Ports · Pacific coast of Costa Rica
Puerto Caldera: 76 km on Route 27.
Costa Rica’s Pacific port, seen from the truck: who operates it now, what they require for entry, how much you can load and what we move to the Central Valley.
Caldera → San José
Port profile: who operates and what it moves.
Caldera is Costa Rica’s Pacific port. The port authority is INCOP and two concessionaires operate it; its docks handle everything from bulk to containers.
| Item | Puerto Caldera |
|---|---|
| Operator | Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera (SPC) and Sociedad Portuaria Granelera de Caldera (SPGC), concessionaires; port authority: INCOP |
| What it handles | Dry bulk, containers, steel, fruit, vehicles, general cargo and tuna. |
| Coast | Pacific coast of Costa Rica |
| Official site | spcaldera.com |
| Reference city | San José |
| Distance by road | 76 km |
| Road | National Route 27; alternate for heavy vehicles: Cambronero |
| Data quality | verifiedProfile taken from the operator or the authority. |
Last reviewed: September 2026. Reference values. Confirm with your GoTruck contact before loading. Distances are indicative: those from WFP (PMA/WFP) were measured for a light vehicle and are not navigation data. View the 7 sources (some in Spanish)
INCOP — Puerto Caldera; Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera — operator’s website; Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera — port and entry requirements; Globalvía Ruta 27 — highway concessionaire; PMA/WFP LCA — Costa Rica, puerto de Caldera; Delfino — medidas de SPC ante la congestión (10-abr-2025); Portal Portuario — SAAM Terminals adopta el nombre HGT (23-jun-2025).
More data: Puerto Caldera
- SPC is part of the Hanseatic Global Terminals network (Hapag-Lloyd), according to trade press.
- 2025 throughput: 544 vessels, 335 thousand TEU and 6.109 million tonnes.
How to read this profile.These are reference values compiled from public sources: port operators, authorities and the press. They do not replace confirmation from the terminal operator or the traffic authority. Gate hours, appointments and road restrictions change without notice: confirm with your GoTruck contact before scheduling the load.
Who runs the dock: as of September 30, 2026.
This is news with an as-of date, not a permanent fact: the operation of Puerto Caldera is in transition. Before scheduling cargo, confirm who operates the terminal that day.
Last reviewed: September 2026. News compiled from the press and official sources; it may have changed after the as-of date. View the 7 sources (cataloged in Spanish)
INCOP — proyecto de modernización de Caldera; El Observador — prórroga de la concesión de Caldera (30-jun-2026); MundoMarítimo — prórroga de la concesión de Caldera (1-jul-2026); El Observador — aval de la Contraloría a la nueva concesión (9-jul-2026); Teletica — calendario de INCOP para Caldera (30-set-2026); La Nación — medida judicial sobre la nueva contratación (22-set-2026); El Observador — tribunal frena negociaciones del nuevo contrato.
By road: National Route 27.
The reference connection between Puerto Caldera and San José, in figures; the route is drawn on the map at the top of the page. The distances are for planning; they are not navigation data.
76km
From Puerto Caldera to San José, according to public sourcesindicative80km
The same stretch, measured on the OpenStreetMap road networkThe planner measures on the OpenStreetMap network, which is why its distance differs slightly from that of the public sources.
Road: National Route 27; alternate for heavy vehicles: Cambronero.
Reference distance: 76 to 78 km on Route 27 (76 km according to SPC, 76.8 km of road length according to the concessionaire Globalvía and 78 km according to WFP).
We do not publish a fixed truck time for this stretch: it changes with the departure time, the line at the gate and the state of the road. We set the pickup or delivery window with you when quoting.
What shapes the trip
Two things shape this trip: the state of the road and the restrictions on heavy vehicles. Costa Rica restricts their movement in the Greater San José area (GAM) and closes a stretch of the highway to Cartago to them during the Romería pilgrimage; the hours and stretches in force are not verified, so they are not published here. They have to be confirmed before dispatch.
Route 27: heavy-vehicle detour via Cambronero
A road collapse at km 56 (Coyolar de Orotina) on May 27, 2026 left the road open to light vehicles only; heavy vehicles used Cambronero until passage was restored in both directions on July 6, 2026.
Validity and source of the data: A past event, already resolved, according to press reports from May and July 2026.
Time-of-day restriction on heavy vehicles in the Greater San José area (GAM)
Executive Decree 38238-MOPT restricts cargo vehicles over 6 t, Monday to Friday, at the hours and on the routes set in its table; the technical study covered Routes 1, 2, 3, 27 and 32. There are exemptions, perishables among them, and the decree provides for prohibiting entry into San José on holidays and special dates. The minister can suspend it, as happened in October 2022 because of route closures. Confirm the current hours and road sections.
Validity and source of the data: Decree published in La Gaceta 80 of April 28, 2014; amended in La Gaceta 196 of October 14, 2022. Hours, road sections and enforcement in 2026 not verified.
Romería pilgrimage to Cartago (August 1 and 2)
During the pilgrimage, the MOPT closes the Florencio del Castillo highway (Route 2), from Hacienda Vieja to the La Lima junction, to heavy vehicles and to vehicles carrying hazardous materials. In 2026 it applied on August 1 and 2. Confirm the dates and hours each year.
Validity and source of the data: Annual measure; latest MOPT announcement: July 29, 2026. Hours to be confirmed in each year’s announcement.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Reference values. Confirm with your GoTruck contact before loading. View the 6 sources (cataloged in Spanish)
MOPT Costa Rica, Decreto Ejecutivo 38238-MOPT (La Gaceta 80, 28-abr-2014); MOPT Costa Rica, Decreto 43735, reforma al artículo 5 (La Gaceta 196, 14-oct-2022); MOPT Costa Rica, Resolución 2022-001349 (La Gaceta 201, 21-oct-2022); MOPT Costa Rica, noticia del 29-jul-2026; El Observador — Ruta 27 reabierta en Orotina solo para livianos (30-may-2026); El Observador — Paso para todo vehículo en Orotina (3-jul-2026).
Weight you can load: the road decides.
The limit is not set by the container alone: the road sets it. In Costa Rica the gross vehicle weight (tractor, chassis, container and cargo together) has a maximum that depends on the axles of the combination.
legal limit verified
39,000kg
Maximum gross weight · 2-axle chassis (T3-S2)45,500kg
Maximum gross weight · 3-axle chassis (T3-S3)16,500kg
Maximum on the tandem axle23,000kg
Maximum on the tridem axleRegulation: Executive Decree 31363-MOPT (Reglamento de Circulación por Carretera con base en el Peso y las Dimensiones de los Vehículos de Carga), as amended. Weighing tolerance: 500 kg on vehicles or combinations with 2 to 4 axles and 1,000 kg on those with 5 axles or more, per axle or axle group; it is not cumulative and does not allow exceeding the maximum authorized weight; no fine and no transloading (Art. 6).
How much cargo the container has left
From the gross weight, subtract the tractor, the chassis and the empty container. What is left is the payload: an indicative calculation with reference tares and Costa Rica’s limit. Confirm it with the actual tare of the equipment before dispatch.
| Container | 2-axle chassis (T3-S2) | 3-axle chassis (T3-S3) |
|---|---|---|
| 20’ standard | 25,000 kg | 28,200–28,300 kg |
| 40’ standard | 23,600 kg | 26,600–28,800 kg |
| 40’ HC | 23,400 kg | 26,600–28,800 kg |
| 40’ HC reefer | — | — |
Last reviewed: September 2026. The country’s legal limit and our own payload estimate with reference tares; they are not data from GoTruck’s equipment. The container’s plate and the limit of each axle group prevail. View the 8 sources (cataloged in Spanish)
SINALEVI (PGR) — Decreto Ejecutivo 31363-MOPT, versión 9 de 9 (30-jul-2026); Imprenta Nacional — La Gaceta n.º 13 del 19-ene-2005 (Decreto 32191, Tablas 1 a 5); SINALEVI (PGR) — Ley 9078 de Tránsito, con cuadro de multas 2026; SIECA — Situación actual de los protocolos (vigencia por país); Crowley — Guatemala export weight restrictions (16-mar-2015); Maersk — Central America transport weight regulations (4-dic-2025); Seaboard Marine — Equipment; ONE — Container Specifications.
Notes on the regulation: axles, overweight and genset
- T3-S2 = 6 + 16.5 + 16.5 t; T3-S3 = 6 + 16.5 + 23 t. The maximum authorized weight is the sum of the maximums per axle type (Art. 13).
- Overweight detected: the vehicle may not continue and the excess is transloaded at the weighing site or at customs, at the carrier’s expense (Arts. 35-37).
- Reefer container: the genset weighs 621 to 830 kg without fuel, and that weight is subtracted from the cargo allowed.
How each payload figure was estimated
- 20’ standard, 2-axle chassis (T3-S2): 39,000 kg − tractor and 2-axle chassis 11,650 kg − container 2,300 kg. Tare derived from a 2015 Crowley table (equipment in Guatemala). Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the container plate and the limit of each axle group govern, and the axle group limit is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
- 20’ standard, 3-axle chassis (T3-S3): With 45,500 kg and a tractor and 3-axle chassis of 12,700 kg, the calculation exceeds the container plate: the range is the maximum plate payload according to ONE and Seaboard Marine spec sheets. On a 20’ the axle group limit is usually reached first. Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the container plate and the limit of each axle group govern, and the axle group limit is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
- 40’ standard, 2-axle chassis (T3-S2): 39,000 kg − tractor and 2-axle chassis 11,650 kg − container 3,700 kg. Tare derived from a 2015 Crowley table (equipment in Guatemala). Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the container plate and the limit of each axle group govern, and the axle group limit is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
- 40’ standard, 3-axle chassis (T3-S3): With 45,500 kg and a tractor and 3-axle chassis of 12,700 kg, the calculation exceeds the container plate: the range is the maximum plate payload, combined for 40’ and 40’ HC depending on the equipment (ONE and Seaboard Marine spec sheets). Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the container plate and the limit of each axle group govern, and the axle group limit is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
- 40’ HC, 2-axle chassis (T3-S2): 39,000 kg − tractor and 2-axle chassis 11,650 kg − container 3,900 kg. Tare derived from a 2015 Crowley table (equipment in Guatemala). Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the container plate and the limit of each axle group govern, and the axle group limit is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
- 40’ HC, 3-axle chassis (T3-S3): With 45,500 kg and a tractor and 3-axle chassis of 12,700 kg, the calculation exceeds the container plate: the range is the maximum plate payload, combined for 40’ and 40’ HC depending on the equipment (ONE and Seaboard Marine spec sheets). Indicative estimate, not a legal limit: the container plate and the limit of each axle group govern, and the axle group limit is usually reached before the gross total; the total assumes the front axle loaded to its maximum, which rarely happens. It is confirmed with the actual tare of the equipment.
For heavy containers, the 3-axle chassis raises the limit of the combination. We work with our own 3-axle chassis and with a network of verified partner carriers.
Before the gate: appointments and entry.
What each operator publishes for whoever arrives with the truck. Where it says an item is not published, the operator does not make it public: you have to ask for it.
Puerto Caldera
- Entry requirements for carriers (SPC): INS liability policy with coverages A and C and the official payment receipt, valid registration card, valid RTV inspection and toll and weigh-station ticket.
- SPC does not accept INS grace periods.
- Entry requests are filed 48 hours in advance, on business days; inquiries to permisosingreso@spcaldera.com.
- Gate hours: not published by INCOP or SPC.
- In April 2025, with the port at 100% occupancy, SPC applied entry time slots for trucks; whether this is still in force is not confirmed (press reports).
Last reviewed: September 2026. Taken from what each operator or authority publishes; what is marked as indicative comes from secondary sources cited in the profile. Hours are always checked with the operator. View the 3 sources (some in Spanish)
INCOP — Puerto Caldera; Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera — operator’s website; Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera — port and entry requirements.
Before sending the truck.Gate hours, appointments and requirements change without notice. They have to be confirmed with the terminal operator on the same day. The documents for the trip are listed in Documents: DUCA-T, waybill.
Who requests the appointment and who submits each requirement is agreed when quoting, before the truck leaves for the port.
What we move from here: from the port to the Central Valley.
From Caldera to the Central Valley, and back, we move dry and reefer containers, import and export. We are a licensed customs carrier for overland transport, code CR02343: if the cargo leaves the port without clearing customs, it travels under customs transit (in-bond).
Dry containers
20’, 40’ and High Cube containers between the port and your plant or warehouse, import and export.
Reefer containers
Reefer container with a genset during the trip, between the farm or the plant and the port.
Port–warehouse–port
Moves for inspection: from the port to the warehouse and back to the port.
Our own equipment (3-axle chassis and gensets) and a network of verified partner carriers. Owned or subcontracted, the same standard: 22-point inspection, verified driver, GPS with panic button and a 24-hour monitoring center. The protocol is on the Security page, and every shipment leaves with a tracking link.
22points
Security inspection, with owned or subcontracted equipment24hours
Monitoring centerCaldera, straight to the point: entry, operator and weight.
How many kilometers is it from Puerto Caldera to San José?
About 76 km by road, on National Route 27, as a reference value. Detail of the sources: 76 to 78 km on Route 27 (76 km according to SPC, 76.8 km of road length according to the concessionaire Globalvía and 78 km according to WFP). We do not publish a fixed truck time: it changes with the departure time, the line at the gate and the state of the road.
What is required for a truck to enter Puerto Caldera?
Entry requirements for carriers (SPC): INS liability policy with coverages A and C and the official payment receipt, valid registration card, valid RTV inspection and toll and weigh-station ticket. SPC does not accept INS grace periods. Entry requests are filed 48 hours in advance, on business days; inquiries to permisosingreso@spcaldera.com.
Who operates Puerto Caldera now?
Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera (SPC) and Sociedad Portuaria Granelera de Caldera (SPGC), concessionaires; port authority: INCOP. As of September 30, 2026: SPC operates under the concession extended to Aug 31, 2027; the new 30-year concession, awarded to Consorcio Sunset (HGT Inversiones and APM Terminals), remains unsigned and a court provisionally suspended the negotiations, so INCOP’s schedule (signing in Dec 2026 and operational takeover in Aug 2027) is conditional (press reports).
How much weight can I load in a container leaving Puerto Caldera?
In Costa Rica the maximum gross vehicle weight (tractor, chassis, container and cargo together) is 39,000 kg with a 2-axle chassis (T3-S2) and 45,500 kg with a 3-axle chassis (T3-S3). As an indicative reference, a 40’ HC container has 23,400 kg left for cargo with 2 axles and 26,600–28,800 kg with 3 axles; the actual figure depends on the tare of the equipment assigned. Run the numbers with your pallet in the load calculator.
Which areas does GoTruck reach from Caldera?
The Central Valley: Greater San José area (GAM), Coyol, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago. We move dry and reefer containers, do port–warehouse–port moves for inspection and pick up empties, with our own equipment or that of verified partner carriers: the same standard for all. For another destination, request a quote.
After the port: the border crossing and the route.
Have a container in Caldera? We move it.
Tell us which container it is, where it is going and by when. We reply with equipment, route and price.