Chiriquí Chatter

Someone suggested that I post something on taxis. Well, this is a short attempt to add some of my taxi experiences. One thing you quickly learn if you come to Panama is that taxis are one of the primary people movers of the country.

My experiences with taxis have been in Panama City and David. As with anything posted in Chiriquí Chatter or about any other resource of information on the Internet (assuming you think Chiriquí Chatter contains information) you should check the post date because information value changes over time, especially when it is related to prices.

While I don’t live in Panama City, I have used the taxi system there several times and these are my experiences. Others that live there and use it on a day to day basis may have different experiences or advice and as always, feel free to leave your comments.

Assuming that you are arriving at the International airport in Panama City you most likely will take a taxi to your hotel. I have never had any problem getting a taxi from the airport and generally have paid about $25 to get to any of several hotels in the city. Taking a taxi at the airport, you basically don’t have a choice and just get the next in line.

Here is what I did on one of my first trips to Panama City. Before I left the hotel to go to several sites, I found a hotel manager that spoke English and mapped out my route. I found out where each site was in relation to the others and I asked what reasonable charges would be to get from one place to the next. I had previously written down the name of each location I wanted to go to and a phone number if it was appropriate. Armed with this information, I was ready to catch a taxi.

From here on you will have choices. One choice is to get a cab with or without air conditioning (AC). I have become accustomed to Panama weather and don’t pay a lot of attention to this, but for some, riding in a taxi without AC is a problem. If the taxi pulls up and the windows are down, don’t assume that they will go up and the AC will be turned on once you are inside. If you want AC or you just don’t like the looks of the taxi, just wave it on.

A newer taxi has higher likelihood of using AC. There are several reasons for this. The new Toyota Yaris taxis are very economical and the drivers know the taxi will smell better if they use AC. Also the older the car, the AC may be broke and the driver can’t afford to fix it.

Assuming you are staying at a hotel, you now have your second choice. That is to take your taxi from the hotel or to just catch one on the street. My experience is that if the hotel gets you a cab, it is going to cost you more. I usually walk out to the sidewalk and get the next taxi that passes.

When the taxi stops, now is the time to ask how much you will be charged to go to wherever you are going. If you just get in and give the directions, you may get a surprise when you go to pay. Normally, if I am Panama City I get an agreement on the rate before I get in.

An ability to speak a little Spanish always helps if you are in Panama. Obviously this is true for a couple of reasons when it comes to taxis. If he speaks mostly Spanish, the paper with the name and address of the place you want to go to will help him. I have found that if I get in a taxi and the driver looks at me and then becomes extremely talkative in English, he has sized me up as someone he may try to charge a higher rate. I try to always respond in Spanish if I can. I have been lucky and most taxis have not tried to over charge me, but every now and then one will try.

With a little experience you will recognize the drivers who are honest and those that are less honest. If you are tourist in Panama City, one of these taxi drivers might be a good guide. If he speaks well enough, you might ask what he would charge for a few hours tour. Normally, the people I have heard of that have done this have contracted for an hourly rate. I did this many years ago, so what was reasonable then would not apply now. I always pay a taxi driver the exact agreed to price with no tip (just like a Panamanian). The only exceptions were on the occasions when I have used a taxi driver as a tour guide and he did a good job. One time I bought a driver’s lunch and talked to him during the meal. It really added to the experience for both him and me.

An observation I made a long time ago is that the taxis never have any gas in them. I have gotten in the habit of looking at the gas gauge and it seemed like it was almost always on empty. I have even had driver need to stop for gas shortly after I got in and then they only put in a couple of gallons of gas. I have never had one run out of gas, but it gives me the feeling that when the day is over, the average taxi driver doesn’t have much money to show for his days work.

The Albrook airport offers another taxi tip. If you are coming to Panama City from David or other regional locations, as you exit you will have several people ask if you want a taxi. There will be a long line of taxis ready for you. If you take one of these taxis you can expect to pay more. One of my first times to do this was to go to the US Embassy. It is in the Albrook area and I got charged $5.00. That is when I still had “SUCKER” stamped on my forehead. If you want a cheaper fair, walk across to the median and catch a taxi. It may take an extra minute or two, so you can decide if it is worth it or not. To go to one of the downtown hotels or the San Francisco area should not cost over $3.50. I will say that gas prices have gone up and rates can change, but that is what I am used to.

If you are flying from Panama City to David, and need a taxi, there will be several at the airport. These will cost more than the rest of the taxis you will take in David. It will probably cost around $3.50 from the airport to anyplace in David. This is normal and I think the fact that they have had to wait for a fare accounts for the extra charge. Once in David it should not cost more than $1.50 to $2.00 to go to any other location in David. Most taxis that I have used in David charge me the same as a Panamanian, but once in a while they try to give me a gringo rate. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind paying a little more because I am sure they need the money, but you do set expectations of what they will want to charge and can charge other gringos if you pay a higher rate with no reluctance.

With gasoline well over $3.00 a gallon, the rates may change. If the rates change, all taxis will go up on their charges. If you get some low rates and some higher, then you are seeing gringo pricing.

I didn’t intend to write this much, but I think I have run out of anything else to say on this subject. I will close by giving you one something to tell the driver after you have paid him, assuming you were satisfied with how you were treated. Smile and say “Gracias. Tiene un buen dia” which is “Thank you. You have a good day”. I think it is a good thing to try to remove some of the “ugly American” attitudes that exist, and here is a good opportunity.

Tags: Reflecting