CR Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
Costa Rica UN/LOCODE entries use the country prefix CR followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, CRLIO identifies the Puerto Limon entry in the indexed sample.
Seaports in Costa Rica: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Costa Rica has 16 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting Caribbean and Pacific maritime trade through gateways including Puerto Limon and Puerto Caldera.
Use UN/LOCODE references to identify Costa Rica gateways, compare regional routing options and request current ocean freight rates.
Costa Rica Port Overview
Costa Rica has maritime gateways on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. The indexed coverage count is an Ecer Freight database measure, while throughput and infrastructure indicators follow the source and reporting year shown below.
16
Costa Rica ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
—
National maritime cargo volume, 2025; year-on-year change not consolidated in the cited public series
Official port statistics · 2025
—
National container throughput, 2025; year-on-year change not consolidated in the cited public series
Official port statistics · 2025
—
National commercial berth count, 2025; year-on-year change not consolidated in the cited public series
Port authority statistics · 2025
How many seaports does Costa Rica have?
Costa Rica has 16 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot.
Which ports are central to Costa Rica container shipping?
Puerto Limon and Moin are the principal Caribbean cargo references in the indexed sample, represented by CRLIO and CRPMN; Puerto Caldera, represented by CRPCA, is the principal Pacific gateway reference.
Which Costa Rica region handles the main maritime cargo flows?
The Caribbean coast, particularly the Puerto Limon–Moin area, is a major cargo corridor, while Puerto Caldera supports Pacific-side freight and regional distribution.
Top Costa Rica Ports by Indexed Activity
The table combines the highest-placed Costa Rica entries in the Ecer Freight sample with a comparable 2025 throughput field. A unified 2025 port-by-port TEU league table and verified year-on-year series are not available for every indexed entry, so unavailable ranking fields remain unassigned rather than estimated.
Indexed port sample and 2025 throughput availability
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Puerto Limon | CRLIO | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | San Jose | CRSJO | — | — | Central Valley |
| — | Puerto Caldera | CRPCA | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Quepos | CRQUE | — | — | Central Pacific |
| — | Puerto Limon | CRPLI | — | — | Caribbean coast |
| — | Caldera Cr | CRCAL | — | — | Pacific coast |
| — | Golfito | CRGOL | — | — | Southern Pacific |
| — | Moin | CRPMN | — | — | Caribbean coast |
Costa Rica Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Caribbean Coast
The Caribbean cluster is the primary reference area for containerized and export-oriented maritime logistics in Costa Rica.
Caribbean port entries
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Limon | CRLIO | Puerto Limon | Container, general cargo and export logistics |
| Puerto Limon | CRPLI | Colorado | Local and coastal port reference |
| Moin | CRPMN | Moin | Container and Caribbean gateway operations |
Pacific Coast
Pacific-side facilities connect Costa Rica with west-coast Americas services and support bulk, general cargo and regional supply chains.
Pacific port entries
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Caldera | CRPCA | Caldera Cr | Pacific general cargo and container gateway |
| Caldera Cr | CRCAL | Caldera Cr | Caldera port-area reference |
| Quepos | CRQUE | Quepos | Regional and coastal cargo activity |
| Golfito | CRGOL | — | Southern Pacific regional port activity |
| Golfito | CRGLF | Golfito | Southern Pacific regional port activity |
| Puntarenas | CRPAS | Puntarenas | Coastal and regional cargo services |
| Punta Morales | CRPUM | Punta Morales | Bulk and regional coastal cargo reference |
| Puntarenas | CRPUN | — | Port-area and coastal cargo reference |
Central Valley and Inland Logistics
Central Valley entries function primarily as inland commercial and logistics references connected to the maritime gateways by road and intermodal supply chains.
Inland logistics entries
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | CRSJO | San Jose | Inland commercial and distribution reference |
| Alajuela | CRAJU | Alajuela | Inland logistics and cargo distribution |
| Cartago | CRCAR | Cartago | Inland manufacturing and distribution |
| Heredia | CRHER | Heredia | Inland commercial and logistics activity |
Costa Rica UN/LOCODE Guide
City-Level and Terminal-Level References
A city-level reference and a terminal or port-area reference may appear as separate records. CRLIO, CRPLI and CRPMN therefore should be checked against the booking instruction, facility name and carrier routing.
How to Verify a Port Code
Verify the code against the UNECE reference framework and compare it with the Ecer Freight Port Codes directory before preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from Costa Rica: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative planning ranges only. Actual schedules depend on carrier rotation, transshipment, equipment availability, customs clearance and final delivery location.
Costa Rica to North America
Regular container planning from Caribbean and Pacific gateways to North American destinations, subject to carrier schedules and port pairing.
Costa Rica to Central America
Shorter regional services support containerized, general and project cargo movements around the Central American market.
Costa Rica to the Caribbean
Caribbean routing is centered on the Puerto Limon and Moin area, with direct or transshipment options varying by destination and sailing date.
Costa Rica to Europe and Asia
Long-haul movements generally use scheduled services and transshipment hubs, with routing selected according to cargo type and destination.
Data Methodology and Sources
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party indexed coverage of 16 Costa Rica ports and terminals, snapshot dated Nov 2026.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code verification reference.
- NGA Maritime Safety Information — navigational and maritime reference information, where applicable.
- Official Costa Rica port and transport statistics — cargo, container and infrastructure indicators are used when a current, comparable public series is available.
- Port operator and carrier disclosures — operational context and indicative routing information, subject to service and reporting changes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica Ports
How many seaports does Costa Rica have?
Costa Rica has 16 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot.
What is the main cargo port in Costa Rica?
Puerto Limon and Moin are the main Caribbean cargo references, while Puerto Caldera is the principal Pacific-side reference in the indexed sample.
What are the Costa Rica port codes?
Costa Rica codes begin with CR. Examples in the indexed sample include CRLIO for Puerto Limon, CRPMN for Moin and CRPCA for Puerto Caldera.
Which regions handle Costa Rica sea freight?
The main maritime regions are the Caribbean coast around Puerto Limon and Moin, the Pacific coast around Puerto Caldera, and inland logistics areas connected to those gateways.
Are the Costa Rica port figures current?
The indexed coverage was reviewed in Nov 2026. Port schedules, rates and operational statistics remain time-sensitive and should be confirmed for the shipment date.
How can shippers request Costa Rica sea freight rates?
Shippers can compare current FCL or LCL options through the rate-search links on this page. Final quotations depend on origin, destination, cargo details, equipment, sailing date and local charges.
Editorial note: This guide separates Ecer Freight's first-party indexed coverage from national throughput and infrastructure statistics. Port-code records are maintained in the database, while operational data, schedules and freight rates are reviewed and updated as authoritative public or commercial sources become available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Costa Rica: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact