Quick answer
The Pacific coast of Central America (Puerto Quetzal, Acajutla, Corinto, Caldera, Balboa) usually involves transshipment via Lázaro Cárdenas, Buenaventura or Balboa, about 30–40 days. The Caribbean and the Atlantic side can be served by MSC, CMA, COSCO, ONE, EMC, YML and OOCL via the Panama Canal or hubs such as Colón, Cartagena, Kingston and Caucedo, with transit confirmed per sailing. Heavy 20-foot containers may carry an overweight surcharge, and San Juan, Puerto Rico requires an AMS filing. These are references; each sailing is confirmed with the carrier.
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Key Points
- Central America has a Pacific coast and a Caribbean coast, and the routing differs by side, so confirm which port the consignee needs before booking.
- Pacific-coast ports are mostly transshipment, about 30–40 days, subject to the carrier schedule.
- For the Caribbean, MSC, CMA, COSCO, ONE, EMC, YML and OOCL are all available, via the Panama Canal or transshipment hubs.
1. Two coasts, two different routings
Central America has a Pacific coast and a Caribbean (Atlantic) coast, and ports on each side of the same country are served very differently. Guatemala has Puerto Quetzal on the Pacific and Santo Tomás de Castilla and Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean; Costa Rica has Caldera on the Pacific and Moín on the Caribbean. Confirm which side the consignee needs before choosing the carrier and routing.
2. Pacific coast: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
Pacific-coast ports are mostly served by transshipment: CMA connects via Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico or Buenaventura in Colombia to regional feeders, and Maersk transships at Balboa, Panama. Overall transit is about 30–40 days, subject to the current carrier schedule.
- Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala), Acajutla (El Salvador): commonly via Lázaro Cárdenas.
- Corinto (Nicaragua), Caldera (Costa Rica): commonly via Buenaventura or Balboa.
- Balboa and Rodman (Panama): direct or transshipment.
3. Caribbean and the Atlantic side of Central America
Caribbean cargo moves through the Panama Canal or transships at hubs such as Colón, Cartagena, Kingston and Caucedo. MSC, CMA, COSCO, ONE, EMC, YML and OOCL can all be arranged, with wide port coverage; transit is confirmed per sailing and transshipment hub.
- Panama: Colón / Cristóbal / Manzanillo; Colombia: Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta.
- Jamaica: Kingston; Dominican Republic: Caucedo, Río Haina; Haiti: Port-au-Prince; Puerto Rico: San Juan.
- Honduras: Puerto Cortés; Guatemala: Santo Tomás / Puerto Barrios; Costa Rica: Moín; Belize City.
- Trinidad: Port of Spain / Point Lisas; Barbados: Bridgetown; Curaçao, Aruba; Guyana: Georgetown; Suriname: Paramaribo.
- Gulf of Mexico: Veracruz, Altamira, Progreso; Venezuela: Puerto Cabello, La Guaira.
4. Details that are easy to miss when booking
Schedules on Central America and Caribbean lanes change often, so settle these details at the quotation stage.
- Heavy small containers: some carriers charge an overweight surcharge on heavy 20-foot containers and some sailings have weight limits, so give the exact gross weight before booking.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico is US customs territory and requires an AMS filing in advance.
- Some Caribbean sailings are often delayed or tight on space, so book early in peak season.
- Dangerous goods and chemicals need carrier acceptance confirmed in advance, with the SDS/MSDS, UN number and class.
5. Destination charges and free time
Total cost is more than ocean freight. Destination charges, free time, customs clearance and inland delivery vary widely by port and agent. When requesting a quote, confirm what is included and who pays what under the agreed Incoterm.
FAQ
How long does shipping from China to the Pacific coast of Central America take?
Most routings involve transshipment, about 30–40 days overall, subject to the current carrier schedule.
Which Caribbean ports can you serve?
Common ports include Colón, Cartagena, Kingston, Caucedo, Río Haina, Puerto Cortés, Santo Tomás, Moín, San Juan and Port of Spain. Coverage is wide; send your port for a quote.
Can I contact you in Spanish?
Yes. Send the destination port, cargo, weight, volume and ready date in Spanish or English.
Inquiry brief
Send the shipment brief
Use this guide to prepare your shipment. Freight rates, schedules, cut-off times and document requirements depend on the specific cargo and route, and the latest confirmation from the carrier, port or relevant service provider.