Mexican toll roads and toll booths
The trip down is part of the excitement of visiting the Orphanage!
This is the third part in a series of driving in Mexico. In the first, we described why and how to get Mexican auto insurance. In the second, we talked about what to expect as you cross the border into Mexico. In this post, we’ll talk about toll roads and toll booths in Mexico.
After you cross the border, you will want to get on the toll road toward Ensenada; see our directions. The toll road is the best and quickest way to travel toward Ensenada and the Orphanage. These roads are better maintained and safer to travel on. Mexperience.com describes the difference between free and toll roads, and the signs that you’ll look for:
LIBRE = Free Road. Free roads are less well maintained, single carriageways that will take you longer to travel across. However, to see some of the ‘off the beaten track’ places, you’ll need to avoid Toll Roads, as they often double as “by-passes”. It’s recommended that you don’t take the free roads after dark.
CUOTA = Toll Road. Follow this sign if you want to take the toll road to the destination you are traveling to. Note that the highway numbers are often the same, so you can be on the right highway number, heading in the right direction, but on a free (slower) road than you’d like to be. For toll roads, follow the signs that read “CUOTA”.
On your trip to Ensenada, you’ll pass through three toll booths: at Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito and before Ensenada. At the booths, you will see signs that let you know the toll in pesos for your vehicle. The toll prices will be around $3 (each toll booth) for a passenger car. A van or truck can expect to pay more.
Frequently you may see Mexican military soldiers near the booths. They don’t collect the tolls, but they are often onsite. (I am not sure why.) Dressed in green khaki and touting large weapons, they are impressive. Here is a tip that I was once told: Do not take photos of them. (I don’t know the reason for this either, but I’ve never questioned it!)
After you’ve crossed through the last toll booth, it is only a short distance before you head east towards the small town of San Antonio de Las Minas, the home of El Sauzal Orphanage. In the next post in this series, I’ll share some tips on Mexican rules of the road. Vaya con Dios!