Taxi Quepos and Manuel Antonio
Taxi in Quepos and Manuel Antonio
Red Taxis
The red cabs are the official taxis of the area. They have a yellow triangle on the door where the taxi’s number is written and the license plate will match. These taxis have a specific licenses, are fully insured, and are the most reliable. Before getting into one of these taxis, it's a good idea to ask the price for your destination, as most taxis wont use a meter and could charge you extra if your not aware of the actual cost.
The prices should be the same during day and night. Here are some examples of standard pricing in our area:
- From Villas Jacquelina to the bus station or the city center: 2,000 CRC
- From the Quepos city center to Manuel Antonio's playa Espadilla: 6,000 CRC
- From anywhere in Manuel Antonio to Quepos: 4,000-6,000 CRC
- From central Quepos to Pez Vela Marina: 1,500 CRC
If you want to pay in dollars, make sure you have the change or ask them before if they have it. Be prepared to get a poor exchange rate when paying in USD.
Uber taxi
The Uber app exists and works in Quepos, but it isn’t the best option since it can take a lot of time and the driver may cancel the ride at the last minute. You can always check on your app if you see drivers around but don’t wait for too long! There are only a few Uber drivers in the area so actually getting one to pick you up is pretty rare.
Calling for a Taxi
If you don’t find a taxi in the street or if you want a red cab to pick you up, you can call the taxi headquarters. The base will ask you for the following information: Pick up location, number of passengers, and the your name. If you have a large group or a good amount of luggage, try asking for a large taxi. If there is one available, they will send it and the price should be the same or similar. When your taxi is confirmed, the taxi operator will provide you with a taxi number. The taxi number is important as you only want the taxi that is sent for you and not just random passing taxi. The taxi number will always be posted in the yellow triangle on the side of the taxi and should also correspond to the taxi's license plate.
Taxi Headquarters phone numbers:
- (506) 2777-0425
- (506) 2777-3080
- WhatsApp- (506) 8799-7663
Scheduling a Taxi
Taxis can be easily scheduled by calling a taxi headquarters. Just give them your pick-up location, name, number of guests, and pick up time.
Taking a taxi in Spanish
Finally, you can find here some sentences in Spanish with their translation to help you to discuss with the taxi driver if he/she doesn’t speak English :
- I want to go to Manuel Antonio = Quiero ir a Manuel Antonio
- How much is it? = Cuánto cuesta?/Cuánto es?
- Thank you very much, have a nice day! = Muchas gracias, buen día!
Pirate Taxis
In Quepos and Manuel Antonio you can also find pirate taxis or “taxis piratas”. Pirate taxis are
not official. They are not red and don’t have a specific license plates. They are not insured and their drivers can be anyone and everyone. These taxis are normally small and old five seater cars. These taxis are generally pretty safe, but not recommended for tourists because they are uninsured and their drivers are unknown. Riding in these taxis is similar to hitch hiking but you have to pay for your ride. Normally these pirate taxis run from central Quepos or near the futbol field, all the way to Manuel Antonio's playa Espadilla and back all day. The cost to jump in is around 700 CRC and they don't like you if you slam their car doors. You can identify these taxis by their look or by them slowing down or flashing their lights at you. They drive up and down Manuel Antonio looking for riders and the best way to catch one is to hail it like a cab. You will regularly see locals using these pirate taxis as they tend to be quick, easy, and cheap. These taxis will only stop on the main roads between Quepos and Manuel Antonio and
will not take you off route.
Writers Tips
- Always ask for the price before getting into a taxi. Most taxis don’t use meters unless you ask for it.
- Pirate taxis should be taken with caution and never at night if you are alone or vulnerable.
- Ask for a large cab or van if you have a large group.
- Call a cab using the WhatApp number above, but be patience as it sometime take a few minutes to get a response.
- For more information about Quepos and Manuel Antonio, visit our Manuel Antonio Travel Guide.
