We would like to thank our guestblogger Scott Schilbe for sharing this blog with us.
Taking taxis in Peru is one of the most popular ways to get around larger cities. They are a great way of quick and cheap travel for most Peruvians who do not have the money to pay for their own cars. The taxis are found in the larger cities in Peru. They are a good method for travelling around a city quickly but they are not always the safest. There are a small portion of taxi drivers that can be shady and have intents of robbing people, especially foreigners who they perceive to have more money. They are also commonly working on commissions to take you to specific hostels or sell you additional tours. It is Important to know how to stay safe when taking taxis in Peru. Hopefully these three pieces of advice to keep you safe.
Quick Tip: If travelling to or from Lima Airport, it is strongly recommended to use the luxury Airport Express Lima bus to get to or from your hotel. Safer and cheaper than a taxi with no baggage limit as well as free Wi-Fi and USB chargers onboard, it is ideal for travellers.
ALWAYS ASK BEFORE YOU GET IN – One of the important ways to stay safe when taking taxis in Peru is by asking all the important questions before you get in the taxi. Always call a taxi over and talk through the window. Tell them where you want to go and how much they will charge you. Always talk direct and it is best to question the first price that they give you. This will give them the impression that you know what you are doing and they will be less likely to try and get money from you or charge you more than the standard rates. This is one easy and simple way to stay safe when traveling by taxi in Peru.
For information on booking a tour, comparing operators and reviewing prices we recommend to use FindLocalTrips.com a comparison website for tours and activities across South America.
USE PRIVATE COMPANIES WHENEVER POSSIBLE– A good way to ensure you are safe when taking a taxi is to use private taxi companies. If you know where you want to go and at what time you are better off to know the number of private companies. This includes if you are going and or coming from the airport. In my experience, the companies that are private are always much safer and much more friendly. They are also much more professional. Ask your receptionist in your hotel or hostal to call and order a taxi for you over the phone. This is another good way to stay safe when traveling by taxi in Peru.
CHOOSING TAXIS – When you are in the big cities looking for a taxi to take you somewhere always look at the taxi itself. You can make a pretty safe bet that the taxis that are run down are probably not the best choice of taxi to get in, not alone as the car might not be roadworthy, but also because some of the people that claim to be taxi drivers do not actually have a taxi license and registration. You are best off to look for newer cars that are in good shape have a taxi sign on the roof and a professionally dressed driver. There are plenty of taxis around the main cities of Peru however it is important to know what the keys points are to staying safe when traveling this way.
