Traveling by Taxi

Taxis in Costa Rica represent an inexpensive alternative of travelling specially in the capital city and its suburbs where address finding is often a nightmare.

There are various official and non official companies and drivers out in the streets of Costa Rica. Official taxis are red in color (lately other colors have been spotted!) and display a yellow triangle on the two front doors bearing a number and the name of the town they belong. Their numberplates are also written in red on a white plate.

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport you can board an official orange taxi or share an orange minibus taxi. The company that runsthese orange cabsis calledis called “Taxi Aeropuerto ”, their service is professional and their fare very reasonable.
(Please note that “ Taxi Aeropuerto” does not uses meters but a fixed fare system for downtowns hotels, for other destination ask your driver for the official fare.)

A sure sign that you have boarded a licensed taxi is the presence of the “María” (the taxi meter), as Tico´s call it. By law a taxi driverd should always operate the meter for trips around town. Some drivers don´t! In this case, insist on the use of the meter!
Please note that in some rural areas some official taxi may not have a meter, also for long trips or those trip that will drive a taxi out of its area of operation we recommend you to negotiate you fare before boarding.

Some taxi drivers try to charge a surcharge for waiting outside hotels: this is illegal and you should refuse to pay.

IIn San Jose it is reported that there are over 5,000 licensed taxis, but who knows how many illegal taxi drivers there are. These are called “piratas” (pirates). Some of these “piratas” are also part of well organized companiesthat provide radio comunication to their afiliates.

Remember that most piratas do not have insurance and some of the vehicles mechanic may not be up to standard.
Unfortunately in some areas there is no other choice than using “piratas”, if this is the your case, always settle on a price before you begin your trip.

Some useful contact numbers: