POST OFFICES•CORREOS SERVICES • ZIP CODES•CODIGO POSTALS • How do I ADDRESS AN ENVELOPE or How to Give your Address for someone to mail you something • PO•P.O. Boxes•Apartado Postal • Options on Mailing•Shipping Things FROM Costa Rica • Options on Mailing•Shipping Things TO Costa Rica • How to Receive Mail withOUT an “Address” • Getting a FREE Miami P.O. Box Address & Ship Things CHEAPER • Things Delivered TO YOUR DOOR WithIN Costa Rica • Receiving a FAX • What are the DUTY•TAX PERCENTAGES • Post Offices Open on Saturday•Correos Abierto en Sabado in Costa Rica & MORE!!!

POST OFFICES • CORREOS

of Costa Rica

This is my MASTER page with DETAILED descriptions and links to what ALL services Costa Rica's 
Correo's (Post Office) offers you!!

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ZIP CODES • Código Postal in Costa Rica
Yes Virginia - Costa Rica actually DOES have "Zip Codes" now (well - Codigo Postals as they're called in Costa Rica)One thing that's prevented MANY of us living in Costa Rica from actually ordering things online is because they often insist on getting our credit•debit card Billing "Zip Code" - which Costa Rica has not had -
UNTIL NOW!!!!!
THOUGH - the only challenge is, most banks have NOT put this "zip code" into THEIR system!!To find out your Zip Code•Codigo Postals - go to my post:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/09/ZipCodesInCR.html



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RATES for VARIOUS POSTAL•CORREO SERVICES:
Correos.go.cr/servicios/Tarifas_2013.html


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RATES for MAILING THINGS 

both Within Costa Rica and TO•Internationally

HOW MUCH IS POSTAGE TO THE U.S.•CANADA - REGULAR MAIL

(I'm not sure if it's to all locations)
Postcards:
510-c 
(WTH?  It's $1-ish to mail a postcard outside of Costa Rica?  FYI - 2 times I've sent postcards to the U.S. and 2 times they were NEVER received)

REGULAR LETTER:
0-100 grams - 950-c.  1 kilo -  2,000-c

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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A PIECE OF REGULAR MAIL FROM COSTA RICA - TO THE U.S.? 
I've been told it can take 20-30 business days - BUT - it is NOT trackable so do so at your own risk!!
(with that said, I've sent some things that were received in the U.S. in around 10+ days)

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SEND INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY PARCELS • ENCOMIENDAS

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THESE PACKAGES TO REACH NORTH AMERICA: 

They SAY 15-20 business days (they say it DOES go through Customs but it does NOT always get checked. 

NOTE:  EMS Courier DOES come with tracking.

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****EMS COURIER****
(HINT:  These things are NOT always checked by Customs)
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE:
7-10 business days
RATE:
 Letter - 2 page: Florida (the cheapest place to send things):0-100 grams = 9,890-c. 100-500 = 10,700-c. 1 k = 11,500-c
All other states:
0-100-grams = 14,950-c. 1k = 18,980-c

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Parcels
EMS Express Delivery
How Long Does it Take:
7-10 business days
 (PLUS ALL Express are checked through customs through Miami which can add 1-7 days PLUS Custom Taxes) 
RATE: 
 0-100 grams = 5,700-c. 100-500gm=  6,630-c. 1k-8,000-c.
 Coming from other states = 11,680-c

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CERTIFIED - INTERNATIONAL

Forms start with letter "R"
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE:
Take 20-30 business days. 
This is the ONLY form of sending things that is Trackable!!!

 RATE:

0-100 grams = 1,100-c.  Each additional grams +1,000-c   Tracking # - 720-c

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CERTIFIED - NATIONAL•WITHIN COSTA RICA

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE:
Parcels:
5 business days average

Regular mail:
1-1/2 weeks

Express:
24-48 hours


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HEADS UP•WARNING!!!

PRIORITY MAIL COMING TO COSTA RICA
These Priority Mail envelopes OFTEN get stopped and held up in Customs  - AND - the USPS (U.S. Postal Service) can NOT track it  - AND - it can take 1-3 MONTHS  - AND - sometimes things do not always arrive!!

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Did you know you could have packages
DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR??  

Home delivery within the Greater Central Valley  =  $3*
Home delivery OUTSIDE the Greater Central Valley  =  $5*

NOTE: *Restrictions apply as to areas and weights. Browse through Correos.go.cr detailes
Maximum 2 attempts at bring it to you - otherwise YOU will have to stop by the Post Office•Correos nearest you to pick it up.



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Need something delivered to someone within Costa Rica and you need it signed for AND proof of that sent back to you?  See above for those details!!


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WHAT YOU CAN • CAN NOT SHIP TO COSTA RICA VIA MAIL OR CONTAINER
 It seems to be getting harder and harder to get things shipped•mailed into Costa Rica so before you have something sent to you, KNOW if it's ok - otherwise - chances are good you can kiss it goodbye - ESPECIALLY things that are health oriented (even more so natural•holistic products) as it's getting impossible more and more to get all the permits from the Ministerio de Salud and all the hoops they have you jump through!!.
(I know one gal that's been waiting OVER a YEAR to get her seeds and natural product things which I'm sure are now bad)
BoxCorreos.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=167

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LOCATIONS OF
POST OFFICES • CORREOS:

Correos.go.cr/empresarial/cobertura/index.html

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POST OFFICE • CORREOS LOCATIONS

OPEN ON SATURDAY • SABADO - 8am-12pm/noon

Just HAVE to get something mailed?
Here are some locations:

SAN JOSE PROVINCE•STATE

San Jose-Centro - the Main office

in front of•Frente Club Unión

GUADALUPE

De la Iglesia Católica - 100 West•Oeste.

MORAVIA

Costado West•Oeste del Parque.

SAN ISIDRO DE GENERAL • PEREZ ZELEDON

200 metros South•Sur from•de la Municipalidad.

SAN PEDRO - MONTES DE OCA
150 metros South•Sur from•de la Iglesia católica

ZAPOTE

200 metros al South•Sur from•de la Iglesia de Zapote

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ALAJUELA PROVINCE•STATE
Alajuela

Calle 5 and Avenida 1Quesada (Alajuela, San Carlos)

 100 metros Norte y 50 metros West•Oeste from•de la Cruz Ruja.

La Fortuna•Arenal

 etrás de la Guardia de Asistencia Rural.

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CARTAGO PROVINCE•STATE

Avenida 2 between Calles 15 y 17

 
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HEREDIA PROVINCE•STATE

Avenida Central between Calles 0 y 2

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GUANACASTE PROVINCE•STATE
LIBERIA

200 metros North•Norte el Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago

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NICOYA PROVINCE•STATE
Diagonal a la esquina South•West • Sur•Oeste del Parque

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PUNTARENAS PROVINCE•STATE

JACO
In front of•Frente a la Guardia de Asistencia Rural
(in the Southern part of town by the futbol field, almost across from the Municipalidad)

PUNTARENAS
In front of•Frente al BCR

QUEPOS

Costado Norte de la Plaza de Rancho Grande
 
SANTA ELENA
Contiguo a la Guardia de Asistencia Rural

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LIMON PROVINCE•STATE
South•West corner • Diagonal a la esquina Sur•Oeste del Mercado

There are others at:
Correos.go.cr/empresarial/cobertura/index.html

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This is a post I did specifically on the

South•West Central Valley of Costa Rica

Escazu • Santa Ana • Pavas•Rohrmoser • Belen • Ciudad Colon

LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/04/PostOfficesEscazuSantaAnaCiudadColonBelen.html

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FORMAT FOR • HOW TO ADDRESS AN ENVELOPE •
GIVE YOUR ADDRESS FOR MAIL
coming to you in Costa Rica?

Spanish seems to usually be the reverse of English when writing/saying something - so you would write it basically giving the main "famous"/point of reference and then the meters it is from there:
My old one was a bit complicated - but after 2 visits - my postal carrier Erick knew my name and said "Hola Vicki" on the street to me one day!  (maybe giving him a banana and some water helped him remember me - but then again, I AM quite memorable - one way or the other!!!).  It was something like:

Vicki Skinner
Calle Vieja -  Calle Country Club - 75 meters Este.  Enfrete Cafe Torino - 100 meters - Casa Naranja
San Jose, Escazu - San Rafael
10203  Costa Rica
(I'd actually also put my cell number on it as well - JUST in case!!)

Amazingly - even Fed Ex found me the first time without calling me!!!


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OPTIONS ON HOW TO
RECEIVING MAIL IN COSTA RICA FROM ABROAD
I wrote about having people mail things from Abroad to you in Costa Rica at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/11/MailingThingsFromUS2CR.html


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What's the CHEAPEST WAY TO SHIP THINGS 
AWAY FROM Costa Rica? 
See the above chart!


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MAILING•SHIPPING THINGS TO COSTA RICA
You know finding things in Costa Rica isn't always so easy to say nothing about it not being very cheap, so what you can do it have things sent from a U.S. address (most are located in Miami, Florida) to Costa Rica.
Check what I've found on that at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/01/MailShippingToCR.html



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(this calculator is specifically for shipping through Box Correo - BUT - I'd use it to get the Duty %'s)
https://secure.boxcorreos.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38&Itemid=220

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INFO ON P.O. BOXES • APARTADO POSTAL

For information on P.O. Boxes • 

Apartado Postals - prices, when you can get them, when to renew them, etc. - check out my article at:

LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/01/POBoxesCR.html

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OTHER SERVICES:

FAXES and TELEGRAMS

Does anyone really use Faxes anymore?  Well, sometimes a need arises and it's not so easy to find one in Costa Rica. What can one do that's living in Costa Rica??

Did you know you can send and receive a FAX at the Post Office•Correo (including sending•receiving faxes international as well)?

Or a TELEGRAM?

Read my detailed blurb at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/04/FaxInCR.html


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Find a list of ALL the CORREO's SERVICES and PRICES at:

Correos.go.cr/servicios/Tarifas_2013.html

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SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE AT THE CORREO • POST OFFICE LIVE
I find reaching someone at the various offices isn't really easy.  MY experience has been OFTEN the line is busy or no one answers.

What I'd do first is post something on their Facebook page.
I'd post a message ON the public page PLUS send them a Private Message at:

facebook.com/CorreosDeCostaRica

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 OR, you can
TALK TO SOMEONE LIVE - ONLINE
(in Spanish of course) at:
BoxChat.correos.go.cr/webimsc/client.php


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OR
if you have something more complicated - after YEARS of calling the Correo•Post Office - I FINALLY found AN AWESOME ENGLISH-SPEAKING and GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT!!!
Esteban - 2-202-2920 xt 4362 (Monday-Friday - 8am-5pm) - EBolanos@correos.go.cr


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