Costa Rica Tolls, Costs and Routes
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Costa Rica Toll Roads: Costs, Routes & Everything You Need to Know
Costa Rica offers a well-developed road network connecting its beautiful beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, and charming towns. While the majority of roads are free to use, there are a few strategically placed toll roads, Costa Rica has a relatively small network of toll roads, concentrated 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 might have credit card options, but the exchange rate might be less favorable. Always carry some colones (CRC) for toll payments, as not all booths may 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, more popularly known as the San José - Caldera Highway, is a primary intermountain route 77 kilometers long. It is located between San José (the capital of Costa Rica) and Caldera, the country's main commercial port on the Pacific Ocean, Autopistas del Sol installed 4 toll stations at strategic points, which have very variable amounts: Escazú, San Rafael (Coyol), Balsa de Atenas, and Pozón de Orotina.
- Ruta 1:[2]: Listed as Primary National Route 1 or simply Route 1, is one of two sections of the Pan-American Highway that pass through Costa Rica, the other being the South Inter-American Highway (Route 2). It is the primary highway of the Costa Rican road network. It is divided into three segments: General Cañas Highway (San José-Alajuela), Bernardo Soto Highway (Alajuela-San Ramón), and North Inter-American Highway (San Ramón-Peñas Blancas).
- Convai:[3]: General Cañas highways and Bernardo Soto, Route No.2 Florencio del Castillo highway, Route No.27 Próspero Fernández highway. The section of the Braulio Carrillo highway begins at the facilities of the newspaper La República, in Barrio Tournón and ends at the beginning of route 27 in Guápiles (street to La Emilia), with a total length of 63.4 kilometers. The payment method on this road is with an automated collection system, which means that the user can pay with cash or by electronic payment with a 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 rates in Costa Rica depend on the toll facility, vehicle type and payment method. It also depends on:
- Road system: Parallel highways, both with double lane, construction site or central barrier
- Road lanes: Double lane roads with central lane and single lane roads with one lane per direction
This implies that despite having multiple toll plazas on the same highway, it may not mean an increase in overall tolls - rather fractioning of the total toll for the length of the road.
| 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:
1. Toll tag
2. Cash
3. 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 devices valid throughout Ecuador are:
4. Move Mais [8]
5. Veloe [9]
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However, keeping cash handy is always recommended as some of these electronic plazas may not be functioning properly.
