Short answer: the two tolls you'll use most leaving Medellín are the Túnel de Oriente, around 26,000 COP, and the Las Palmas road, around 18,000 COP, both per trip and for a private vehicle. They are the two routes to José María Córdova airport and to eastern Antioquia. Rates are adjusted every year in January.
Tolls are the expense most often forgotten when budgeting a trip through Antioquia, and the one that surprises people most: a weekend with two trips out of the city can easily run past 100,000 COP in booths alone.
Toll table by route
| Route | Main toll | Approximate cost per trip |
|---|---|---|
| Medellín → Rionegro / JMC airport (fast) | Túnel de Oriente | ~26,000 COP |
| Medellín → Rionegro / JMC airport (scenic) | Vía Las Palmas | ~18,000 COP |
| Medellín → Guatapé | Marinilla / Oriente road | Check current rate |
| Medellín → Santa Fe de Antioquia | Túnel de Occidente | Check current rate |
| Medellín → Suroeste (Jardín, Jericó) | Amagá road | Check current rate |
Toll rates in Colombia are adjusted by decree at the start of each year and vary by vehicle category. Everything here corresponds to Category I: private cars, SUVs and pickups.
Túnel de Oriente or Las Palmas: which is better
It's the decision you'll make every time you head up to the Oriente, and the same one doesn't always win.
Túnel de Oriente (~26,000 COP)
- Faster: cuts the airport journey to less than half.
- Safer at night: no fog, no tight curves, well lit.
- More comfortable with children or with anyone who gets carsick on winding roads.
- It's the obvious choice if you're racing to catch a flight.
Vía Las Palmas (~18,000 COP)
- Cheaper and considerably prettier: viewpoints over the valley and wide curves.
- Slower and with frequent fog at dawn and dusk.
- Ideal by day, unhurried, and for anyone who enjoys driving.
The 8,000 COP difference isn't what decides it: what decides it is the hour and whether you're in a rush. At night or with a flight to catch, take the tunnel. By day and relaxed, Las Palmas.
The real cost of getting to JMC airport
It's worth adding up the whole journey, because the toll is only part of it:
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Túnel de Oriente toll (outbound) | ~26,000 COP |
| Túnel de Oriente toll (return) | ~26,000 COP |
| Fuel round trip (~70 km) | Varies by vehicle |
| Car delivery or return at JMC, daytime | 130,000 COP per trip |
| Delivery or return at JMC, night-time | 160,000 COP per trip |
| Both trips at JMC | 250,000 COP |
That last block is the logistics of taking or collecting the vehicle in Rionegro, which sits outside the Aburrá Valley. Inside the valley — and at Olaya Herrera airport — delivery is free. Full terms are on the car rental with delivery at Medellín airport page, and the arrival-day logistics are in the guide to picking up your car when you land at JMC.
Budget tip: if both your arrival and departure flights are during the day, booking the two trips together (250,000 COP) works out better than two separate ones.
Guatapé, Santa Fe and the Suroeste
The three classic weekend routes all have tolls, and on all of them it pays to carry cash:
- Guatapé: you leave via the Oriente, through Marinilla or El Santuario. It's a two-hour route with a booth along the way.
- Santa Fe de Antioquia: via the Túnel de Occidente, the fastest road west.
- Suroeste (Jardín, Jericó, Amagá): coffee-country route with booths along the corridor.
Since rates change each January, the honest advice is to check the current value on the INVÍAS or concession website before setting out, and to budget with a margin. Distances and times for each destination are in the day trips from Medellín, and the Guatapé route step by step is in the drive to Guatapé.
How tolls are paid
- Cash: works at every booth. Carry small notes; many won't give change for large bills.
- Electronic tag: the electronic lanes are quick, but require a registered device. If the rental vehicle doesn't have one, don't use that lane.
- Card: acceptance varies by booth and isn't reliable as your only method.
Rule of thumb: always set out with at least 100,000 COP in cash in small notes if you're heading out of town. It covers tolls, small-town car parks and restaurants where the card terminal is down.
How to calculate your total trip cost
- Count the outbound tolls and double them. You almost always return the same way.
- Estimate fuel: divide total kilometres by the vehicle's efficiency and multiply by the price per gallon.
- Add parking: in tourist towns it's charged hourly and goes up in high season.
- Add airport logistics if applicable: 130,000, 160,000 or 250,000 COP depending on the case.
- Add the rental itself — 48-hour minimum — and remember the deposit (2,500,000 or 3,000,000 COP) is held separately and returned.
The full breakdown of what a rental costs is in how much it costs to rent a car. And if you haven't picked a vehicle yet, you can browse the available fleet.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Túnel de Oriente toll?
Around 26,000 COP per trip for a Category I private vehicle. It's the fastest route between Medellín and José María Córdova airport.
How much is the Las Palmas road toll?
Around 18,000 COP per trip. It's the traditional route to Rionegro: cheaper and more scenic than the tunnel, but slower and with frequent fog at dawn and dusk.
Which route to the airport is better?
The Túnel de Oriente if you're tight on time, travelling at night or with children. The Las Palmas road if you're going by day, unhurried, and want the scenery.
Can tolls be paid by card?
Not reliably. Cash works at every booth and is the recommended method; electronic lanes require a registered device the rental vehicle may not have.
Are tolls included in the car rental?
No. Tolls, fuel and parking are the driver's responsibility. What is defined in advance is the cost of delivery and return at JMC airport.
How often do toll rates rise in Colombia?
They are adjusted by decree at the start of each year, normally in January. That's why it's worth checking the current value before a long trip.