Shipping household stuff

Whatever else you do, use a Costa Rica-based container shipper. Getting a container to your current home, getting it to a port of exit, getting it to Costa Rica . . . those are all routine matters that anyone (maybe even me) can accomplish. The trick lies in getting your goods through Costa Rican Customs and delivered to your new home. That's where local knowledge of the laws and procedures and of the local services come into play.

Too many folks have engaged perfectly legitimate container shippers who are not based here and who do a fine job until the container hits the dock at the port of entry here. That's where the headaches arise. Don't worry about who will schedule the container, who will get it to the port-of-exit, which ship brings the container, or where it lands here. Let the importer take care of all of that as he or she has done many times. Engage a costarican container importer and follow their instructions to a "T". If you don't, you'll likely wish you had.

BTW, we strongly recommend the Atenas/Grecia area with a preference for Grecia. Need more? Just ask.

Or.. buy what you need here and forget the headache...  your post seems full of crazy questions that you really shouldn't have to ask.  Like Dave said above... let the shipper worry about it.

Unless you are bringing family heirlooms and rare artifacts...  come with what you can bring on flights

(I brought TONS... from bedding to clothing to kitchen ware, to art, and tools!!) ... and I had it with me when I landed... no customs, no taxes, no waiting.  Nothing got lost or broken, even glassware.  ??

You can buy anything you need here in CR; within reason.  Going out to find it (easy for you if you are in central valley)  will be part of the fun of relocating.. and you'll get to know the area.  I learned so much about CR while hunting for tile, faucets, lighting, and furniture... I wouldn't give up that experience for anything. I even found mid-century furniture knock-offs in SJ at a place called Nordico. 

Also... and this is something so many people don't think of; will your 'stuff' work here???  Lots of upholstery items will get nasty over time; or you'll find that having less is easier... for cleaning, etc.  You are going to spend a LOT of time outside.. so consider your outdoor furniture to be equally important to indoor.  I use a lot of outdoor furniture INSIDE my house... washable cushions, etc. 

Think of it this way... if you went on vacation to Tahiti... would you expect Ethan Allen furniture??    Or, rattan and wicker ??

Good luck to you.

Thanks all for the awesome responses. I've  received quotes from state-side shippers for $3k-$10k. Crazy money for about 1/2 a 20 ft container. I've got a fella there in CR that came highly recommended, so, I'll  be calling him for a quote. Otherwise, I'll be pairing down to what can go on the plane. That's what I did when moving to Hawaii a decade ago...very freeing to get rid of stuff.

Thanks again,

Jeanne

@CR Jeanne

That's the spirit!!   We need more expats like you!!

Pura Vida!  and... Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias !

There are compelling arguments in favor of shipping your perfectly good (and maybe emotionally important) things to your new home. That's what we did and, nineteen years later, we have no regrets.

Want details? Just ask.

@daveandmarcia

And I have none either.  My memories and attachment to loved ones are more than enough to balance my soul... no rocking chair or other 'thing' is going to do that.  I learned early in life from my emotionally stable parents that material things will never be more important than persons; pets, memories...  even sad ones. 

What I gave away to friends and family will continue 'for them' even when I'm gone... stuff here in CR will end up with people who know nothing about who owned it or what it meant... and it'll probably get wet.   LOL

To each his or her own...