In this series of posts, we answer common travel questions. Today, we’ll talk about highway tolls in Costa Rica. In Spanish, a toll is called a peaje. We’ll explain how they work, how much they cost, and which roads in Costa Rica have tolls.
Question
“In planning our Costa Rica itinerary, I noticed there are a lot of tolls along the highway going from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. As non-residents are we expected to pay these tolls and how much are they? I know in the US or Canada, if you don’t have a “pass,” you are billed by license plate number. And this is done by camera, so there are no toll booths to go through. Can you enlighten me some on what to expect in Costa Rica?”
Answer
Yes, there are a few tolls you will have to pay on Route 27 from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. They do have an electronic system for this highway called Quick Pass, but rental cars don’t usually have the transponders.
This means you’ll have to stop at the toll booth and go in the lane marked “manual” to pay the fee. Or you can go in the line marked “tarjeta” to tap using your credit card. Just be sure that your card is already working for other purchases in Costa Rica, as the small charge might be flagged as fraud if not.
Tolls are in local colones. You can expect to pay around a dollar or two for each one. You can pay in colones or US dollars (small bills like $1, $5, $10 are best). An attendant will give you change back (in colones) and a receipt.
For additional money tips, see out Money Matters post.
More Information – Toll Locations
Costa Rica only has tolls on a few of its highways. We’ll list them below.
Note: These tolls are all near San Jose or on the way to the Pacific coast from San Jose. There are no tolls in Guanacaste near Liberia’s LIR Airport.
Route 27 from San Jose to Caldera (Pacific coast)
This highway has the most tolls in Costa Rica. They range from around 200-1,000 colones (US 40 cents to $2), but the rates are always fluctuating. For an updated chart of fees, see the Globalvia website.
Route 27 has tolls in:
Escazu (all traffic)
Ciudad Colon (only to enter/exit the highway)
San Rafael (all traffic)
La Guacima (only to enter the highway)
Coyol Radial (only to enter/exit the highway) – This is an important exit to connect with Route 1 to/from the SJO Airport.
Atenas (all traffic)
Pozon/Costanera Sur (all traffic or to enter/exit) – This connects with Route 34 to Pacific beaches like Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Dominical, and Uvita.
Highway 1 (near San Jose)
There are only two tolls on this highway. They are located in:
Alajuela/Rio Segundo – Located on the eastern side of the airport. Small toll of around 200 colones (US 40 cents). Cash only. Sometimes this toll is left open, meaning that they will wave all cars through without stopping. This is to prevent traffic jams.
Naranjo – Located between Alajuela and San Ramon, a popular route to La Fortuna. Around 500 colones ($1). Cash only.
Highway 2 (Near San Jose)
Florencio del Castillo Toll – Between San Jose and Cartago. Around 250 colones (US 50 cents).
Need more help planning your trip to Costa Rica? We’ve been traveling and living in Costa Rica for more than 10 years. Check out these pages for lots more resources!
Road Conditions of Specific Routes in Costa Rica – When mapping out your route, be sure to consult this post for details about the local road conditions.
Driving in Costa Rica: What to Know Before You Go – Learn more general information about driving in Costa Rica.
Rental Car Discount – Save 10% or more on a reliable rental car and get free extras like delivery to your hotel, an additional driver, and/or free cooler.
