www.CostaRicaTicas.com

From Inside Costa Rica (3/9):

Taxi Fares Up Today
In the past couple of years the cost of riding a taxi have almost doubled and today kicks in the latest increase approved by the Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos (Aresep) of 6%.

What the increase means that the first kilometre will today cost ¢350 colones up from ¢330.

The increase was requested by Fenacotaxi, the taxi association, that based the request on inflation.

What the increase means in real terms is that the cost of a trip from San José to Sabana to the west of San Pedro to the east, (4 kilometres) will now cost ¢1.310 instead of ¢1.230 colones. The fare will be higher is the taxi sits in traffic.

The cost of waiting also goes up from ¢1.790 colones per hour to ¢1.905.

You can expect to see another increase in fares to go into effect in August, 2006.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

This is the same as the price of gasoline which is going to go up again in a week or two. Taxi, bus fares and gasoline costs are tied to world price for oil. CR imports 100% of the oil so they are at the mercy of world oil prices.

Taxi and bus fares are still very low compared to prices in US cities.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

For most of us who only travel a few times a year it won't matter. With the tip we will be paying the same prices as before. Whats a few extra colons! The rate is more than 20 colons per dollar since my last trip.

ID,(formerly DD) is the taxi and bus fuel subsidized by the CR gov't? It seems it must be for fares to have remained low and the large number of taxis in SJO.

I believe the bus companies and maybe the taxi drivers get a break on the import tax for their vehicles. Other than that I do not think they get any other breaks.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine