How to Catch a Cab in Guadalajara

Catching a cab in Guadalajara, Mexico, is easy: The yellow vehicles swarm the city during rush hours (la hora pico) and nighttime. Downtown, they're always lurking around a corner even when you'd least expect to get one. The less easy part for tourists is determining the cab fare, because there are essentially no regulations, and out-of-towners have been known to be charged a special extra fee.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mexican pesos

Catching a Cab on the Street

1. Stand on a reasonable busy street corner, look for a yellow cab with dark blue lettering and flag it down. Many cabs will have neon lights lit to indicate their availability.

2. Determine the price before getting in the cab. While most taxis now have meters installed, the "chofer" rarely uses it, and might take a longer route if the passenger appears unfamiliar with the city. A ride within Guadalajara's downtown area should never exceed 50 pesos, and anywhere in the entire city from one point to the other should never exceed 100 pesos. A ride from the city to the airport (a 25- to 45-minute ride outside the city, depending on traffic) should cost no more than 200 pesos, and a ride from the airport to the city is a ticketed, set price determined by the airport taxi company.

3. Bargain with the "chofer." Almost invariably he will charge more than necessary, and if you don't feel comfortable with his rate, ask for a cheaper one or to go by the meter. Drivers are happy to bargain and will most likely choose the lower price over no ride at all.

4. Get into the cab after the price is determined. "Chofers" are often chatty and curious with foreigners, so it doesn't hurt to friendly to the driver. At the same time, it's not a bad idea to watch the streets and ask if his route seems a bit circular.

Catching a Cab from a "Sitio"

5. Look up and call your closest "sitio," the small taxi dispatches located all over the city. With limited Spanish, this may be difficult, but ask a Spanish-speaking friend or concierge for help. "Sitio" numbers can be found in the phone book, and any tourism office or hotel should be able to tell you how to contact the one closest to where you're staying.

6. Tell the dispatcher where you are located and your point of destination and ask how long the taxi will take to pick you up. The dispatcher should also be able to tell you the price from this information. While a taxi ordered from a "sitio" might be slightly more expensive than catching one on the street, there will be no surprises once you have to pay.

7. Wait at the indicated pick-up point for the cab to appear. Be prompt.

Tips & Warnings

• A Guadalajara cab should have a "sitio" or dispatch number painted somewhere on the car, usually on the back near the license plate. Travelers should take note of this number (particularly that it has one) in case anything should occur during the trip such as misconduct by the driver or your leaving an item behind. Tips are included in the price set by you and the "chofer," or the meter. If the meter reads 40 pesos at the end of the trip, 40 pesos is what you pay. Foreigners are often mystified by the inability for shops and restaurants in Guadalajara to make change for small bills, and taxis are no different. It's always best to have correct change on hand. However, a driver will not hesitate to pull into a gas station to change a large bill, so feel free to ask.