www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This is my first trip to CR and I have been searching around for this info but haven't really found what I was looking for. I am trying find out how much taxis run in SJ. I found out about the ones from the airport but was wondering about running around town.

From what I am gathering there are no motos (like DR) but no idea of what a taxi is going to cost. I will be staying at SL and probably be trying to hit the major places like Del Rey et al.

I am just wondering if they are a few dollars to get around (like Panama) or are they more expensive. I guess for that matter, any idea of distance between SL and other major points of interest?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Apatheist

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I smell like whiskey and shame.

Taxis are cheap and they are everywhere around downtown. There are 2 types: official red taxis and pirate taxis. There are no moto taxis, only crazy locals driving motos.

The red taxis have a yellow triangle on the door, and usually a meter. As of late last year, the cost was ¢465 for the 1st km and it increases by ¢10 every few seconds. A trip anywhere within downtown and from the gulch hotels to pretty much anywhere downtown should be ¢1500 or less, that's under $3.

Sometimes red taxis are hard to flag down, especially at night. In front of most hotels there are usually pirate taxis. They will charge 2-4x as much. For example, a ¢600-700 trip to the DR from SL will cost you about ¢1500 in a pirate, even more if they think you are a newbie or don't know any better.

Taking pirate taxis is a waste of money, and it adds up over time. But sometimes red taxis aren't around and you have no choice.

Have small bills for taxis, they claim to never have change.

If you are having dinner with your Del Rey chica at a local resturant, do not ask your waiter to call you a taxi. If you do he will call a pirate taxi(his amigo) and you may not end up where you want to go. It best to just go outside and flag one down. I reccomend the orange taxis even if it is a few colones more.

Think you meant the red taxis. Orange ones are only authorized to pick up and drop off customers going to or leaving the airport.

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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

Also make sure to ask the drivers of the official metered taxis to turn on the meter when you get in so that you get charged fairly. It is now the law that they have to use the meters in the official red taxis.
I had one guy who did not turn it on last week on my trip even after I initially asked him to. I said " alright just let me out here then" and he put the meter on grumbling under his breath.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

Actually, as of last March, the OFFICIAL fares are 430c for the first km and 385c per km thereafter with additional charges for waiting and delays (espera y demora) (source: http://www.aresep.go.cr/docs/RRG-9543-2009%20Taxis.pdf page 11). Of course, even if you get them to use the meter that is no guarantee that you won't be ripped off. They may start out at the right base amount but studies have found that most taxi meters in SJ are rigged. Most are not done so outrageously so that you are likely to notice, but some taxistas are really really ballsy in what they will try to pay off. Locals will spot it in a second and tell the cabbies where to get off, but it is a lot easier to fool an unsuspecting gringo so it will help you to know how much a fare for a given haul should be.

One block in SJ is roughly equal to 100m, so 10 blocks are roughly equal to a km. When you get in the cab and ask the taxista to turn on the meter if he doesn't do so automatically, it should ring up the 420c for that 1st km. The 1st potential problem is when it starts going up beyond that. It SHOULDN'T start racking up additional colones until you've gone a FULL km or roughly 10 blocks. For example, the distance from the SL to the HDR is well under 10 blocks and so should never cost more than the minimum. If it does I suggest you just give the driver a 500c coin and tell him to stick it if he squawks for the rest.

What about for trips of more than 10 blocks? Orange said that the meter goes up 10c every few seconds (after the 1st km) but how fast? Whatever the new fare should be (they do go up periodically), each ADDITIONAL km costs less than the 1st. So a trip of under 20 blocks shouldn't cost more than 805c (or a 1K note if you want to leave him the small change as a tip). Some examples? The SL on the north side of town to Pantera Rosa on the south is about 13-14 blocks or maybe 600c. The SL to Arcadas or Molino Rojo diagonally across town is still under 20 blocks and so shouldn't cost more than 1K. Going from the SL to the Paseo Colon area (e.g. Oasis) is a bit longer (more blocks than I can easily count) but still well under 3km and thus shouldn't cost more than 1200c.

One little trick I've found that one can use for estimating distances in SJ requires that one also understand the street numbering system (Avenidas run east-west, Calles run north-south, even numbered Avenidas to the south of Avenida Central and even numbered Calles to the west of Calle Central). Oasis is at C32 between A1 y 3, which is 16 blocks west and 1.5 blocks north of town center. The SL is at C13 between A9 y 11, which is 7 blocks east and 5.5 blocks north of town center. So the ROUGH distance between them is 19 blocks (16+7+5.5-1.5). Hmm, whaddiya know, going by that even Oasis is less than 2 km from the SL. Maybe I've been overpaying? Well, you also have to add a little for charges due to traffic delays. Also, taxistas sometimes have to go a little out of the way because of 1 way streets, avenues that are blocked off for pedestrian traffic and the fact that SJ is not on a perfect grid. Hey, its not a perfect science and, except for some number geeks like me, not worth the mental calculations, but this gives you a rough idea how much different trips should be and will hopefully help you from being grossly overcharged.

However, another thing you need to watch out for are taxistas that go UNNECESSARILY out of the way in order to run up their meters a little more. Sometimes they'll tell you their way is faster because of traffic (and sometimes it is). Sometimes they'll pretend to be confused about where you want to go or how to get there (and often I think they really are).

My main points are that the total amounts are not so great. Getting taken for petty amounts is pretty much unavoidable so, unless its particularly egregious, you're probably best off saying "Ahh, Phuck it" and going along with it. However, I do think we need to draw a line in the sand somewhere when it comes to the worst abuses for principle's sake even if we're still only talking about an extra dollar or two.

Thank you for the information. Im sure that this is going to be an experience.

_________________
I smell like whiskey and shame.

I agree with Pro on this one. Before I got a car, I rode to SL several times a week taking the same route virtually each time. It didn't take long to learn what the metered rate should be to several landmarks (adjusted for traffic). A couple of times the meter was obviously off (fast). When I mentioned it to the drivers they admitted that the thing was whack and had me pay the "normal" amount without argument.

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"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978