Miami-based courier services give you an address for your online orders and forward packages to Guatemala. CPX estimates 3 to 5 business days for its United States service once your invoice is uploaded and your package is at its distribution center (CPX, read 27 October 2026). Compare the full quote, including handling and import charges, before ordering.
TL;DR: Use a Miami PO box courier (CPX, Aeropost, or Guatebox) to ship from the USA to Guatemala; CPX lists $3.39-3.70 per pound (read 27 October 2026). CPX estimates 3 to 5 business days for its United States service once your invoice is uploaded and your package is at its distribution center (CPX, read 27 October 2026). Import tax on the CIF value (goods, insurance and freight) is 12% at 0% duty, 17.6% at 5% and 28.8% at 15%, on top of the courier’s fees.
Quick Comparison
| Service | Cost Per Lb | Delivery Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPX Express | $3.39–3.70 (+ $4.50/package handling) | 3 to 5 business days after invoice upload and arrival at its distribution center (CPX, read 27 October 2026) | Home delivery subject to coverage, per CPX |
| Aeropost | $2.99 FLEX plan (+ $5.99/package handling, VAT not included; read 27 October 2026) | 5–7 business days | Established, multiple locations |
| Guatebox | Quote required on portal (read 27 October 2026) | 7–10 business days | Budget option |
| DHL | $40–80+ per package | 2–4 business days | Urgent items, documents |
| FedEx | $45–90+ per package | 2–5 business days | Important packages |
| UPS | $40–85+ per package | 3–5 business days | Business shipments |
| USPS | $50.55-$52.20 for the smallest flat-rate envelope/box; $63.05 for 1 lb by weight | 7–21 business days | Small items (unreliable) |
Bottom line: For regular Amazon orders and online shopping, use a courier service (CPX, Aeropost, or Guatebox). For urgent or very valuable items, use DHL or FedEx.
Prices verified February 2026. See our exchange rates page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.
How Miami PO Box Services Work
This is how a Miami casillero works for buying from Amazon, eBay, Walmart and other US online stores:
- Sign up with a courier service (CPX, Aeropost, Guatebox, etc.)
- Get a Miami address — they give you a suite number at their Miami warehouse
- Ship your online orders to that Miami address (just like shipping to any US address)
- The courier receives your packages at their Miami warehouse
- They consolidate and ship everything to Guatemala via air freight
- You pick up at their Guatemala office or they deliver to your door (extra fee)
This is one of the first things to set up when moving to Guatemala. For the Guatemalan side of the address — the zona, the hyphenated number and what to put in a “State” box — see how Guatemalan addresses work.
CPX estimates 3 to 5 business days for its United States service once your invoice is uploaded and your package is at its distribution center, with possible delays from weather and other external factors (CPX, read 27 October 2026).
Service-by-Service Breakdown
CPX Express
The most popular courier service in Guatemala. Almost everyone has a “casillero CPX.”
- Website: cpxbox.gt
- Type: Miami PO box + package forwarding
- Rate: $3.70 per pound (Paga por lo que traes) or $3.39 (BiboxPlus special offer), plus $4.50 customs handling per package (CPX, read 27 October 2026)
- Delivery time: CPX estimates 3 to 5 business days for its United States service once your invoice is uploaded and your package is at its distribution center (CPX, read 27 October 2026); weather and other external factors can delay flights.
- Pickup locations: Multiple offices in Guatemala City, plus Antigua, Xela, and other cities
- Home delivery: Available for extra fee
- Registration: Online or in-person at their offices
- Payment: Cash, card, or bank transfer in Guatemala
CPX published US plan charges
CPX lists these US charges by plan (read 27 October 2026):
| Charge or inclusion | Paga por lo que traes | BiboxPlus, special offer |
|---|---|---|
| Freight per pound of actual weight | $3.70 | $3.39 |
| Customs handling, single payment per package | $4.50 | $4.50 |
| Included insurance | Up to $200 (subject to CPX’s terms) | Up to $200 (subject to CPX’s terms) |
CPX says its rates include IVA and home delivery is subject to coverage. These are the operator’s freight and handling components. CPX also asks customers to notify it of the amount paid for their purchase.
Source: CPX and CPX FAQ, read 27 October 2026.
Aeropost / JetBox
Long-established service with regional presence across Central America.
- Website: aeropost.com
- Type: Miami PO box + package forwarding
- Rate: $2.99 per pound on the FLEX plan, plus $5.99 handling per package, VAT not included (Aeropost, read 27 October 2026)
- Delivery time: 5–7 business days
- Pickup locations: Multiple Guatemala City locations
- Home delivery: Available
- Registration: Online
- Extras: Pre-alert system (notify them about incoming packages), package photos
Guatebox
Budget-friendly option growing in popularity.
- Website: guatebox.com
- Type: Miami PO box + package forwarding
- Rate: quoted through its online quote tool (Guatebox, read 27 October 2026)
- Delivery time: 7–10 business days (slightly slower)
- Coverage: Guatemala City and expanding
International Couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS)
For when you need speed or are shipping from someone in the US directly:
| Courier | Typical Cost | Speed | Guatemala Presence |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHL | $40–80+ | 2–4 days | Offices in GC, Antigua, Xela |
| FedEx | $45–90+ | 2–5 days | Offices in GC |
| UPS | $40–85+ | 3–5 days | Limited offices |
| USPS | $50.55+ (Flat Rate Envelope) | 7–21 days | Via Guatemala postal service (unreliable) |
USPS warning: USPS is not the cheap option to Guatemala: it sits in USPS’s flat-rate price group 8 ($52.20 for the Small Flat Rate Box, USPS Notice 123, effective 12 July 2026). Its deliveries to Guatemala are also notoriously slow and packages sometimes get lost in the Guatemalan postal system. Use a tracking number and manage expectations. Corrected 23 September 2026: this page previously priced USPS at $15-40 per package and called it the cheapest for small items. See our corrections policy.
Getting a US delivery address
Aeropost describes a free US address for online shopping. Guatebox says registration supplies a US address and names Guatex as its delivery partner (both read 27 October 2026). The separate box-shipping cost comparison covers that pricing question.
Source: Aeropost and Guatebox, read 27 October 2026.
Customs and Import Duties
This is the part everyone wants to understand.
When Do You Pay Import Taxes?
- Courier parcels up to US$1,000 of customs value: cleared on the courier’s simplified declaration (the couriers handle the customs process) - DAI and IVA are still due; there is no tax-free courier threshold (RECAUCA arts. 566 and 573)
- Parcels over US$1,000: go through the general customs process (RECAUCA art. 566)
- The only tax-free small parcel: a non-commercial shipment sent by family to a person, up to US$500, once every six months (CAUCA art. 116; RECAUCA art. 596). An online order you buy for yourself does not qualify
Import Tax Rates
| Tax | Rate | Applied To |
|---|---|---|
| IVA (VAT) | 12% | All imported goods, on CIF + DAI (Ley del IVA art. 13) |
| DAI (Import Duty) | 0–15% | Set by tariff line; 0-15% for the everyday goods below |
| Total typical | 12–29% | Of CIF: IVA is charged on CIF + DAI, so 15% DAI = 28.8% |
Product Categories and Duty Rates
| Category | DAI Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics (phones, laptops) | 0% DAI + 12% IVA | Phones and laptops are duty-free, but IVA applies; TVs and game consoles pay 15% DAI |
| Clothing | 15% DAI + 12% IVA | Higher duty on textiles |
| Food/supplements | 0–15% | Varies by tariff line; plus 12% IVA |
| Books | 0% | 0% DAI, but 12% IVA - the Ley del IVA has no book exemption |
| Medicine/vitamins | 0–5% | Medicines 5%, vitamins 0%; plus 12% IVA, and shipped medicine needs an MSPAS import permit |
| Auto parts | 0–15% | Brake parts, filters, tyres 10%; batteries 15%; spark plugs 0%; plus IVA |
How Courier Services Handle Customs
Most courier services (CPX, Aeropost, etc.) handle the customs process for you:
- They declare the packages at customs
- They calculate and collect any taxes due
- You pay the taxes when you pick up your package
- They add a small customs processing fee (~$2–5)
This is much simpler than dealing with SAT directly for personal imports.
Tips for Ordering From Amazon to Guatemala
Price the courier route against Amazon’s direct shipping. Amazon ships eligible items to Guatemala from US$9.99 per shipment (Central America, Standard), and Guatemala is not on its free international delivery list (both read 24 September 2026). A courier is the only route for items Amazon won’t ship abroad. The comparison, with a worked example, is on Does Amazon ship to Guatemala?. (Updated 24 September 2026: this tip previously called Amazon’s direct shipping expensive and slow without a source.)
Check if the item ships to the courier’s Miami address. CPX tells customers to make sure their store accepts delivery to their casillero address (CPX, read 27 October 2026).
Consolidate orders. Courier services charge per pound, so ordering multiple items in one shipment is cheaper than several small ones.
Declare accurate values. Courier services ask for the value of your items. Be honest — SAT occasionally audits and undervaluing can result in fines. You will need a Guatemala tax ID (NIT) for larger imports.
Avoid shipping lithium batteries by air when possible. Some courier services restrict or add surcharges for battery-containing items. For solar equipment imports, there are special duty-free benefits worth knowing about.
Amazon Subscribe & Save works to the Miami address. Set up recurring orders for supplements, household items, etc.
Amazon Prime shipping is free to the Miami address. The courier’s per-pound rate is your only shipping cost.
Black Friday and Prime Day are popular, but expect 2–3 week delays at couriers due to volume.
What You Cannot Ship
These items are restricted or prohibited for import to Guatemala:
- Firearms and ammunition (requires special license)
- Controlled substances
- Perishable food (without proper import permits)
- Live plants and animals (requires phytosanitary certificates)
- Hazardous materials
- Counterfeit goods
Shipping Large Items (Furniture, Appliances, Cars)
For large shipments, the courier PO box system does not work. For a whole household, compare the companies in our international movers USA to Guatemala directory. You need:
- Sea freight: Companies like Crowley, Seaboard Marine, and local freight forwarders handle container and LCL (less than container load) shipments from US ports to Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) or Santo Tomas de Castilla (Atlantic). Factor these costs into your overall cost of living planning.
- Cost: Request a quote for your shipment, specifying its dimensions, weight, route, customs charges and final delivery.
- Timeline: 2–4 weeks sea transit + 1–2 weeks customs clearance
- You will need a customs broker (agente aduanal) for large shipments
Cost Calculator
Quick estimate for common items shipped via courier service:
| Item | Approx Weight | Shipping Cost | Import Tax (courier, any value) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book | 1 lb | $3.50–4.00 | 12% IVA (0% DAI) |
| Phone case | 0.5 lb | $2.00–2.50 | 12% IVA, plus DAI by tariff line |
| Laptop | 5 lbs | $17.50–20.00 | 12% IVA (0% DAI) |
| Clothes (5 items) | 3 lbs | $10.50–12.00 | 15% DAI + 12% IVA (~28.8%) |
| Small appliance | 8 lbs | $28.00–32.00 | 15% DAI + 12% IVA for blenders and coffee makers; microwaves 5% DAI |
| Supplements (3 bottles) | 2 lbs | $7.00–8.00 | 0–15% DAI by tariff line + 12% IVA |
The exception is a non-commercial parcel sent by family, up to US$500, once every six months: it pays no DAI or IVA (CAUCA art. 116).
Need to convert prices? Check our exchange rate page. Planning your budget? See the cost of living guide. For importing solar equipment duty-free, read our Aeropost solar import guide. Planning your move? Start with how to move to Guatemala from the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to ship from the USA to Guatemala?
Compare current quotes for Miami-based courier services such as CPX Express, Aeropost and Guatebox. CPX estimates 3 to 5 business days for its United States service once your invoice is uploaded and your package is at its distribution center (CPX, read 27 October 2026).
Can I order from Amazon and ship to Guatemala?
Yes. Sign up for a Miami PO box courier (CPX Express, Aeropost, or Guatebox), use their Miami address as your Amazon shipping address, and they forward it to Guatemala. Amazon also ships eligible items direct to Guatemala through AmazonGlobal, from US$9.99 per shipment to Central America (Amazon’s rates page, read 24 September 2026). Either way, import tax on the value plus freight runs 12% at 0% duty, 17.6% at 5% duty and 28.8% at 15% duty, before the courier’s fees.
How much are import taxes in Guatemala?
Guatemala charges 12% IVA (value-added tax) on most imports. Some items also have an additional import duty (arancel) of 5-15% depending on the product category. Courier services handle customs clearance for you and include these charges in your final bill.
How long does shipping from the USA to Guatemala take?
CPX estimates 3 to 5 business days for the United States service once your invoice has been uploaded and your package is at its distribution center; it warns that weather and other external factors can delay flights (CPX, read 27 October 2026). Confirm the retailer’s delivery estimate to Miami separately.
Can I ship large items like furniture to Guatemala?
Before ordering furniture or household goods, ask the courier to confirm its package limits. Compare a freight-forwarding quote for the dimensions and weight of your shipment, including the route, transit estimate, customs clearance and delivery.
What items cannot be shipped to Guatemala?
Restricted items include weapons, certain chemicals, some medications without prescriptions, and perishable food. Ask your courier to confirm whether it can carry your exact electronic item and what taxes and charges apply. Check your courier’s prohibited items list before ordering.
Does CPX charge customs handling separately from freight?
Yes. CPX lists $4.50 customs handling as a single payment per package for both US plans, alongside freight of $3.70 per actual pound for Paga por lo que traes or $3.39 for the BiboxPlus special offer. CPX says its rates include IVA and home delivery is subject to coverage.
![Import Solar Gear to Guatemala: 0% Duty [Real Costs]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=640,format=auto,quality=80/images/articles/solar/tigo-cca-gateway-wiring.webp)
