14/08/2025
🚗💰 How to Use Toll Booths in Costa Rica — For Travelers & Road-Trippers
If you’re driving in Costa Rica, you’ll likely pass through toll booths (called peajes). They’re mostly found along the main highways from San José to the Pacific coast — like Route 27 toward Jacó, Manuel Antonio, or the Central Pacific, and parts of Route 1 heading toward Guanacaste.
Here’s what you need to know:
🔹 Types of Toll Booths & How They’re Labeled
1. Quick Pass – This is like an express lane with an electronic tag. You don’t stop to pay; the fee is deducted automatically. Only use this lane if your rental car came with a Quick Pass device (most don’t). Ask your rental company before you hit the road!
2. Credit Card Only (Pago Exclusivo con Tarjeta) – These lanes are express lanes and are labeled for tarjeta and will have a card logo. They don’t take cash.
3. Via Manual y Quickpass – These booths take local currency (colones) and also US dollars (small bills like $1s or $5s are welcome — tolls are usually under $2, and yes, the exchange rate is in their favor). The lines are usually long so anyone with a Quickpass is likely to avoid them but they also accept the electronic tag.
💳 Payment Options
• Colones — always accepted
• US Dollars — small denominations only; change is often given in colones
• Credit/Debit Card — accepted in all lanes except Exclusivo Quickpass
⚠️ Pro Tip: If you roll into a credit-card-only lane without a card, you’ll have to awkwardly back up or get waved to the correct lane — avoid the stress by looking for the signs before you commit! (Check pics!)
✅ Summary for a Smooth Trip
• Look for lane signs before entering — Quick Pass, Tarjeta, or Efectivo
• Carry coins or small colón or dollar bills just in case
• Ask your rental company about Quick Pass before your trip — most cars don’t come with it by default
• Expect tolls on major highways out of San José toward the Pacific and some northern routes
Happy driving, and enjoy the journey! 🛣️🌴