Are taxis readily available in Panama, and what do taxis cost in Panama?
Judith Tovar - Easy Travel Panama
Taxis are readily available in Panama...but before you get into a taxi be sure to ask them what they will charge you to go wherever you want to go. Taxis don`t have a set price and some charge you more than others to go to the same place.
Taxis are readily available in Panama...but before you get into a taxi be sure to ask them what they will charge you to go wherever you want to go. Taxis don`t have a set price and some charge you more than others to go to the same place.
Posted March 14, 2013
Lourdes Townshend
The taxis in Panama vary in size and prices. Many hotels have their own to offer to their guests. You can also find the yellow taxis, most of which most are small in size. They will take you from one place to another within the city. Even though prices are set, some of them set their own prices, especially if traffic is in the rush hour. Usually little taxis take more than one passenger at a time, if the passengers can...
The taxis in Panama vary in size and prices. Many hotels have their own to offer to their guests. You can also find the yellow taxis, most of which most are small in size. They will take you from one place to another within the city. Even though prices are set, some of them set their own prices, especially if traffic is in the rush hour. Usually little taxis take more than one passenger at a time, if the passengers can go the same route. Don´t be surprised if they say "no voy"..which means they are not going that direction at that moment, especially if traffic is very heavy.
Prices could be $1.75 and up, depending on routing, distance, number of persons, packages, wheel chairs, walkers, or similar considerations. A good recommendation is to ask, before you take it the taxi, or ask for a local for help.
You also have the option of the metro bus, which is a very good bus line, and very inexpensive. This line runs within the city, and you need card to ride it. They do not accept cash. Even though these buses are for locals, many visitors take it. There are also some other options for visitors if you want to visit tourist sites: the aquabus, the tourist buses, tour operators, and also, boats to go for a ride on the bay or cross the canal, the train to go to Colon (adjacent to the canal; beautiful view), renting bikes at the Amador Causeway, horseback riding if you are in the country. In 2014 visitors can also enjoy the metro.
Posted September 25, 2013
GISELLE SOCARRAZ - Real Estate Chiriqui
Panama has taxis the same way it has random firework displays: seemingly everywhere and seemingly all of the time. 
(Yesterday was both the first time I had ever even heard of 'International Coffee Day' and the first time I've ever seen someone celebrate being over-caffeinated with multicolored high-explosives.)
Now as for prices, well, the individual drivers set those (as such you may be charged more or less for going the same distance by different...
Panama has taxis the same way it has random firework displays: seemingly everywhere and seemingly all of the time.
(Yesterday was both the first time I had ever even heard of 'International Coffee Day' and the first time I've ever seen someone celebrate being over-caffeinated with multicolored high-explosives.)
Now as for prices, well, the individual drivers set those (as such you may be charged more or less for going the same distance by different drivers).
As such a good rule of thumb is to always keep an eye out for a driver whose prices and demeanor you like, and to ask for their cell number. It has been my experience that most taxi drivers here would rather play chauffeur (and get guaranteed pay while minimizing fuel expenditure) and as such, will be more than happy to take you on as a personal client.
As such a good rule of thumb is to always keep an eye out for a driver whose prices and demeanor you like, and to ask for their cell number. It has been my experience that most taxi drivers here would rather play chauffeur (and get guaranteed pay while minimizing fuel expenditure) and as such, will be more than happy to take you on as a personal client.
Posted September 30, 2013
Robert Adams - Retirement Wave
Taxis are readily available in Panama City. It’s like New York City or anywhere else. If you’re going out at their busiest time, you have to wait awhile, which can be very annoying.
They have taxis in the smaller cities and country too. When they’re available, they’re available. When they aren’t, they aren’t. They’re a lot cheaper than taxis in the States. For a longer trip from one of the Panama City’s...
Taxis are readily available in Panama City. It’s like New York City or anywhere else. If you’re going out at their busiest time, you have to wait awhile, which can be very annoying.
They have taxis in the smaller cities and country too. When they’re available, they’re available. When they aren’t, they aren’t. They’re a lot cheaper than taxis in the States. For a longer trip from one of the Panama City’s neighborhoods to another, I might spend up to US $5. When you go outside the city, then it’s going cost you more. Most of us spend $2 to $4 for a taxi ride, depending on how far we are going in the city.
These taxis in Panama do not have meters. What you pay is based more on the district from where you’re going to and usually you can get a list of the various price rates that are legally allowed in the city. Most of us just learn by experience what those rates are.
Uber and the other local outfit similar to it have set rates for distance and for time. It’s all done on a smart phone and is very modern. Uber is a form of taxi. Panama probably is the smallest country in the world to have an Uber system. You call them and they come. They pick you up and take you wherever you want to go. You’re charged on the basis of the time and distance, which is automatically charged to your credit card. It’s cash-free and you don’t tip the driver; there’s no tipping allowed. Somebody in a very nice car (not a taxi but in a regular car) shows up. You are given a name and a picture of the driver and you can follow where he is on a map on your smart phone. It’s very well organized and very safe. It costs a little bit more so you might pay $6 instead of $4, but it’s also extremely convenient.
In Panama City, you have lots of options. Outside of Panama City, you’re probably going to have to call the taxi to come and get you in many areas, unless you’re in the downtown area where you see taxis around. Most of the people in Panama without a car live in urban areas where they have easy access to buses and taxis and can walk to a lot of places.
For shopping, some people have a taxi drop them off and they’ll come out with their bags and wave a taxi down. Many of us use the same taxi driver all the time. I have one who I really like who speaks reasonably good English. I have his cellphone number and I call him. In fact, 85% or 90% of my taxi rides are with this one guy who I know and I just arrange it in advance. If he’s not available, then I’ll use another taxi driver or I’ll use Uber. The taxi driver I usually use goes right into the market with me and even carries the bags. It’s a little embarrassing sometimes, but everybody does it. He’ll go around with me with the cart, put the bags in the car and even carry them up to my apartment if I have more than I can carry myself. That’s not unusual in Panama. It’s almost really like a driver-for-hire more than a taxi. I pay him by the hour. The cheapest these days for this type of service probably charge $8 an hour and can be $10 an hour.
Posted November 25, 2014