By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – Commuters and commercial drivers utilizing Costa Rica’s vital Route 27 will face higher costs this week. Concessionaire Globalvia has announced its scheduled quarterly toll adjustment, which will take effect at midnight on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The revised rates are a direct result of calculations based on the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar, a standard contractual mechanism for the highway’s operation.
The financial impact of this adjustment will be felt differently across vehicle classes. For the vast majority of private drivers in light vehicles and on motorcycles (Class 1), the change will be negligible. Toll rates will remain unchanged at most collection points along the San José-Caldera highway. However, small increases of ¢10 will be applied at the Ciudad Colón, Siquiares, and Rampa Pozón toll booths, representing a minor but noticeable increase for frequent users of these specific segments.
To delve into the legal framework and contractual obligations surrounding the recent toll increase, TicosLand.com sought the expert opinion of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Any adjustment to toll fees must be rigorously justified by the terms laid out in the original concession contract, which typically includes formulas tied to inflation and investment benchmarks. The key legal question is whether the regulatory body has properly audited the concessionaire’s compliance with its contractual duties, including road maintenance and service quality. If these obligations are not met, a unilateral rate hike could be legally challenged as an abusive practice against consumers.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
The attorney’s analysis brings a crucial point to the forefront: a toll increase is not merely an economic adjustment, but a matter of contractual accountability. This perspective rightly shifts the focus from the price itself to the quality of service and road maintenance that drivers are entitled to receive in return. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable insight into the legal responsibilities that underpin this public debate.
The more significant impact will be on the nation’s logistics and transportation sector. Operators of heavy-duty vehicles will see more substantial price hikes across the board. According to the information released by the toll administration, most tolls for heavy vehicles—ranging from two-axle trucks (Class 3) to large five-axle tractor-trailers (Class 5)—will increase by ¢10 to ¢20. This adjustment directly affects the cost of moving goods from the Pacific port of Caldera to the Greater Metropolitan Area.
This routine adjustment is stipulated in the concession agreement and is designed to mitigate currency fluctuation risks for the operator. As a key component of the highway’s financial model, these quarterly reviews ensure that toll revenue remains stable when measured against the U.S. dollar, the currency in which many of the project’s financing and major maintenance costs are denominated. While a standard procedure, it highlights the vulnerability of local transportation costs to international currency markets.
For Costa Rica’s economy, the implications are twofold. On one hand, the consistent application of the contractual formula provides financial stability for the long-term maintenance and operation of this critical piece of infrastructure. On the other hand, any increase in transport costs for heavy goods vehicles is often passed down the supply chain. This can translate into marginally higher prices for imported goods and other products for the end consumer, subtly contributing to inflationary pressures.
Route 27 is arguably the most important commercial and tourism corridor connecting the Central Valley with the Pacific coast. It serves as the primary artery for goods entering the country through Caldera and is indispensable for the tourism industry in Puntarenas and Guanacaste. Consequently, any change in its operational costs is a matter of significant public and business interest, affecting everything from weekend travel plans to the price of consumer electronics.
The updated toll structure classifies vehicles into five categories. Class 1 includes motorcycles and light vehicles with up to four tires. Class 2 covers microbuses and buses with a capacity for more than nine passengers. The heavy vehicle categories begin with Class 3 (2-3 axles, up to 6 tires), followed by Class 4 (4 axles, up to 8 tires), and culminating in Class 5 for heavy trucks with five or more axles, such as tractor-trailer combinations.
As the new rates are implemented starting at 00:00 hours on Wednesday, regular users of the highway are advised to take note of the new amounts. While the increase for passenger cars is minimal, the cumulative effect on commercial fleets represents a tangible rise in operational expenses. This latest adjustment serves as a periodic reminder of the complex interplay between infrastructure financing, currency exchange rates, and the daily cost of living and doing business in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit globalvia.com
About Globalvia:
Globalvia is a worldwide leader in the management of infrastructure concessions, specializing in highways and railways. Founded in 2007, the company manages a diverse portfolio of assets across Europe and the Americas. Its business model focuses on the long-term operation, maintenance, and financing of critical transportation infrastructure, aiming to provide safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility solutions to millions of users daily. The concession for Costa Rica’s Route 27 is a key project in its Latin American portfolio.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of integrity and superior legal service. The firm champions innovative approaches to law, providing forward-thinking counsel to a wide array of clients while maintaining the highest ethical standards. This dedication extends beyond the courtroom through a core mission to democratize legal information, aiming to build a more knowledgeable and capable society for all.
