to the consignee. From Toronto or Montreal the transit is about 40 days; from Vancouver, about 50. Toronto gives the lower cost at USD 9 per cubic foot, with USD 611.14 as the smallest shipment.
Canadians retiring to the valley, returning Costa Rican families and small businesses use this lane. Collect the pallet at the San José CFS yourself or hire a local trucker; that delivery is not part of A1's price, and neither are customs, duties or taxes in Costa Rica. Household goods are accepted subject to carrier approval with a signed packing list and a passport copy. A1 does not offer pickup in Canada, so drop the cargo at our warehouse on heat-treated ISPM 15 pallets, and the carrier confirms destination charges before you pay.
How a shipment to Alajuela works
Alajuela is not a destination in the carrier's tariff. The closest priced destination is San Jose about 17 km (straight line) from Alajuela: the A1 price covers ocean freight from Canada to the destination warehouse (CFS) at San Jose. From there the consignee collects the cargo or books the last leg to Alajuela with a local trucking company; that delivery, destination customs clearance, duties and taxes are not in the A1 price.
Rates from Canada to San Jose
| 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 from Toronto: 1 CBM / 200 kg USD 611.14 with all A1 fees. The carrier charges by volume or by weight (1,000 kg per CBM), whichever is greater. From the Prairies the quote adds trucking to Montreal or Vancouver.
Personal effects: Personal effects and household goods are accepted subject to carrier approval: we send your packing list and passport copy to the carrier before you pay.
Documents: a signed packing list and a passport copy for personal effects, a commercial invoice and packing list for commercial cargo. Customs value up to CAD 2,000; cargo palletized or crated on ISPM 15 wood.
Booking: calculate the price above, sign the packing list online and upload your documents; after the carrier confirms the destination charges you pay and receive the labels and delivery instructions for the warehouse. See how to prepare a request.
All destinations and rates: shipping to Costa Rica · shipping destinations A–Z.
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.