Cartagena taxis

Manolo58 says on Jan 12, 2008, 07:00:

The airport security will direct you to the taxi stand as you exit it is relatively safe in Cartagena getting a taxi especially the airport. The taxis have a small white sticker on their doors with an airplane logo, which means they are approved to be of service at the airport.
I believe it should be 10.000 pesos to the Decameron Hotel. I will also be in Cartagena on Jan 30th thru the 6th of Feb. Have fun and don't forget sunblock....

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Ctg Bound says on Jan 12, 2008, 07:05:

You can get one at he airport, but they will charge more than the true cost, 10,000 pesos plus, they will try and get double that.

If you are arriving in the day, with few bags I would walk to the main road about 150 meters away and flag a taxi down, the cost will be about 8,000 pesos.

Always tell the taxis in Ctg what you are going to pay in advance, if you know the rate before hand, just get out of the taxi, pay the money and walk off, the rates are set each January, for example last year from the Old City to Bocogrande/Laguito was 4,000 pesos, not sure what this years is, the taxi drivers are a bunch of thieves in Ctg, presume that every taxi is going to try and rip you off, act accordingly and you will be fine.

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Gator says on Jan 12, 2008, 07:17:

Taxi drivers are the worst sharks in Colombia-follow Ctg Bound's advice and REMEMBER "the taxi drivers are a bunch of thieves in Ctg, presume every taxi is going to try and rip you off, act accordingly and you will be fine."

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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El Polo says on Jan 12, 2008, 07:19:

There are plenty of taxis outside the airport, hailing one should'nt be a problem, always ask how much up front, 10,000 should be the flat rate

P.S dont be afraid to walk away if the driver ask for anything you dont agree with.

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Ctg Bound says on Jan 12, 2008, 07:25:

Gator, in Ctg yep, the worst I have come across on my travels, you will always find a bad one anywhere, but in Ctg most are sharks, not sure about all taxi drivers though, London and Medellin I have found to be very good overall. But only the black cabs in London, not the mini cabs.

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tomtom33 says on Jan 12, 2008, 07:27:

The flat rate from the airport to anywhere in the Bocagrande Penninsula last year was 11,500 pesos.

I never saw any taxi stand at the CTG airport. They are all safe. Just negotiate your rate first.

And, yes you can walk 4 blocks and get it cheaper. I have done that when I didn't have much crap. For a couple of dollars, I generally don't want to walk very far in the heat dragging shit.

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Ctg Bound says on Jan 12, 2008, 07:32:

tomtom33, I don't like being ripped off by those sharks at the airport, so I always prefer to walk to the road, not the money just the principle.

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Gator says on Jan 12, 2008, 08:05:

If you do walk to the road and don't have a l;ot of luggage grab a bus to Bocagrande-about 1.200 pesos

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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peteyw says on Jan 12, 2008, 10:54:

Quite safe to get a taxi at the airport. Current rate from the airport to the Decameron would be 12.000 pesos, that is what they are asking, but you can always bargain. From my perspective the difference of 2.000 pesos is not worth dickering about with 2 or 3 different taxis. Heck, its 1 buck. My time is worth more than that. Choose a nice clean, newer, air conditioned taxi and pay the 11.500 or 12.000 the driver is asking and enjoy the ride.

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ujay says on Jan 12, 2008, 11:19:

10.000 ...12.000. IF YOU DONT WANT TO PAY LEAVE YOUR luggage on the tolly and walk it.
in london cost 15 bucks just to get in the cab.

http://www.jukelightning.com

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iggy says on Jan 12, 2008, 14:11:

A jurney from the airport to laguito is 12000. From Laguito to Cuidad Vieja was 5000 last June. Last February was 4000. Be careful with the taxisdrivers when its raining, they charge double. A jurney from Laguito to Los Alpes is 10000. And CUIDATE, if you stop for withdraw at bank machine and the after 1 min you return at lo mismo taxi its possible to ask you to pay a new jurney.

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tomtom33 says on Jan 12, 2008, 17:26:

There is/was a 500-peso premium after 8:00 pm. Also, the official rate sheet allowed for an extra 10% for air-conditioning. The official Laguito to Centro rate was 3800 pesos in Nov. not counting the premiums.

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osuspain says on Jan 12, 2008, 19:33:

Last time I went to Decameron from the airport in Cartagena we paid 12,000 pesos. There is a stand I believe on the right hand side as soon as one exits the airport. The stand has a person working inside that gives a ticket with a rate to the destination. Therefore, the taxi drivers out front have (so they say) charge that rate. However, if you walk right up to the taxi's outside they will price it how they want to.

They spot tourists out like Chit smells to anyone.

As everone else states to el centro its 4000 try to carry the exact amount have it ready in the hand but not flashy so one does not have to dig around the wallet or purse and get out.

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Clinman says on Jan 12, 2008, 23:17:

If you are an American traveling for first time Cartagena to hotel, then safety is your first consideration and next the cost. My taxi experience in Cartagena and Barranquila has been excellent. I am not sure why one would drag their luggage to the street from terminal to catch an off site taxi to save one dollar. These gentleman of the taxi's at airport are fair and reputable. A good mixed drink at the hotel bar is going to cost the same as the fare from the airport. Transportation by taxi is a bargain in Cartagena and I am always happy to throw a few extra mil to the working man with a family. I live one city south of the airport in Boston and this10 mile trip cost me close $60 with tip
The guys that want to handle your luggage in Cartagena airport can be a bit annoying and slightly aggressive. They definetely will try to hustle the naive gringo for the max. fee. For a woman traveling alone with extra baggage they serve more of a purpose.

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tomtom33 says on Jan 13, 2008, 03:35:

As CB stated, it isn't the money. Those of us who spend a lot of time in Cartagena get God damned sick and tired of being fucked.

One time in Centro I got into a cab with a novia and her two cousins. I normally don't ask the fare. I know what it is and give them exact change. One of the girls asked the fare. The taxista said 5K. You should have seen the look on his face when I got out of the cab and asked the ladies to do the same. Before he could say anything, I had hailed another cab.

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peteyw says on Jan 13, 2008, 08:38:

Sorry to play devil's advocate, but ...

If a taxi driver quotes you 5k pesos for a trip to Bocagrande that is now 4.5K, what's the big deal? The difference is one U.S. quarter. In the U.S. you can't get a cup of coffee, nor a newspaper, nor make a phone call for a quarter. That 1k or 500 peso difference in a fare can make a little difference in Colombia to drivers with mouths to feed. The taxi driver isn't 'fucking' you, he's trying to negotiate a price. Just make an offer and they'll generally comply with you.

I know a lot of these guys, have been to their homes, met their families. The average driver in Cartagena gets about 90K a day in fares. Out of that, he has to pay the owner of the taxi 40K to 45K a day for 'rental'. with the remaing 45 or 50K, he has to buy gas and also pay for simple maintenance. Now he goes home at the end of a long day with about 30K pesos or $15 U.S. With that $15 (roughly $360 a month) he has to buy food, pay rent, clothes for the kiddies, school costs, utilities, health care, etc..

So if a guy wants to quote me an extra 1k to go somewhere, if I can spare the extra 50 cents I'll pay it. If I don't have it to spare, I'll offer less and most times, not all the time, they'll accept it. On the flip side, I've stopped taxis and said.."look I only have 3K on me, can you run me to El Centro?" Sometimes they'll do it, sometimes not.

The point is, from their perspective, the fare is 'negotiable' except to the airport, the bus terminal or Manzanilla beach (my favorite). They are not trying to screw you, just trying to negotiate; they owe it to their families to try. There are a few true 'bad apples', like a bad apple New York cabbie driving an out-of-towner to the Bronx and telling her that's the 'short cut' to LaGuardia Airport.

Sometimes we Americans are so sensitive to getting taken advantage of, that we fail to put things in perspective and keep our humor about things. I've never met anyone in Colombia as 'tight with a peso' as my wife and even she won't fault a cabbie for trying to negotiate.

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tomtom33 says on Jan 13, 2008, 09:16:

Well Petey, how about when a taxista takes you somewhere that you know the fare is 10K and he insists on 20K? That has happened to me. How about when a cruisero taxis from the cruise pier to Centro and get gouged 40K for the trip? At what point are you getting fucked?

If the fare is so negotiable, why does the city publish taxi rates and set minimum fares? The buses are private as well. But the city sets the rates for them too.

If you want to pay more, I have no problem with that. You can make the same case for nearly every worker in Cartagena. Something like 75% of the people in Cartagena live in Estrato 1.

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peteyw says on Jan 13, 2008, 11:00:

Like I said, there are a few true 'bad apples', but the overwhelming majority are decent folks who will quote a reasonable price and will negotiate on that price. The city publishes rates, but its a guideline. You can get the published rate, however, to many places in the city the cabbies quote a lower rate than the published one.

But your ealier comment was about not about being qouted 20K, or 40K; you were discussing a taxi quoting you 5K ( the published minimum is 4.5K) and you got out of the taxi and had 3 ladies also get out of the taxi (which must have really impressed them) all to save 500 pesos when the cabbie would probably have taken the 1 quarter U.S. less if you had said something. That was the point.

If someone tries to charge you double that's one thing, but 25 cents?? You asked three ladies to get out of a taxi so that you wouldn't have to pay 25 cents????

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tomtom33 says on Jan 13, 2008, 13:46:

Yes, I did. The minimum fare at that time was 3800 pesos.

In 4 years of living in Cartagena I was never quoted less than the published rate, ever.

One could make a case for saying that people like you encourage that gouging. It's only mil, or 2 mil or 3 mil or....

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peteyw says on Jan 13, 2008, 15:07:

I get quoted less than the published rate many times and even then I negotiate. Maybe you give off a negative air and they say f- him. Maybe so many of them know me. Its not encouraging gouging its just understanding that everything in Cartagena is up for negotiation.

Gouging to me is a air conditioner repair guy trying to charge me 125K pesos for a replacement part. I found the part myself in a hardware store in Bocagrande for 17K.

I'm dating myself now, but back in Subic Bay, they had a name for certain guys who wanted premium service, but wanted to pay 'economy' rate..."Cheap Charlie"

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tomtom33 says on Jan 13, 2008, 15:26:

Hell all I wanted was a fair rate. A cab ride is a cab ride. Paying 5K for a 3.8K ride is better than a 25% premium. That might not be so bad for a couple of weeks per year. It's a whole other deal when you live there.

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Ctg Bound says on Jan 13, 2008, 15:30:

peteyw,

The overwhelming majority of taxi drivers in Ctg are crooks, pure and simple, how much time have you spent in Ctg?

The prices are already set, they are published in the local news papers every January, so there should be no need to negotiate AT ALL for standard trips.

The taxi drivers know this, the local Colombian and foreigners know this, the tourists don't,. so the Taxi drivers are stealing money off them.

If you want to give some money to a poor Colobian fine, go ahead, but you are defending theft, as there isn't anything to negotiate most of the time as stated above.

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kentuckygreg2 says on Jan 13, 2008, 17:07:

Word to wise...ALWAYS ASK THE PRICE PRIOR TO TAKING THE RIDE! Otherwise, your name will be from now on known as "BEN DOVER"

Love and happiness!

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Gator says on Jan 13, 2008, 18:28:

Also known as, "Replaying the love scene from Deliverance."

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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peteyw says on Jan 14, 2008, 05:35:

Ctg Bound I have been in Cartagena for 3 years and I use the taxis almost everyday. I can say that I have run into a very few bad apples in all that time and a great many really nice, decent and friendly drivers. The prices are not 'set'; they are 'published', you negotiate if you have any sense. You don't have to pay the published price.

I'll bet I pay less than all of you to take taxis in Cartagena because I NEGOTIATE. What I'm saying is, don't get mad at them for asking, just bargain and you'll frequently get a lower price than the 'published prices'. I know, I use this technique every time. I just don't fault a guy for asking high and accepting low. You're in a 3rd world country! Wake up. Everything here is negotiable.

Kentuckygreg2 is absolutely correct, always discuss price PRIOR to taking the ride. I do it before I even get in the taxi. I just go up to the window, ask their price to say Castellana from Bocagrande, some will say 12K others will say 10K, either way I'll offer 8 or 9K, most times they accept THEN I get in. Its not rocket science. But I don't call them crooks for ASKING me for 12K, I just assume it's their opening bid.

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tomtom33 says on Jan 14, 2008, 07:06:

Cheap Charlie?

I don't negotiate over 4K. I used to have a rate sheet and knew the fares. I paid the correct fare with exact change-no discussion. You can negotiate anywhere in the world if you so choose.

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Sam Salmon says on Jan 14, 2008, 11:50:

This subject comes up here from time to time.

Always ends up the same-cabrones tacaños one side-relaxed friendly people on the other (!)

' a la orden!'

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Ctg Bound says on Jan 14, 2008, 14:54:

peteyw, I don't negotiate for a set route, I just pay the SET amount and walk off.

I thought you were paying more than everybody else, now you are paying less...?

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Chelesupercono says on Jan 14, 2008, 17:20:

Cartagena is all about getting f^cked and way over priced.......better in BQA

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Man Tequila says on Jan 14, 2008, 19:42:

I don't mind leaving a tip, when I make a personal decision to do so. Who likes to get ripped off? Taxis are not in short supply in Cartagena nor at the airport and if one won't take you for the correct fare, another will. I personally tip every cab driver who quotes me the correct fare and none who do not, although I pay the correct fare.

At CTG airport, there is a stand that will tell you what to pay, so you don't get ripped off too much.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Sam Salmon says on Jan 15, 2008, 20:27:

I rarely tip taxistas anywhere in Latina America-it's not the custom.

' a la orden!'

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morphus says on Jan 16, 2008, 04:50:

Gringos are expected to tip now.

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Gator says on Jan 16, 2008, 08:01:

GBI, you and I have a GREAT advantage. No language barrier and we KNOW the route to get where we are going. Anything LESS THAN 500 pesos I give the driver. When Mrs. Gator has come from the market out regular guy even helps with the bags or waits until she gets into the building. That's worth the little extra.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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