Taxis in Cartagena, Colombia – How to Know the Correct Price for Cartagena Taxis

Are you planning a trip to Cartagena, Colombia and wondering what the best way to get around is?

I get asked this question all the time and see it come up a lot in Facebook travel groups and other forums.

Well, you’re in luck, because the answer is simple and easy:

Taxis are the best way to get around in Cartagena. They are plentiful, easy to flag down, and relatively cheap. However, the taxis in Cartagena have a bit of a reputation for trying to overcharge tourists and even locals.

So, that may leave you wondering what are the correct prices for taxis in Cartagena and how to make sure you don’t pay too much for Cartagena taxis.

I lived in Cartagena for over a decade, so I’ve taken my fair share of taxis in Cartagena and have certainly had to do my fair share of negotiating the correct taxi prices in Cartagena.

In this post, I’ll cover the correct taxi prices in Cartagena, Colombia to help you make sure you don’t get overcharged.

I’ll also discuss some tips on getting taxis in Cartagena, including how to negotiate, plus discuss some alternatives to taxis such as Uber and other ride share apps as well as buses.

So read on to make sure you know how to get around like a local and take Cartagena taxis like a pro!

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Why Taxis are the Easiest Way to Get Around Cartagena

Growing up in Columbia, South Carolina (check out my other site South Carolina Explorer by the way!), I remember taxis were a big pain in the you know where.

You’d have to call, they’d take forever to arrive, and they were expensive.

One of the things I most loved about living in Cartagena from 2011 to 2022 was that I didn’t need to have a car, completely unlike South Carolina and much of the rest of US.

I could flag down a taxi easily, and they were a whole lot cheaper!

So, it’s pretty simple, taxis are the easiest way to get around Cartagena because they are so plentiful, easy, and cheap.

What to Watch Out for Taking Taxis in Cartagena

However, there are a few things to be aware of with Cartagena taxis.

The first, and most important, is that there is no taxi meter, unlike some of the other big cities in Colombia like Bogotá and Medellín.

That has led to Cartagena’s taxi drivers getting a bit of a reputation for overcharging.

I can say from my many years living in Cartagena that reputation is, honestly, well deserved. Certainly not all, but many taxi drivers in Cartagena do, in fact, attempt to overcharge.

They also have a bit of a reputation for not wanting to go to certain areas of the city, especially during rush hours when they know they’ll be in traffic. That isn’t really an issue for tourists though since the main tourist areas of Cartagena are fairly concentrated in a small area.

So, the main thing you have to worry about taxing taxis in Cartagena as a visitor is the overcharging.

And it’s not just foreign tourists and expats like me that look like foreign tourists. Cartagena taxi drivers are well known to attempt to overcharge Colombian tourists and even local Cartageneros.

That’s why it’s so important to know the correct prices to make sure you don’t get overcharged. I’ll go over all the standard prices, which are the law, below.

While I’ll also talk about some alternatives in the next section, I still do think taxis are the best option for most people most of the time for getting around.

Should You Tip Taxi Drivers in Cartagena?

No.

It is not customary to tip taxi drivers in Cartagena, or any part of Colombia for that matter.

So, you should not feel like you need to tip. There are some cheeky drivers who may ask for one or act like it’s expected, but it’s not.

That being said, if you want to tip them, I’m sure they won’t complain.

Most are rounding the fare up anyways, so they get a little tip. I know I generally just lived with it if my fare was say $11,000 and they only had $8,000 to give me back for a $20,000 bill, for example.

Are Taxis in Cartagena Safe?

The other two issues I’d like to briefly touch on first though concern safety.

First, for the ladies, taxis drivers, and Colombian men in general, can occasionally be a bit, let’s say forward.

I’ve definitely had experiences in taxis where the driver has commented on women walking by in ways that would probably make me uncomfortable if I was a woman. I also know from female friends that taxi drivers have made some comments to them that are a bit annoying.

So, you might have to worry about is a driver trying to flirt with you or something. I guess the only advice I can give here, especially not being a woman, is to try to ignore them, especially since you might have to deal with the same with the alternatives to taxis in Cartagena.

That aside, it’s quite safe to take taxis in Cartagena generally at all hours.

There are occasionally reports of taxis being robbed (sometimes with the driver involved) in Bogotá and Medellín, but they are practically unheard of in Cartagena.

It’s still not the worst idea to have a buddy system with someone who knows the taxi’s license plate number if you’re going home solo in the wee hours of the morning.

The other thing I’d point out is if you’re traveling with young children, you should not expect to be able to put a carseat in a taxi in Cartagena.

In fact, we’ll be facing this dilemma on our next visit to Cartagena so our infant daughter can meet her Colombian family. We will be taking a small carseat on the plane, but are planning to just minimize our time in taxis as much as possible and have mama hold her tight. Within the main tourist areas of Cartagena, traffic means taxis never travel at very high speeds, so it’s a calculated risk.

If it’s really important to you to have your child in carseat, you could rent a car. For what it’s worth, I don’t think renting a car is worth it in almost any other case though, and like I said, we won’t be doing that with our daughter (please don’t judge us internet!).

You can take a look at rental cars on Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com if you do want to go that route.

Alternatives to Cartagena Taxis

While I think just hopping in a taxi is the easiest thing to do, I understand some of you may want some alternatives.

S, before we cover the prices for taxis in Cartagena, I’ll discuss some some other options, including the ride share apps like Uber you can use in Cartagena.

Private Transportation

There are a number of companies that offer private transportation around Cartagena as an alternative to taxis. This can be a good choice if you are a 3+ people (usually they are in SUVs), or have a tight schedule or early morning to get around to things like tours so you’re not worrying about flagging down taxis.

The travel agency I partner with offers a variety of private transportation options around Cartagena. You can book with them at this link and get a discount on any of them. Do also feel free to check out their day tours as well, and if you’re interested in an all inclusive package, you can fill out the form here and one of their agents will get back to you to plan every detail of your trip.

You can also find some private transportation options that can be booked ahead online, especially for airport transfers, on the sites GetYourGuide and Viator.

Uber and Other Ride Share Apps

The main alternative to taxis in Cartagena like just about everywhere now is Uber.

Yes, Uber is active in Cartagena and is a popular option.

Uber was temporarily banned in Colombia back in 2019 and exists in sort of a legal gray area. According to my research, it functions legally in what amounts to a loop hole by designating itself not as a taxi service, but a car rental service that just happens to have a driver.

In the past, it was common to have to do things like sit in the front seat and say you were the driver’s friend and they would sometimes not want to drop you off at the airport. With the Supreme Court ruling they can effectively function under that loophole, this shouldn’t be an issue anymore and lots of people take Uber everyday in Cartagena.

I never used Uber much when I lived in Cartagena, partly for those reasons above and partly because I have my doubts about Uber as a company, but mostly because I didn’t find it necessary. I did use it sometimes in Bogotá. While I didn’t find that I actually saved much if any money with it, it is to know the price ahead of time and don’t need to worry about negotiating or confirming when getting in.

If it’s an app you already use a lot and are comfortable with, I don’t think you should shy away from using it in Cartagena.

If Susana or I did use a ride app, we more often used InDriver.

Most of the drivers in InDriver are legally registered taxis and not private drivers. In my experience, it usually had more drivers available than Uber, but I believe Uber has grown quite a bit in Cartagena the last few years. InDriver gives you a suggested fare, although you can lower or raise it, and the driver agrees to it.

You can download the InDriver app here.

Finally, EasyTaxi, known as Cabify in the US is also fairly common. It was the first app I remember seeing show up in Cartagena, I came to have a love hate relationship with the “Easy…Easy Taxi!” notification that would sound off on taxi drivers’ phones. It seems to have mostly taken a back seat to Uber and InDriver, but if it’s an app you already use, you may be able to still use it in Cartagena.

Do note, Didi is supposedly common in Medellín, but isn’t really used in Cartagena.

Taking the Bus

It’s interesting how much the bus system changed during my time in Cartagena. The city spent years building the TransCaribe metro bus system.

I’ll be honest, it made transportation to many residential areas of the city outside the main tourist areas quicker, but I actually think it made taking the bus as a tourist less convenient.

That’s because you need to buy a card and load money on it, which can only be done at the big stations and a handful of shops. Also, depending on where you’re going, you may need to get off at a station and transfer to another bus.

If you’re going to use it several times, are on a really strict budget, or will be going out of the tourist areas for some reason (only recommended with a local), it may be worth picking up a card, but for most people, it’s easier and quicker to just do a taxi around the main tourist areas.

You can see a map of the system at the TransCaribe website.

There are still a few old legacy buses in operation to areas TransCaribe doesn’t serve. These don’t have set stops, so you can flag them down to hop on and ask for a stop anywhere by yelling “Parada!” I would probably generally recommend avoiding them unless you speak Spanish and ask someone to explain the route to you.

Moto Taxis

There are also moto taxis or motorcycle taxis in Cartagena.

The very first year I lived in Cartagena, on the island of Barú near Playa Blanca as a volunteer teacher south of the city to be exact, you still had to take a canoe across a canal and then a moto taxi weaving between cows along an unpaved road. I guess that was fine given there was no other good way out there.

It probably wasn’t so wise to continue taking them in town. Honestly, though I took them all the time when I was living in Marbella and worked teaching English just inside the wall from the main avenue along the water. It was the straightest and quickest shot.

Yea, no longer being in my early 20s and in my mid 30s, stay away from the moto taxis. In some small towns like Minca, it’s fine to use them, but the traffic in Cartagena makes them more dangerous than the convenience is worth at least from I should have been more careful when I was younger point of view.

I guess if you’re in your in your young risk taking days and are just going a short distance, well, they are an option.

How to Take a Taxi and Pay the Correct Price in Cartagena

Ok, now that we’ve talked a bit about the things to watch out for and some alternatives to taxis, let’s talk about making sure you pay the right price.

Like I’ve already said, despite the headache that comes with Cartagena taxis overcharging, they are still my preferred way to get around, but you’ll want to keep these prices in mind.

Let me be very, very clear. Always agree to a price when getting into a taxi.

Let me say it again, always agree to a price when getting into a taxi!

I can’t stress this enough.

The times taxis tried to overcharge me were almost always when I just relaxed and got in, knowing what the price was and thinking no need to worry about it, I’ll just give them the correct price upon arrival.

When you pull a taxi over, open a door, say where you’d like to go, and ask the price (“Cuanto?” or “Por cuanto?”).

If it’s the right price, get in.

If not, negotiate.

If they aren’t budging, you’ll have a decision to make to close the door and attempt to flag another one down or pay the price they are asking.

Just don’t get in and sit down before agreeing on price.

Now, as much as I’m a principled guy, if I’ve repeated this multiple times and I’m not getting the correct price, I’ll usually just eat the couple thousand pesos difference since time is also valuable too. You have to decide that for yourself though.

There are five other things to keep in mind when looking over the Cartagena taxi prices below.

The first is you should expect to round up. I have had experiences where an honest taxi driver actually gives me the coins for change, but they have been few and far between.

For example, the minimum price of $9,800 for 2024 means in practice you’ll be paying $10,000 pretty much always.

Second, there is an additional surcharge for taking a taxi between 9 pm and 5 am known as the “recargo nocturno.” This is set at $900 pesos. In practice, that means, you’ll most likely need to tack on an even $1,000 to the prices below at night. Some taxi drivers might give you the day time price though if it’s only shortly after 9 pm or a bit before 5 am in the morning. Again, always ask!

Third, taxi drivers often don’t like to make change, especially for larger bills. Given the new minimum, $20,000 peso bills should generally be fine, but if you have only a $50,000 or $100,000 peso bill, be sure to ask when getting in if they have change (“Tienes vuelta para billete de cincuenta/cien”).

I always tried to break large bills at supermarkets and tried to hold on to smaller bills for taxis.

I’d try to keep some $1,000 peso bills or coins on you too as I suspect many taxi drivers will only have, or at least claim to only have, the more common $2,000 peso bills.

Fourth, the officially established prices use rates between an origin neighborhood and destination neighborhood. Traditionally, that was Centro.

In a helpful move, they now have officially established rates between Bocagrande and some neighborhoods, which covers most of the other routes tourists might take, but there is still a little bit of guess work between other areas.

The only other route that really comes to mind that most tourists are likely to take is Cabrero or Marbella to Crespo. The minimum fare should apply there since you’re only going over one neighborhood. Cabrero or Marbella to Pie de la Popa and the Castillo San Felipe I’d expect to be $12-15,000.

Fifth, these prices are officially established every year in a decree from the local government after negotiations with the taxi union (you can see the 2024 decree here).

This decree usually does not come out promptly because the negotiations drag on after the new year.

For example, the decree for 2024 didn’t come out until February 28. Some years it has come out earlier, while other years it hasn’t come out until March or even April.

My experience was after the New Year (and oftentimes even during the busy holiday season), taxi drivers will start to raise their prices a couple thousand pesos even though technically the old rates are still in effect.

So, if you’re reading this in say January 2025 and I haven’t updated the prices (which I promise I’d try to do once there is a new decree), I’d tack on $1-2,000 pesos to most of these fares.

Officially Established Taxi Fares in Cartagena for 2024

Ok, with all that out of the way, let’s talk about what the actual officially established correct prices for taxis in Cartagena are.

I’ll go over the official rate for most routes tourists are likely to take, and I’ll also cover the established rates to and from the airport, bus terminal, and some other places.

I have only included areas that are commonly visited by tourists and not the residential neighborhoods and barrios that most tourists really don’t have a reason to visit. You can see the full list though at the decree here (page 3).

Keep in mind these fares apply for both directions (ie Cabrero to Centro is the same as Cabrero to Centro). Also, Getsemaní is considered part of the Centro Histórico, but you should expect to pay a full minimum fare going between the two or anywhere within either, or within any other neighborhood for that matter.

Here we go:

Officially Established Prices for Taxis to and from Centro

• Centro to Bocagrande, Laguito, or Castillogrande: $9,800
• Centro to Cabrero: $9,800
• Centro to Marbella: $9,800
• Centro to Manga: $9,800
• Centro to the Marina Docks in Manga: $9,800
  • *Private boat rentals to the Rosario Islands often leave from here.
• Centro to Crespo: $9,800
• Centro to Pie de la Popa: $9,800
  • *This is the fare that should apply to the Castillo San Felipe Fort.
• Centro to the Bazurto Market: $11,300
  • * I strongly recommend doing the market only as part of a tour by the way!
• Centro to La Boquilla: $24,500
• Centro to Manzanillo including Hotel Estelar and Karibana: $51,800
• Centro to Playa Blanca or the National Aviary (Barú): $113,400
  • *I’d recommend hiring a taxi for the day to go to either of these places or just doing a tour as finding a taxi to take you back can be difficult.

Officially Established Rates to and From Bocagrande

Keep in mind the rates to and from Centro are established above. Here are a few other established Cartagena taxi fares between Bocagrande and other places you might want to go:

• Bocagrande to Manga: $14,600
• Bocagrande to Pie de la Popa (and Castillo San Felipe): $14,600
• Bocagrande to Marbella, El Cabrero, and Crespo: $14,600
• Bocagrande to Bazurto Market: $16,300

Taxis to and From the Airport

Cartagena taxi rates to and from the airport are established higher. My understanding is that taxis pay some kind of surcharge, and they also definitely have to wait in line.

Note, that if you’ve packed light, you can get around this and pay the fare to and from Crespo if you walk out to the main road a block and a half away, but I personally always prefer to just pay a bit extra for the convenience.

At the airport, always either go to the little kiosk (international arrivals) or the little window (domestic arrivals) to get a ticket with the official price to avoid being overcharged.

Keep in mind drivers standing around are parked a block or two away and rarely give a better price.

You can learn more about getting to and from the airport and what to expect upon arrival and departure at my complete guide to the Cartagena airport.

• Airport to Centro (including San Diego and Getsemaní): $16,100
• Airport to Cabrero: $16,100
• Airport to Marbella: $16,100
• Airport to Crespo: $16,100
• Airport to the Muelle de la Bodeguita docks: $19,400
  • *This where many tour and hotel boats go to the islands as well as some private rentals
• Airport to La Boquilla: $19,400
• Airport to the Hotel Zone in Centro: $19,400
  • *To be frank, I’m not sure what this means because there isn’t really a hotel zone apart from the rest of Centro, hotels are just scattered around. I guess I’d come prepared to pay this to any hotel and be pleasantly surprised if you get the lower rate.
• Airport to Manga: $22,800
• Airport to Pie de la Popa: $22,800
• Airport to Bocagrande, Castillogrande and Laguito: $27,500
• Airport to Manzanillo (including the Hotel Estelar and Karibana: $40,800

Taxis to and from the Bus Terminals

Keep in mind the main bus terminal is far away from the central tourist area.

If you’re just heading up the coast to Santa Marta or the vicinity, I strongly recommend using the charter buses from Marsol or Berlinas, which both have offices much closer in El Cabrero. This is mostly because the difference in price doesn’t save you much if any money if you take a taxi to the terminal.

For travel to and from the interior, I generally recommend flying, but you can also take buses, most of which will arrive or depart from the main bus terminal.

There is a new terminal on the northern outskirts of the city I don’t have any experience with and as I understand has pretty limited service still. There are not officially established rates to and from there either beyond an established fare of $40,600 from Centro to the Terminal del Norte.

• Main Terminal to Pie de la Popa: $18,100
• Main Terminal to Manga: $22,400
• Main Terminal to Centro and Getsemaní: $25,600
• Main Terminal to Bocagrande, Castillogrande, El Laguito, Cabrero, Marbella, Crespo, or the Airport: $36,400
• Main Terminal to La Boquilla: $39,300

Taxis to and from the Cruise Port

These rates apply for passengers arriving to the cruise port in Manga:

• Port to Bocagrande, Castillogrande, and Laguito: $29,700
• Port to Airport: $29,700
• Port to Castillo San Felipe or La Popa Convent: $29,700
• Hourly Rate for Hiring a Taxi at the Port: $39,300
• *For some strange reason, there isn’t an officially listed fare from the cruise terminal to the Centro Histórico, but I don’t see any reason why the rate of $29,700 for everywhere else wouldn’t apply.

Now You Know the Official Taxi Rates in Cartagena

That should just about cover all the routes you’re likely to take as a tourist in Cartagena. Again, you can see the full decree to see the listing of Cartagena taxi rates to all parts of the city if where you’d like to go isn’t covered here.

I hope this was helpful and will help you make sure you get the correct Cartagena taxi fares during your stay. Please do remember to always, always agree on price, and please do check out all the other content on the site to help you plan your visit!

Cheers and Happy Exploring!