How much is a Taxi in BOG?

ACBlessing says on Dec 9, 2004, 00:33:

About 12,500 pesos...see the rest of the posts here... Alex Blessing, Spokane, WA, USA
alex at acblessing.com,MSN Messenger
www.acblessing.com

Just plain poor

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kernow62 says on Dec 9, 2004, 04:14:

You won't need a telephone number, at least from the airport. The taxis are lined up outside ready. Just go to the taxi booth and tell them your destination, they will enter it in the computer and will hand you a slip of paper with the maximum fare to be paid. Give this to the driver.

If you use the search facilities and type taxi you will get 100s of answers.

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santiBOG says on Dec 9, 2004, 15:35:

Maybe COP15,000 It should not be more than 15,000 pesos.

If you need to call a cab during your stay in Bogota, dial 311-1111. Never flag one down on the street.

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Crazy4Cali says on Dec 9, 2004, 16:45:

Do they take greenbacks? Can you pay for the taxis in US dollars or do you need to arrive in-country with some COP in your pockets?

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kernow62 says on Dec 9, 2004, 17:06:

I must be crazy but the whole time I was in Bogotá I never called a taxi. I flagged them down and hopped in. People who I spoke to in Bogotá never warned me not to do so.

Is the reasoning that either someone bad has stolen a taxi and is looking for people to pick up or that there are lots of crooked taxi drivers tooling around looking for easy targets?

Is this a big problem in all areas of the country?

Tinto do you have figures that show taxi kidnappings if that is what they are called?

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adrimm says on Dec 9, 2004, 17:19:

Kernow, But weren't you with your wife? She's a Bogotana, correct? When I'm down there travelling with family we just hail taxis right on the street too, but I can see how it might be easy to rip off a foreigner who doesn't know the rates/prices or the city layout.

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caslug says on Dec 9, 2004, 17:29:

Crazy.. Paid taxi w/ peso, because the way the dollars going down, you & taxid river will get a better value from peso, beside if you give dollars he won't be able to give you change.

Hailing cabs on the street is "USUALLY" ok especially in the daytime. My one bad taxi experience was when I had to grab a cab from the casino at 2AM one time. The driver pretend he couldn't understand my WRITTEN ADDRESS of the hotel. Instead of a 4 block ride, he drove around a bit until I told him the Hotel was overthere. I think he did that to get a longer fare. But it was a little scary because he was about to get on the expressway.

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ACBlessing says on Dec 9, 2004, 18:41:

Not true about dollar. Hey JT... The U.S. dollar has been going down compared to the Euro but is still strong compared with the COL peso ($1=2,488 pesos),especially if the driver doesn't (or can't give) you change for your U.S. dollars.

JT, there's whole threads about taxis but here goes: get off the plane, while your'e in the terminal and before you collect your suitcases, find the ATM (there's one on the second floor near the chapel) and withdraw a little money. You can get from 50,000 (U.S.$20) pesos to a 400,000(U.S.$161) on that machine. Go to the taxi counter at the end of the terminal where you came out. Give them the address and they'll tell you exactly how much it'll cost. Give the paper to the driver.

Now, you have pesos in your pocket and a firm price. There'll be guys outside who will load your suitcases into the taxi. They do not work for the airport or taxi company, make sure to give them a tip. I always carry a $5 bill to give em because my suitcases are a pain. That's over 12,000 pesos and very sufficient.

Oh, don't show anybody your wad of pesos either...and last tip...don't pay taxistas with $20,000 peso bills...they HATE that and usually say they don't have change (they do) and sometimes get pissy. I always carried a lot of 5,000 peso bills just for taxis.


Alex Blessing, Spokane, WA, USA
alex at acblessing.com,MSN Messenger
www.acblessing.com

Just plain poor

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Dec 9, 2004, 19:18:

Sorry, I specialize in death only. ;-) ...but if you are looking for stats on all kinds of bad things, I found them here:



http://www.derechoshumanos.gov.co/observatorio (go to bottom, center)



Indicadores por categorias a octubre de 2004

Homicidios

Masacres

Secuestros

Sindicalistas

Autoridades locales

Indígenas

Maestros

Periodistas

Cuadro resumen indicadores (good yr-over-yr comparison)

Desplazamiento

Minas Antipersonal

Atentados contra población civil

Ataques a poblaciones

Ataques a infraestructura estatal

Acciones contra los grupos al margen de la ley

Desmovilizados



FYI, A long time ago Peter posted a color coded map of FARC-ELN-AUC activity. The link above has some maps with "hot spots" for certain periods of time.

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kernow62 says on Dec 9, 2004, 20:04:

adrimm you are correct and that does make a difference because when the taxistas heard her local accent I suppose they knew they wouldn't be able to rip her off like they could me if I were alone. Now if they were out to kidnap me I doubt it would make any difference either way.

I wouldn't be able to make myself understood on the phone, but in person I think I could tell them the address and therefore I don't think I would phone for cabs even when alone. I use the buses mostly anyway they are more entertaining. I suppose riding buses is a no no too, it beats hoofing it though.

Anyway what are you supposed to do when you are stuck on Autopista Norte trying to get back to the hotel, look for a phone and hope you have a phonecard? I found it easier to look for a nice clean late model cab and hail them.

Do you call for them or do you hail them when you are Bogotá? Just curious.

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santiBOG says on Dec 11, 2004, 22:56:

Paseo Millonario This is what you can get by just getting a taxi on the street. You get in, tell the driver where you want to go and he says ok. At some point in the ride when the car is still (like when you're about to get out) two additional men board the taxi, one on each side. The driver, who is abviously an accomplice, steps on the gas and off you go in your paseo millonario.

So where do these 2 additional men come from? Sometimes the are riding in a car behind the taxi, sometimes they will be in the trunk of the taxi. They force the victim to keep his/her eyes closed and immediately take posesssion of your watch, cellphone, sunglass, pen, Palm, etc. They will go through the vicitim's wallet/purse very carefully to find cards that will work on ATMs.

Through death threats they get the victim to say what the PIN is for each card. As soon as this is accomplished, one of them will get out and withdraw as much money as possible from an ATM.

Trust me, this is a situation that you do not want to get yourself into. In my case, they took out the money and then let me go, others have not been so lucky (they were nice enough to give me $10K for cabfare -- the irony!!). I took this cab right on the corner of Calle 93B and carrera 11. As I was walking towards 11th, this Mazda 323 was passing by and I signaled him. Got in, the driver was young and extremely friendly. A few minutes later we were in front of the building where I lived at the time. I took out a bill from my wallet and was about to hand it to the driver. In an instant, the other two got in and the driver hit the gas. It only lasted I would say 45 minutes but they were horrible. I really thought they were going to kill me.

Anyway, I don't want to be an alarmist. The VAST majority of the cab drivers are honest. But why take chances? You will be safe if you call the taxi from wherever you are. The operator will give you the cab id number; make sure that is the one that you get into. The doormen in buildings will call the cab for you if you ask them. They will even write down the cab id number when you get in, for safety. Also, as soon as you get in and close the door, open it again to make sure that it works from the inside (they could be rigged).

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ShazCas says on Dec 12, 2004, 04:52:

SantiBog is right SantiBog is totally correct in what he's saying about the dangers of hopping in a taxi in Bogota without ringing first. If you are with a Colombian or even another foreigner, I would say generally hailing a taxi on the street is okay, but if you're travelling on your own, day or night, you really should ring the taxi first and then ask for the numberplate so you can make sure it is the same car (illegal taxi owners can listen in on your call and if they're near your place, they could pick you up pretending to be your taxi.) This is most important at night and if you're a woman because there is always the added risk of rape, as in other cities. I've never had any problems with taxi drivers in Bogota, but there are more and more stories of the paseo millionario, and why take the risk? And I am not the type of person to think too much about security in Bogota, I speak fluent Colombian spanish, look a bit like a penniless Colombian student, and spend a lot of time in the centre of Bogota at all hours. But I ring taxis - it makes sense.

Kernow62 is right to take the bus, it's much safer, and a real experience!! Cheaper too, and you get to hear lots of vallenato and salsa blaring out as loud as possible!

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ShazCas says on Dec 12, 2004, 04:54:

Forgot to add, you don't have to call taxis at the airport as has been said, or at other taxi ranks, like at the bus station.

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william_andrew_channell says on Dec 13, 2004, 08:50:

TAKE A BUS Just take a bus.
Ruta C92 - $1200, Noct. y Fest. $1250
With the money you save you can eat 2 or 3 good lunches.

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rash9000 says on Dec 13, 2004, 11:17:

3000-10000 pesos

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ACBlessing says on Dec 13, 2004, 12:45:

JT, aren't you a cop whose fed up with the U.S. and moving to Bogota to teach English for a while? Just curious.

Alex Blessing, Spokane, WA, USA
alex at acblessing.com,MSN Messenger
www.acblessing.com

Just plain poor

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miamimike says on Dec 15, 2004, 11:13:

Taxis in Bogota I am new on this board but not new in Colombia. My dentist lives by the Galleria area of Bog. and on my last trip to her office(2 years ago) She called the Taxi for me-she copied the plate number down, handed the driver my address to where I was going in writing. This driver took me on a wild goose chase-I think he was setting me up for the "Heist" he kept driving in circles--even though the fare was already set--and my destination was only 10 minutes from her office. He claimed he couldn't find the address but that was a lie. Finally we passed my address and still he would not stop--I was getting ready to bail out at the next light when he had to stop but then for some odd reason he turned around and took me to my address. I was so hot I accidentally ripped the door handle out of the mechanism-the family I was staying with came out and an arguement ensued. The next day my dentist called the Taxi Co and complained and the driver was reprimended for his activity. My advice--be CAREFUL--and yes, only use a taxi you have called and have a friend copy the plate number down. A colombian buddy of mine from Fl. was robbed the same year in Bogota, in a taxi--the driver took him to a strange neighborhood and then another car pulled up behind the taxi and 2 guys got out and appraoched the taxi and got in the back seat with him--he was then driven to south bogota(frim unicentro) and he was robbed-his rings, watch. and maybe 30mil pesos. Luckily--he had his credit and atm cards in his shoes and they did not check there. They blindfolded him at the onset and after they were done-let him out and told him not to move for 15 minutes or he would be killed. Luckily they only got his cash and watch/ring--replaceables.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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miamimike says on Dec 15, 2004, 11:33:

Taxistas never have change !! When I have tried to pay bogota taxi drivers with dollars they always lowball me on the exchange so I always pay in pesos. I also always carry coins and small bills as I know their old trick-never having change. One time to test the theory--I wanted to pay a 5 mil peso ride witha 20mil note--of course, "He had no change" then I proceeded to tell him "No Problema" and withdrew the exact change out of my coin pouch. The look on his face went from that of joy(15 mil tip) to a look of disbelief when I had the exact change. A Kodak moment! When I am with my ladyfriend(colombian)I have her call the taxi and when he pulls up to the restaurant SHE goes out and sets the fare--then I enter the picture and hop in-there are TWO RATES--one for colombians and one for gringos. One driver a few years back was so pissed at this he stopped the taxi a block away and told us to get out of his Cab. He was angry becuase he couldn't Rip off the Gringo. No problem-we got another taxi a few minutes later. Many times I take the bus or the collectivo-those little vans which are a step up from the bus and cost a few pennies more. I now have a driver(taxi) who I call all the time--he speaks passable english and is trustworthy--I leave him a nice TIP and take him out to dinner on the ending of my trip--its worth it.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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caslug says on Dec 15, 2004, 11:48:

similar taxi story.. last month in Bogota i took a taxi from rock&lobster casino in zona rosa to my hotel. About 5-10 min walking distance, all the taxi had to do was go out couple of blocks hit 15 street then left on 85 avenue go down 4 blocks, less than 5 min drive. This was at 2 AM, so i was little hestitant to walk alone and took a taxi waiting outside the casino. After telling the driver the address, he kept pretending he didn't understand my spanish, "carerra 18 y avenieda 88 yi cerca carulla super mercado", now i know my spanish is sucks but all the other taxi driver never had a problem AND i even wrote it down on paper for him. He start driving a long way, and was about to get on the expressway, when i kept telling him, we're very close(cerca) i was ready to get out of the taxi myself, then he took me to the hotel. Now i suspect it he wanted to pad the fare rather than trying to kidnap/rob(at least i hope i was right).

BTW, all the drivers alway had change, for me. If my fare is 12,500 peso, i give him a 20k and tell him to give me 5k back. or stuff like that, and they never fall to give me my change back. BUT in CTG they did "robbed" me by saying no change, so that is EXCELLENT advice to keep those 1, 2, 5, 10 mill peso handy.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Dec 15, 2004, 11:50:

Negotiating rate Mike, why are you negotiating rates with BOG taxi drivers where all cabs here are metered and the rates (for all) are published on a card on the back of the seat?

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Hunter says on Dec 15, 2004, 15:25:

Its simple tell them Ok, if you don't have any change you will wait, where he has dropped you off, until he returns with some.

The change soon appears.

Hunter

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utopiacowboy says on Dec 15, 2004, 17:30:

Tinto, you're amazing. You posted a link to a great site. Fascinating reading. It explains why I can wander all over Cordoba - only 4 kidnappings this year compared to 181 in Antioquia. A lot more potential victims in Antioquia, true, but I still think the rate is very low.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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miamimike says on Dec 15, 2004, 17:53:

Bogota taxi fares Ladyfriends of mine in Bogota always try to negotiate a price-guess its in their blood-they always feel they are being overcharged. Sometimes they will not used a legit. taxi and this is when they bargain. I personally will not use an unlicensed cab. Even some of the licensed taxis drivers try to skim you by saying its a holiday, its late at night--any reason to up the fare. Anything for a Buck!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Lionheart says on Dec 15, 2004, 18:16:

negotiating rates Mr. Hollywood ... from what I understood the locals get a rate below the published rate on the chart. So the locals negotiate how much lower the will be for them .... I could imagine there is a customary reduction of maybe 25%, more or less, at least that would make sense to me.

I remember doing basically the same when was a regular with a booth on a huge fleamarket (Munich old airport) ... the vendors usually did a 20-30% reduction below the expected sales minimum, which was usually 50% below the marked price.

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miamimike says on Dec 15, 2004, 18:25:

Two Tier Taxi Price System Their definitely is a 2 price system for taxis in Bogota--one for the natives and one for us. Afriend of mine repeatedly pays no more then 7-8mil pesos for the Taxi from the airport to her apartment in North Bogota. This was as recent as 2 weeks ago. If it was me or you-the fare would have been 12 mil pesos or more!!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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