www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Ok. So the obvious answer is yes.

But... I have been living in Jaco for about 3 weeks. And I've been spending a bit of time at the Beatle Bar. Tacking a taxi that I flag on the street each time I go home. Same distance each time.

I noticed the first few times it was 2 colones plus a little. Then 3 colones.

I've started sticking to the red taxis as I can see their money counter on the dash tick up as we drive.

Tonight, I only got halfway home in a red taxi before it hit 3 colones. I told to driver to stop and let me out to walk the rest of the way home.

The only thing that makes sense is if they have two (or more) different speeds for the money counter than determines how much the fair is for the ride. Anyone have any concrete info on this? Any way to ensure you aren't getting ripped off each time you flag a cab?

Some red taxis have "hot meters." There's no way to know in advance if you'll be a victim of this scam.

Get the phone number of a taxista who you think treats you fairly.

If he's idle when you call, he'll be glad to meet you somewhere for a sure bet.

There are A LOT of rigged meters in CR. Usually (not always) I noticed that younger taxi drivers have the rigged meters. There's no way to tell before you get in. Once you notice, you can just go with it or ask them to stop so you can pay and get out. This is not agringo thing, but a phucking theivery thing.

The answer is in the question, Grasshopper!

Q: Do Taxis have different rates for Gringos?
A: Taxis have different rates for Gringos!

CostaReeker

Gringos just love to believe they are being ripped off because they are "Gringos"--maybe they are at times, maybe not!! But, yes, taxistas love to "stick it to the tourists"! And anyone else when they can!! Why, even though being illegal and victims of occasional violence do you think UBER is so popular here? TICOS get ripped off just as much as Gringos do.

A couple of points: The meters (Marys) have 3 different settings-1: the day/early evening. 2: late night-usually after midnight 3: local holidays/ special occasions when there is heavy use. A driver can change this setting rather easily and without the inexperienced customer ever being aware of it till it is too late! When he turns on the meter it should be flashing a "1" if it is before midnight and not a holiday.

Secondly, though it is very illegal, the meters are not that hard to alter to run fast. But it takes time. It is not something they can change on the spur of the moment when a Gringo gets in.

The most common, and easiest, way for the taxistas to rip off customers when they think you are a tourist and do not know the area is to take the "long route" and/or intentionally get into heavy traffic when there is often a better route. They know thru radio communication when there is a problem ahead, and though the meter runs on a combination of time and distance meaning it will run up colones slower, it will still add to the cost.

_________________
Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Good points. I didn't know about the day, night, holiday settings. I'll look out for that.

As for the fast meter, it rips off everybody tourists and locals, so it's not "to rip off gringos".

I am really careful of getting into the cab of a young driver

I think in general, if it's the official red taxi you are ok, I will never get into an outlaw, and several chicas I have picked up tried to get me into their personal cab, an outlaw cab, I have always refused, once the chica got demanding about it and I was immediately turned off and walked away from her too! NEVER let me repeat...NEVER get into one of those.

It actually was an old driver that tried to trick me with one of those high revving meters once. I took a route I always take which cost typically 2k colones. I had heard that some of them did this and if it varies a little bit I don't care but I could see the numbers spinning like when you're pumping gas. Half way through the trip it reached 2k colones and I abruptly stopped him and said "malo" pointing at the meter. I told him where we were going usually costs 2k colones and he knew what I was saying but acted stupid. I told him pull over, I got out and didn't pay him a dime. He followed me walking awhile yelling at me but I kept going feeling justified. he finally shouted his share of expletives, flipped the bird and drove off. I suspect he didn't pursue this because he knew he would get caught, you CAN report these guys, they are also supposed to show their I.D. in a conspicuous place the passenger can see.

I always see Ticas in the back seat of these cabbies and Ticos in the front. A Tica once told me they always sit in the back because a certain number of these guys if they think they are a ho will get fresh

All in all, 90% of my events with taxis and taxi drivers has been pleasant and fair.

_________________
Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Yeah it's more on Saturday night than Monday morning. That's common sense.

Just ask how much it's going to cost. I got a ride from Quepos to Manuel Antonio for 1200 and the guy at the hotel said I was a liar. I don't even know if it was a cab. Looked like one. Nice old guy. But I know what he asked for. Just ask before you get in.

One time I was drunk in Dominican Republic and had a fight with my hotel over the rates. So it's late night and I'm dragging a suitcase down the highway. Guy stops. I said how much to Puerto Plata. He said $20 or whatever you want to give me. Get in the car with his wife and K*D and no worries made it there safe.

They gringo cabs usually ask $60 for that trip.

Lots of good advice on this thread about taxis and some bad info. Red taxis only have one rate period. Not one for daylight, night, late night, weekends, holidays. How could a guy live here for 10 yrs and not know that is beyond me. I too favor the older drivers especially at night. The rate will always vary a bit as its a distance time calculation. Yes there are fast rigged meters so beware of that. Always make sure the meter is on and reset from the previous fare.
I swear some drivers have a switch to speed up the meter, the maria. The vast majority of taxi drivers are good honest people. Dont argue with a driver about a dollar its stupid and most drivers carry a gun as its a dangerous job.

Deleted

How could someone think they are so smart and know so much when in fact they don't IS BEYOND ME!!!

For those who are not so smart, no, I do not know that all taxis have meters that have 3 different rates. I would just assume that since some do that ALL DO!! I have a friend and neighbor who is a taxista and I use him quite often. I have seen him change the meter from one setting to another ( It took him about 5 minutes)!! The rates are set by the government so I would assume all are the same but maybe not. There are many different taxi companies here and many more individual taxi owners. I do also know that sometimes ALL do not go by the base rate that is in affect at the moment. After the last change (increase) there were many (mostly old timers) who did not have the meters reset. Even now, after several months, there are still many using the old rate. Since the last change I have been in taxis with a base rate of c635, c640, or c665

Oh, and I have been living here for 12 years!! But I am old, and maybe senile, but the above is what I was told and shown by a guy who has been driving a taxi here for 20 years.

_________________
Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

No one is perfect including me. . Fares are controlled by the government. Same drop, 645 i think. By law same rate morning, noon, night, holidays, if its raining, for two passengers, three passengers etc...if your taxi driver told you this fiction he may be ripping you off. Tip...ask more than one source to determine fact. Airport taxis are the exception.

Looks like your taxi driver is a thief if he changing his meter in regards to time of day or if its a holiday. The drop amount has nothing to do with the subject.

Pura Vida

The government inspectors set and lock the meters when they inspect or when the rates change. I suppose there are criminals who can adjust the meters illegally just like they set back car odometers. Longer routing, which I often ask for, gets you around the traffic but costs more for extra distance but I have little patience sitting in traffic. I have lived here about 13 years and used taxis about half of the time. You can often negotiate rates with outlaw drivers which many ticos use but know what it will cost when you get in. These guys will really stick it to tourists.

There is only one rate, it's on the meter (Maria). If you take a pirata, there is the Tico rate, the gringo rate, and the gringo in cargo shorts and flip flop rate. It's tiered.