1. Understanding Toll Roads in Panama: An Introduction
Perhaps you’ve wondered about toll roads in Panama. Are they commonly found throughout the country? It’s smart to consider this in advance, as planning ahead gives you more time to enjoy your travels! Whether it’s your first trip to Panama or your first time exploring beyond the city, you’ll find this information helpful. In this article, we’ll give you tips on how to travel in Panama, with or without tolls.
2. Chiriqui: A Toll-Free Zone in Panama
We’ll start with the province of Chiriqui since that’s where Chiriqui Car Rentals is located. The highlands of Panama are a major tourist destination, and this corner of the country is where the highest mountains and most charming towns are found. Here in Chiriqui, we have no toll roads. So if you are concerned about toll roads in Panama or Chiriqui, you’ll have no worries! All highways have free passage, which makes traveling a breeze. Whether driving the curvy roads of Boquete or heading towards Paso Canoas, you can be sure that you won’t be stopped because of tolls or not having the correct documentation!
3. The Pan-American Highway:
A winding ribbon of pavement stretches from the western slopes of the Panama border, throughout the country, over the Panama Canal, and finally and only disrupted by the Darien Gap. This road is referred to as The Pan-American Highway. From Paso Canoas (Costa Rica border) to Panama City, it is a four-lane highway. And, best of all, there are no tolls along the entire route! This is the main road that stretches through the country, running closer to the Pacific side of the isthmus. You’ll find plenty of fuel stops and scenic views along the way. Notable towns along this route (with no toll roads) are David, Santiago, and Coronado. When you're searching for toll roads in Panama to avoid, you shouldn’t need to worry about this highway.
The only city with toll roads in Panama is the capital city. With its complex road system, you will want to use a GPS app like Waze or Google Maps for navigation. Traffic can be heavy, but we’ve found it to be quite manageable with a little patience. When traveling in Panama City, be sure to select the “avoid tolls” option if your vehicle does not have PanaPass (an electronic toll payment system used on the city's toll roads). See the above image for an example. It may take extra time, but to avoid fines, we recommend using this feature. Though not nearly all roads in Panama City are toll roads, it’s good to be aware. Since PanaPass is electronic only, you don’t want to stray onto a toll road without a pass. The fastest route to the airport is a toll road, so you should always allow plenty of time to route around when traveling to or from the airport.
5. PanaPass: Your Access Pass for Toll Roads in Panama City
To use toll roads in Panama City, your vehicle must be equipped with a PanaPass sticker on the windshield. While this feature is convenient, it’s important to check if your rental car includes it, as not having a PanaPass can lead to fines, adding to your overall car rental costs. You CANNOT pay cash at these toll booths, unlike toll roads in some other countries. It is an electronic toll pass only. So, if you somehow manage to get on a toll road without a pass, it will incur a fine.
So, unless you plan to spend time touring Panama City in your rental car, you will not run into toll roads. And, even if you plan to spend some time there, you can route around with some simple planning.
6. Conclusion: Stress-Free Travel on Toll Roads in Panama
In conclusion, learning about toll roads in Panama and how to navigate them is important to make sure your trip goes stress-free. Don't forget! If you have any more questions, contact us. You can contact us through social media or send a quick email to info@chiriquicarrentals.com. We’ll be sure to get back to you promptly, so stay tuned for the response!
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