Tips for Using Taxis in Playa del Carmen
Using the map and rate charts below, you can figure the standard taxi rate between any two areas. You will pay a slight upcharge to book a taxi from a que or line of waiting taxis, but if you hail one on the street this is the rate. The upcharge is normally about 20 - 40 pesos.
Normally, you will be traveling between Zone 1 or 2 (the main tourist zones) and Playacar, where our condo is located. Note that if you stay within the tourist zones 1 or 2, the rate is around 80-150 pesos, which is about $5 - $10 USD, to jump in and out of a cab. If you have the taxi take you all the way to the condo from the tourist zone, it could be about $150 - 200 pesos, which is about $9 - $15 USD. If we are bringing home lots of groceries, we go ahead and pay to have them take us to our door. But if we are just tired and walking home from the far north end, we will often have them drop us at The Admiral Sport’s Bar (right outside of our guard gates) or Lara y Lucas (or Casa Sofia). All of these are great choices that most taxi drivers are aware of. This way the driver does not have to enter Playacar and may quote you a smaller rate.
Note: it is not customary to tip taxi drives unless they provide something extra like helping you load your luggage or groceries, or stop and let you pop out and buy a beverage or something. It is best to know the rate and get out and pay them what you know it should be without asking. Unless, of course, you got in at a lineup/que, then you should ask the rate before you get in. If it is more than 40 - 80 pesos over the normal rate, decide whether you want to be overcharged or not. You can always wait for another taxi. On occasion we hear of taxi drivers saying that there is a different "tourist rate". That is completely untrue. There is only one rate - the "tourist rate" is built into the expense of taking passengers into Playacar. How far you take this is up to you, but just know the facts in making your decisions.
Over these past few years, there has been a lot of talk about rate meters being installed in all of the taxis in QRoo. As of the beginning of 2024, the are starting a test phase of these meters in certain areas, so hopefully this will be approved and implemented in all taxis in the next year or two to help regulate the price gouging by some of these drivers.
Normally, you will be traveling between Zone 1 or 2 (the main tourist zones) and Playacar, where our condo is located. Note that if you stay within the tourist zones 1 or 2, the rate is around 80-150 pesos, which is about $5 - $10 USD, to jump in and out of a cab. If you have the taxi take you all the way to the condo from the tourist zone, it could be about $150 - 200 pesos, which is about $9 - $15 USD. If we are bringing home lots of groceries, we go ahead and pay to have them take us to our door. But if we are just tired and walking home from the far north end, we will often have them drop us at The Admiral Sport’s Bar (right outside of our guard gates) or Lara y Lucas (or Casa Sofia). All of these are great choices that most taxi drivers are aware of. This way the driver does not have to enter Playacar and may quote you a smaller rate.
Note: it is not customary to tip taxi drives unless they provide something extra like helping you load your luggage or groceries, or stop and let you pop out and buy a beverage or something. It is best to know the rate and get out and pay them what you know it should be without asking. Unless, of course, you got in at a lineup/que, then you should ask the rate before you get in. If it is more than 40 - 80 pesos over the normal rate, decide whether you want to be overcharged or not. You can always wait for another taxi. On occasion we hear of taxi drivers saying that there is a different "tourist rate". That is completely untrue. There is only one rate - the "tourist rate" is built into the expense of taking passengers into Playacar. How far you take this is up to you, but just know the facts in making your decisions.
Over these past few years, there has been a lot of talk about rate meters being installed in all of the taxis in QRoo. As of the beginning of 2024, the are starting a test phase of these meters in certain areas, so hopefully this will be approved and implemented in all taxis in the next year or two to help regulate the price gouging by some of these drivers.
