Costa Rica Tolls, Costs and Routes
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Costa Rica Toll Roads: Costs, Routes & Everything You Need to Know
Costa Rica has a well-developed road network connecting its beautiful beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, and charming towns. While most roads are free, a few toll roads are strategically placed, mainly around San Jose and other major urban areas. Cash is the most common payment method at toll booths, with both colones (CRC) and US dollars accepted. Some tolls may accept credit cards, but the exchange rate might be unfavorable. It's best to carry some colones (CRC) for toll payments, as not all booths accept credit cards.
Use the Costa Rica Toll Calculator to calculate the tolls and fuel costs to travel across the entire country.
Costa Rica toll road Highway
For efficient road maintenance and toll collection, the toll roads in Costa Rica are operated by the government. The main toll roads are the Ruta 27, Ruta 1and Convai, both overseen by government agencies and private companies.
- Ruta 27: [1]: National Route 27, commonly known as the San José - Caldera Highway, is a major 77-kilometer intermountain route between San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and Caldera, the main commercial port on the Pacific Ocean. Autopistas del Sol has installed four toll stations at strategic points along this route: Escazú, San Rafael (Coyol), Balsa de Atenas, and Pozón de Orotina. The toll amounts at these stations vary significantly.
- Ruta 1: [2]: Listed as Primary National Route 1, or simply Route 1, this highway is one of two sections of the Pan-American Highway in Costa Rica, the other being the South Inter-American Highway (Route 2). It is the primary highway of Costa Rica's road network, divided into three segments: General Cañas Highway (San José to Alajuela), Bernardo Soto Highway (Alajuela to San Ramón), and North Inter-American Highway (San Ramón to Peñas Blancas).
- Convai: [3]: The General Cañas and Bernardo Soto highways, Route No. 2 Florencio del Castillo Highway, and Route No. 27 Próspero Fernández Highway are key routes in Costa Rica. The Braulio Carrillo Highway section starts at the La República newspaper facilities in Barrio Tournón and ends at the beginning of Route 27 in Guápiles (street to La Emilia), covering 63.4 kilometers. This road uses an automated toll collection system, allowing payments with cash or electronically via the QuickPass card.
Does Costa Rica have Toll Roads?
Costa Rica has several operational toll roads, including Florencio del Castillo, Carretera Braulio Carrillo, Ruta 27, and Ruta 1, among others.
What is the Quick Pass system on Route 27, and how does it work?
The Quick Pass system on Route 27 is a transponder-based system that allows vehicles to pass through toll booths with minimal stoppage. These lanes are exclusive to vehicles equipped with the Quick Pass transponder.
Do rental cars in Costa Rica come equipped with transponders for toll payment?
No, rental cars in Costa Rica typically do not have transponders for toll payments. Therefore, renters must use the "Manual" lanes at toll booths and pay the fee in cash or by credit card.
Are electronic toll payments available in Costa Rica?
Yes, Costa Rica has an electronic toll payment system.
Costa Rica toll road price
| Toll Road | Toll Price for Tags | Toll Price for Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Florencio del Castillo | ₡ 75.00 | ₡ 75.00 |
| Carretera Braulio Carrillo | ₡ 250.00 | ₡ 250.00 |
| Escazú - Ciudad Colón | ₡ 200.00 | ₡ 200.00 |
| Rampa - Pozón | ₡ 600.00 | ₡ 600.00 |
How to pay toll in Costa Rica
Most of the Costa Ricaian toll facilities have both electronic lanes and cash/card lanes. They accept the following three payment methods:
- Toll tag
- Cash
- Credit / Debit card
Using a Toll tag is preferred to pay tolls because they offer discounts and can also be used on multiple parking spaces. The toll tags valid throughout Ecuador are:
