Costa Rica's Taxis

As we mentioned in Chapter 2, it is not necessary to own an automobile if you live in or near San José because taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. San Jose´s buses are cheaper but taxis are the best way to get from point A to point B.

Taxis registered with the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) are red with a yellow triangle on both front doors. The triangle contains the taxi's license number, which begins with the letter(s) of the province where the cab is from, followed by a "P" for province. For example, a taxi registered in San José province has a license plate number beginning with "SJP."

Taxis charge 210 colones (65 cents) for the first kilometer and 100 colones (30 cents) per kilometer thereafter. You can rent cabs by the hour for 1000 to 1500 colones. There is also a charge for stopping time equivalent to the charge for one kilometer on the meter. If you take a taxi between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the driver can charge 20 % more than the meter fare. If you want the driver to wait while you do an errand or some other business, there is an hourly rate. If you have to go more than 12 kilometers outside the metropolitan area, there is another rate. In this case the driver and the passenger should negotiate the fare (Do this in advance). Nearly all taxis have computerized meters called marías. Always insist that your taxi driver use his meter, and be sure to ask about rates before traveling anywhere. Drivers are required to use their meters, even if they tell you they aren't. If the maría is missing or broken, you might be overcharged for the trip. Always tell the driver, "Ponga la maría por favor." (Please turn on the meter).

Most taxi drivers are polite but if you are overcharged or dissatisfied with service, you can take the driver's permit number usually on the visor of his taxi or his license number and complain to the MOPT Office (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte) at Plaza Víquez. You can do this in person, by letter or over the telephone (Tel: 257-7798, ext. 2512).

Taxies can be found around every public square and park, outside discotheques, on most busy streets and in front of government buildings and most hotels. Be careful since many taxis parked in front of hotels may overcharge. Some of the drivers claim they work exclusively for the hotel and will overcharge you. They will try to double the fare to account for driving back to the hotel - their home base-empty. Many times the explanation is fair and the driver is honest. Also if you have a complaint and the driver works for the hotel you have immediate recourse, the hotel's management.

It is difficult to find a taxi during the rainy season, especially in the afternoon when it usually rains. You may also have trouble getting a cab weekdays during rush hour between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.-as in most cities. To hail a taxi just yell, "Taxi!" If a taxi is parked just say "libre" (free) to the driver to see if a cab is available. If the taxi is available, he will usually nod or say, "sí" (yes). If you want to stay on a taxi driver's good side, NEVER slam the taxi's doors; taxis are expensive in Costa Rica and drivers try to keep them in good shape.

Some people moonlight as taxi drivers using their own unmarked cars. They are called piratas (pirates) by the locals, and will often approach if they see you looking for a taxi. Since they don't have meters, we advise you not to hire any of these vehicles for transportation. Most don't have insurance to cover their passengers in the event of an accident. If you do have to take one, remember there is no meter, so negotiate the fare before you get in. If you call a taxi, be able to give your exact location in Spanish so the taxi driver knows where to pick you up. If your command of Spanish is limited, have a Spanish speaker write down directions to your destination. We know one old grouchy gringo who has never made an effort to learn a word of Spanish. He has all the directions of the places he has to go written in Spanish for taxi drivers. If you phone for a taxi, the driver can turn on the meter when he gets the call and charge for the driving time to your location.

Airport pick-ups can be arranged in advance by calling one of the taxi companies. We recommend doing this, especially during the rainy season, when it is difficult to get a taxi when you need one.

Telephone numbers of the local taxi companies are in the yellow pages of the telephone book under the heading "Taxi." The Copeguaria taxi company (226-1366) has the most taxis available 24-hours a day. (See the directory in the back of this book for a list of taxi companies.)

Many of these companies also rent big trucks, or Taxis de Carga, at a very low hourly rate. These vehicles can be very helpful if you ever have to move furniture.