CZM Transportation

[ggunn]

Gordon,lets put this to rest.We could argue all day and night about this.I wish no one any harm.I have no problem with you taking taxi's.I have only stated what I do and will continue to do.I either rent a car or scooter or often will just walk when in town.I have no problem walking from town out to scuba mau in the morning and back after diving.It gives me a chance to sightsee and meet new people.I will continue not to use the taxi service and that is my right.May you and others continue to happily use whatever transportation you desire when in Cozumel.Newt Jones

Fine with me.

 

[divemaster86]

I am heading to Cozumel next week in a group of 4. We are staying at Aqua Safari's Inn (Av. Rafael Melgar #429). I haven't been to coz in about 5 years, so...

1. How much should I expect to pay either taking the airport shuttles versus a normal taxi?

2. Should you arrange taxi fares in advanced, or are they metered now?

3. Where is the best/cheapest place to rent a couple 100cc scooters for 5 days straight that I can walk over to quickly after we get to Aqua Safari? (Please refrain from an anti-scooter tirades, pretty-please. Very experienced internationally with scooters).

Thanks!!
Sheena

 

[njones259]

I don't want to get involved with anymore taxi controversy but I will tell you I always rent my scooters from ISIS.Margarita usually charges me $20.00 dollars per day if I rent for a week and that includes full insurance.She has nice clean 100cc scooters that are clean and well maintained.
I ride a scooter in NJ at least 5 months out of the year and have ridden motorcycles for 40 years.
IF you are an experienced rider there is no difference in riding a scooter in Coz vs the US.

 

[Zman96]

Isis is a short walk from Aqua Safari too, she is on AVE 5 between 2 and 4 right by Zermatt bakery. I have used her a lot for car rentals, great honest and good prices to me.

 

[deborahdelamar]

I really don't appreciate somebody telling me I am not a good visitor to Cozumel because I prefer not to use the union van service at the airport.Even in the states it is my choice if I use a gypsy cab or yellow cab.I work hard for my money and quite honestly it is up to me how I spent it on vacation....I love the people of Coz,but don't like the Taxi Mafia.

You may not appreciate my previous statement, but consider the big picture. Almost everyone who works in Mexico is unionized or has their business behavior controlled by a "trade association" as well as by the government. On the outside, it looks like a free market even though it isn't. In the case of transportation, the van drivers are allotted a little piece, the bus drivers get somethine, and the taxis have everything else.

The Taxistas --the guys who drive the white cabs -- are the most politically powerful union on the island. They endorse political candidates and policies, spend freely for those campaigns, march and picket and strike for what they want, and deliver the votes. They are the reason that we have so little public transportation on Cozumel. There are no gypsy cabs or private dollar vans here -- those that have tried had their thinking quickly and effectively corrected. Because of their influence, it costs much, much more to taxi to a hotel, to certain condos, to the cruise piers, to the caleta, to Puerto Abrigo, to the Money Bar and a lot of other places than to be dropped off at an abarottes or home a block from any of these locations. They still exchange dollars at 10 to 1, they lie to gringos (locals and visitors) about tariffs, and often will not produce change to the tune of 20 or 30 pesos.

At the end of the day, though, all this is information that you probably don't want to know. So, I'll finish with the statement that you're quite free to make your own informed decisions.

 

[ggunn]

I am heading to Cozumel next week in a group of 4. We are staying at Aqua Safari's Inn (Av. Rafael Melgar #429). I haven't been to coz in about 5 years, so...

1. How much should I expect to pay either taking the airport shuttles versus a normal taxi?

About US$6 per person for the shuttle, I believe.

 

[njones259]

I really wanted to let let this subject pass that is why I didn't comment on the question above.I am very well aware of the taxi union in Coz as you stated above.I have many local friends that have explained the situtation to me.
I simply stated that I don't like the van service because I don't feel it is priced fairly.I leave the airport and neogatiate my price to my destination,if the driver says $70 pesos and I know it is a 50 peso fare either he takes 50 or I wait for another cab.It is my choice what I pay.
I only use the cab service once on every trip and either rent or walk for the rest of my stay.The unions can be controlled it just takes people like me not to use their service.After this discourse on my next trip to Coz in march I may just walk into town and skip the taxi completely and still consider myself a good visitor.

 

[Sophie Diver]

You may not appreciate my previous statement, but consider the big picture. Almost everyone who works in Mexico is unionized or has their business behavior controlled by a "trade association" as well as by the government. On the outside, it looks like a free market even though it isn't. In the case of transportation, the van drivers are allotted a little piece, the bus drivers get somethine, and the taxis have everything else.

The Taxistas --the guys who drive the white cabs -- are the most politically powerful union on the island. They endorse political candidates and policies, spend freely for those campaigns, march and picket and strike for what they want, and deliver the votes. They are the reason that we have so little public transportation on Cozumel. There are no gypsy cabs or private dollar vans here -- those that have tried had their thinking quickly and effectively corrected. Because of their influence, it costs much, much more to taxi to a hotel, to certain condos, to the cruise piers, to the caleta, to Puerto Abrigo, to the Money Bar and a lot of other places than to be dropped off at an abarottes or home a block from any of these locations. They still exchange dollars at 10 to 1, they lie to gringos (locals and visitors) about tariffs, and often will not produce change to the tune of 20 or 30 pesos.

At the end of the day, though, all this is information that you probably don't want to know. So, I'll finish with the statement that you're quite free to make your own informed decisions.

Wow. You really feel the need to correct everyone and teach us how to be good tourists according to you? Nice!

 

[Ripple in still water]

I guess I'm wading into a $&%^storm here, but I found ddeb's explication of local politics interesting and helpful. [just wanted to use the scuba helmet; it's not really apropos]

 

[Basscat]

I agree, ddeb's info is helpful and informative. I like to know about the place I love to visit. I also like to make informed decisions, whichever route I choose.