The Taxi Thread

[Contrail]

I will normally avoid taking taxis if there is an efficient, acceptable alternative form of public transport available. As this isn't the case in Panama here is how I go about it

1. To avoid the 'special gringo surcharge' never take a taxi from a hotel, or from anyone that offers you one, especially outside of one of the big malls, or anywhere in Via Veneto. For example, the Veneto Hotel taxis will want $12 to go to Albrook Mall.

2. Just wave one down on the street and get in. For example, I pay $2 to go to San Francisco or Albrook from Cangrejo. It is probably the only country where there are no taxi - metres but I don't ask the price beforehand. My reasoning is that if you do, the driver will think you don't know the going rate and may be tempted to hit you up for more. They all have to carry a Zona Map and if you run into a problem at your destination just ask them to produce it, but I have never run into one. I have found on rare occasions that on flagging one down they will ask for that 'special gringo surcharge' before you get in.

3. At Tocumen airport I don't find it very welcoming or relaxing to be greeted by the jostling taxi touts with premium rates. instead, walk upstairs to Departures and find a regular city taxi dropping someone off. Chances are, that they don't have the special licence needed to do pick-ups at Arrivals or don't want to join the queue downstairs and will happily take you into town for $15. This has the added bonus of avoiding a potential robber posing as a taxi driver in the arrival sections. This also works well at other airports such as Havana.

Please share your taxi tips and experiences here.

[Roger]

Good post, Contrail. I loathe most of the taxis in Panama and avoid them whenever possible.

FYI- the taxis in Cartagena, Colombia have no meters as well as in Caracas, Venezuela.

[Contrail]

Sorry Roger I should have phrased that to read: 'in any other country that doesn't have taxi metres I would always establish the price before getting in'

No metres and no zone map and a client with not much Spanish must be a taxista's dream combination for 'extras'. I'd probably want it in writing before getting in a taxi again in somewhere like Cairo, my worst experience.


In Athens, I remember that the metre was on the floor in front of the front passenger seat so if you sat in the back you couldn't see it. Also, they were collective, the metre was running when you got in and no defined route which meant going round the houses to drop off prior passengers first. There was some ill-defined proportion that a passenger paid when he got out but natch I was hit up for the total on the metre at my destination..

[sellinggoldandsilver]

Great advice! Don't get in one where you are in the front seat, and a man is already in the back. Possible set up.

[moomoo]

Caught my first taxi today in PC. There was already a lady in the back and the driver wanted to charge $5 from Cangrejo to Bella Vista. When I asked him if it wasn't a bit pricey he made out as if he had got the name of the hotel wrong and adjusted his price downwards. Needless to say it took about 20 minutes as he had to drop the other passenger off first

Once you know what the regular prices are you are in a better position. In other countries if there is no meter and they ask a high price I just pay them what I think the trip should be worth. Sometimes they kick up a fuss but mostly they know they are taking the p*ss and just accept it.

[EdBowers]

I think that route is $1.75. If they charge you more than $2 it's a robbery.

Never pay more than $2 inside Panama City unless you go to Amador or Los Pueblos/Airport. I usually give em $3 if they drove me for more than 30 mins.

Best, Ed
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There was already a lady in the back and the driver wanted to charge $5 from Cangrejo to Bella Vista.

[moomoo]

Thanks Ed, he charged $3 so was ripped off a little. Live and learn hey!