Costa Rica News – Today I was in a taxi that’s meter started at 616, not the old or the new rate. It’s increased by one colon, the driver explained. What he’ll do with his extra 1 colon, I have no idea, but he felt the need to take it.
The actual rate is 615 and it will increase to 640 soon. This is the rate for the first kilometer, in city taxis. Some rural taxis use a rate of 775 or 795 colones. Other rural taxis don’t even use meters or give change. In Monteverde, for instance, I owe one driver a few coins and another owes me…but everyone knows each other so that credit is accepted.
For those of you in areas with metered, legal taxis, you will want to be aware of the rate adjustment, which will be 25 colones more per kilometer after the first. This was approved by the Regulatory Authority of Public Services, Aresep.
It will be published in La Gaceta one day before taking effect. The reason for the increase is due to the fuel and salary increases, as well as the exchange rate. Other increases to take note of include the taxis for people with disabilities, which goes up 25 colones on the first kilometer and 15 on the others, and the SJO Airport taxis, which will start at 850-930 depending on the type of vehicle it is. The kilometers after the first will be between 740 and 810 colones, again depending on the vehicle.
A friend of mine was telling me a story recently about a phone number that you can call to report a taxi. After you call it the police will come a give them a ticket and suspend them for a period of time….. if you know anything about this please let us know so we can update this article.
