Ocean Freight to Colombia

Shipping ocean freight to Colombia gives you access to a growing Latin American economy, with major ports on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Cities such as Cartagena, Barranquilla and Buenaventura serve as key gateways into the country's logistics chain. With competitive shipping services, you can import goods efficiently and benefit from Colombia's trade links and infrastructure improvements.

Why Ship to Colombia with iContainers?

Colombia offers promising business opportunities - but shipping there means managing diverse origin routes, multiple port options, and inland logistics across rugged terrain. With iContainers you get digital simplicity plus trade-lane know-how.

Latin America Trade Corridor Expertise

• We understand key origin-to-Colombia lanes (US, Europe, Asia, Latin America).
• Our platform supports Caribbean and Pacific port options into Colombia for flexible routing.
• You benefit from knowledge of inland logistics: many production & consumption zones are inland, not coastal.

Competitive Freight Rates from Key Origins

Whether shipping from the United States, Europe, Asia or other Latin American countries into Colombia, you can:

• Compare FCL vs LCL options, cost vs transit time.
• Choose between Caribbean ports (faster from Europe/US East) or Pacific ports (strong for US West/Asia origins).
• View transparent surcharge and destination-cost breakdowns ahead of time.

End-to-End Service with Local Support

From origin pick-up to sea voyage and final delivery inside Colombia, we cover:

• Door-to-door or port-to-door options via Colombian ports.
• Guidance on Colombian customs, documentation, inland transport and regional distribution.
• Tracking and updates that reflect the Colombian context (terrain, inland haulage, dual-coast port options).

Ocean Freight Services to Colombia

Selecting the proper service type is important given Colombia's mix of coastlines and inland logistics challenges.

FCL Shipping to Colombia

Full Container Load (FCL) is best when you:

• Have large volumes bound for Colombia (manufacturing, retail stock, major imports).
• Want dedicated container, less consolidation risk, faster processing.
• Need distribution into major urban centres inland (e.g., Bogotá) where container reliability pays off.

LCL Shipping to Colombia

Less-than-Container Load (LCL) is well suited when:

• You ship smaller volumes (e-commerce, spare parts, market testing).
• You prefer lower cost entry and flexible routing.
• You're distributing regionally inside Colombia rather than single large import.

Shipping Costs to Colombia

Understanding cost drivers ensures accurate budgeting and avoids hidden surprises.

What Influences Your Ocean Freight Cost? (distance, mode, container type, surcharges, seasonality)

Here are key cost influencers for shipping to Colombia:

• Origin & route: US East vs Asia vs Europe will differ in cost and time.
• Container type & size: 20', 40', High Cube; special containers raise cost.
• Destination port & inland haulage: Choosing Caribbean vs Pacific port impacts cost; inland transport across mountains adds cost.
• Surcharges and fees: Port handling, customs, inland trucking, terminal costs.
• Seasonality & capacity: Weather, holiday export/import peaks, port congestion.

Using the quoting tool, you'll receive full cost breakdown before booking.

Transit Times to Colombia

Transit time is crucial especially when dealing with inland deliveries and multiple possible ports.

Average Transit Times from the U.S

• From U.S. East Coast into Colombian Caribbean ports (e.g., Cartagena, Barranquilla) expect typical sea transit times of ~1-2 weeks, depending on service.
• From U.S. West Coast to Pacific port (Buenaventura) may take ~2-3 weeks.

Transit Times from Europe & Asia

• Europe → Caribbean Colombia: often 2-4 weeks, depending on transshipment.
• Asia → Pacific Colombia: often 3-5+ weeks, due to longer route and possible feeder legs.

Exact times depend on carrier, origin, transshipment and chosen port.

Factors That Affect Delivery Speed

• Choice of port (Caribbean vs Pacific) and transshipment steps.
• Inland haulage across Colombia's challenging geography (Andes, mountainous terrain) can add time.
• Port efficiency and congestion at Colombian ports.
• Customs clearance, documentation accuracy and local inland transport capacity.

Main Ports in Colombia

Colombia has several strategic ports on both coasts - your port choice affects cost, time and final delivery.

Port of Cartagena

Located on the Caribbean coast, Cartagena is one of the most modern and efficient Colombian ports, serving container traffic and major imports/exports.

Port of Buenaventura

On the Pacific side, Buenaventura serves as Colombia's largest Pacific gateway and is particularly relevant for Asia-origin cargo.

Port of Barranquilla

Also on the Caribbean coast, Barranquilla handles significant container and general cargo and supports inland logistics via the Magdalena River.

Which Port Should You Choose?

Selecting the correct port depends on:

• Your origin and routing (Asia → Pacific makes Buenaventura strong; Europe/US → Caribbean ports may be faster)
• Final delivery location in Colombia or beyond (which influences inland transport cost/time)
• Container type, service frequency and cost differences

iContainers can provide guidance tailored to your shipment profile.

How to Book Your Shipment to Colombia

Booking to Colombia effectively means being prepared, choosing service type and coordinating logistics inside the country.

Required Documents

Typically, for Colombia you need:

• Commercial Invoice & Packing List with accurate HS codes
• Bill of Lading or Sea Waybill
• Importer tax ID (RUT) and other registration as required by Colombian authorities
• Special certificates or licences if shipping regulated goods (e.g., chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food)

Customs & Regulations Overview

Colombia has been actively modernising its port and customs regime - digital reforms have cut delays and improved efficiency. Key considerations:

• Ensure cargo declaration matches HS codes and descriptions
• Inland transport capacity from port to final destination may affect total delivery time and cost
• Port or inland access constraints: e.g., Pacific coast vs Caribbean coast infrastructure

Step-by-Step Booking Process

• Request an online quote: enter origin, destination Colombia, cargo size/weight, service type (FCL/LCL).
• Compare routing options: cost vs transit time vs port/route.
• Select service and confirm booking.
• Upload documentation; arrange origin pick-up.
• Monitor shipment: from loading, sea voyage, arrival, customs, inland delivery.
• Final delivery to consignee or warehouse inside Colombia.