Published on Saturday, July 11, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rican authorities will implement a temporary one-way traffic system, known locally as a contraflow, on Route 27 on two Sundays to help reduce congestion as travelers return to the Central Valley following the mid-year school break, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) announced.

The temporary traffic plan will be in effect on Sunday, July 12, and Sunday, July 19, when officials expect a significant increase in vehicles traveling from the Pacific Coast to the Central Valley.

The traffic measure comes as vehicle volumes typically surge during the annual mid-year vacation for approximately 1 million students attending Costa Rica's public schools. This year's school break runs from Monday, July 6, through Friday, July 17.

The mid-year vacation is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with many Costa Rican families heading to beaches, mountains and rural destinations. July is considered one of the country's peak months for domestic tourism.

Route 27, one of Costa Rica's busiest highways, connects San José with the Pacific provinces of Puntarenas and Guanacaste. Traffic volumes typically increase sharply during the final weekend of the school break as travelers make their way back to the Central Valley.

To accommodate the heavy return traffic toward San José, officials will reverse traffic flow on a key stretch of the highway. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., all lanes between the Pozon toll station in Alajuela Province and the Ciudad Colón toll station in San José Province will be directed exclusively toward the capital.

Closures will begin one hour earlier at 1 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m., one hour after the contraflow ends. A maximum speed limit of 37 mph (60 kph) will be enforced during this period.

During contraflow hours, westbound drivers (from San José to the Pacific Coast) must use one of the following alternative routes:

  

• Route 1: From Río Segundo Canton in Alajuela to Esparza Canton in Puntarenas, rejoining Route 27.

• Route 3: Through Atenas Canton to Orotina Canton in Alajuela, reconnecting with Route 27 in Puntarenas.

• Route 239: From the Ciudad Colón District in San José to La Palma District, in the Parrita Canton of Puntarenas.

Authorities advise drivers to plan ahead, remain alert to contraflow schedules, and drive with caution. 

Traffic officers have been deployed to the area, and warning signs have been installed to help manage traffic.

   

For real-time traffic information or roadside assistance, travelers may contact Globalvia, the company that manages Route 27, at (+506) 2588-4000.

As part of the government's holiday safety campaign, the Ministry of Public Security (MSP) has launched a nationwide traffic enforcement operation.

Police officers will be monitoring for impaired driving, speeding, transporting children without the required safety equipment, driving on sidewalks, operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license, making illegal U-turns and other traffic violations.

In a related measure, transportation authorities have temporarily suspended weekday driving restrictions in San José City during the mid-year school vacation to help ease traffic flow.

As of May, Costa Rica had recorded 278 traffic fatalities this year, with motorcyclists accounting for 59% of those deaths.

Costa Rica recorded more than 500 traffic-related deaths in 2025, representing a 13% increase compared with 2024.

The MOPT is responsible for enforcing traffic regulations and promoting road safety nationwide.

The MSP is responsible for maintaining public order, overseeing the country's police forces and coordinating Costa Rica's national crime-fighting strategies.

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Have you heard about expats encountering difficulties traveling on Route 27 during contraflow days? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com