www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Costa Rican mail service has improved, but is slow. There are no tracking numbers on parcel posts. They're trying.

As to shipping stuff into the country: there is Aerocastillos, JetBox & now another posting on aeroposts. Over the years I've read and heard inconsistant service particularly around the holiday seasons. Aerocastillos has a calculator which has the duty rates on consumer goods, which is useful.

There are a number of options for not shipping through the postal services: UPS, DHS, & Fed Ex. The key factor is whether or not you have to deal with customs.

You have a $500 exemption evey six months. However in the past it is up to you to file the exemption. I've heard various explanations that it is either a one-tiime exemption (buy $100 and you use up your exemption) or cumulative (various purchases up to $500).

Dealing with customs on shipments is problematic. A client shipped in 10 computers to set up his puta and co with an internet cafe, but it fell through. His shipping cost via container was $550.00. Then came the settling the aduana account. He was able to get a value of $1000 on $3000 worth of used computers, which created a tax liability of $172.00. The agency and warehouse fees added up to another $460.00. So a total of $640, more or less.

He included a box of commercial foodstuffs and health and beauty items, and that's where the trouble with that box began. I spoke to the agent, and first a certificate of a one time exemption is needed. Besides inventorying the contents, all foodstuffs needs to list the contents, origin, etc. For $87 bucks of Trader Joes finest, it may take a month and cost $200.

Folks, there are sensible transport options that avoids all of this hassle. I expedite shipments via boat (small boxes) and there are several gringos involved in this.

And finally, carry on in the plane. There are many gringos including me, who transport stuff into the country via commercial flights. Avoid anything green or raw, it triggers an agricultural inspection.

Next: options or shipping in-country

Sorry I don't have experience with the correos except that there has been improvement. A friend ships cigars all over the world through the correos. It does sound like they have a procedure.

Another option is to use, "enomiendas', that is, Costa Ricas version of Fed Ex. All of the bus lines offer this service. You package it up with name and ID info, pay usually $4.00, and the bus line take it to Quepos where it can be picked up. I use this extensively in my bodega business. Works great so far.

Then there is finding a reliable person to transport it. There are many folks who do this as well as friends.

Then there are Costa Rican delivery companies. I haven't used any yet, but I've heard there are reliable ones.

http://www.correos.go.cr/correoswebsite ... quete.html. I found this tracking feature on their website and maybe helpful for shipping from CR to Int'l or within CR. If somebody sends something using their registered mail and uses this website, please let us know if it works.

I tried shipping Christmas chocolates twice using regular US mail service. One package went to an APTO. Unfortunately, neither parcel made it to the final destinations in CR. It was an unsuccessful, but relatively inexpensive, experiment. On a positive note, every parcel or letter I sent from Costa Rica to the US or Europe made it in less than 2 weeks.

OK, On June 30 I mailed a cellular battery and photo's and a CD in a 9 x 11" flat via US Postal service "Registered", to an APTO in Quepos, total shipping was about $20.00 from the Midwest. Had to use a Custom's form. My Postmaster checked on it the other day for me. It went from here to NY for 9 nine days for some reason, he says because of Customs, left NY July 9. It arrived in Quepos today 20 July. Key is, he says, send it registered, and they in CR will have less of a tendency to mess with it. Looks like he was right. Need to keep the package small, slim as possible to cut on postage, check USPS Int'l on line for sizes and weights and costs, but I'd do registered.

Aerocasillas is the way to go for packages.

I don't want to encourage anyone to use the CR mail system but I did, today, receive a card in the mail (Correos) that was postmarked July 15th in Atlanta. My dear aunt sends me a birthday card every year and it gets here every year.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.