Shipping to Costa Rica

Everything you ever wanted to know about Shipping and more...

Some friends and family have inquired about how to ship things to us. So, here is our attempt to share what we’ve learned. My mom and dad shipped an envelope early last week so we are all anxiously awaiting its arrival so we can use it as a ‘benchmark’. In it, is the most important thing of all --- a heavy-duty rope (that we just can’t find here) to repair the tree swing….of course.

This is the information we have as of today, August 16th:
Sending envelopes is the way to go. Anything in a box is likely to get stopped at Customs either in San Jose or in some port town and if that happens, we would have to make the 3 to 5 hour trip down the mountain to claim our package and hope that all is still intact. If sending anything by envelope, be sure to include a Customs Declaration Form on the outside which you can get at any post office. Do not have packages mailed DHL or FEDEX as they usually get caught in customs.

We will continue to ask others/business owners how they receive their packages….obviously these folks receive boxes of goods, just not sure how it works with transportation up the mountain.

Anything shipped should be sent to Mike at the following:
Michael Schaefer
Escuela de los amigos Monteverde
300 metros sur de la fabrica de quesos
Monteverde, Puntarenas 5655
Costa Rica

Phone if needed 506 2 645 5530

With the school year kicking off this Tuesday, as Mike gets more into his practice, he will have a better idea of particular needs within the school. When MFS teachers know of an American coming to CR for a visit, they order materials and have them shipped to the US address asking the visitor to carry it down. The school’s resources are only a fraction of what would be expected at a typical US school and it looks like he will have to be very resourceful as he gets started.
Signed: S