Question Are You Tired of the Taxi Ripoff?

[Living4Experiences]

I've just arrived in Cozumel and have been ripped off four times by taxi drivers! I thought I did enough due diligence to be informed about what I should be paying from point A to point B, but the taxi Mafia has little care about adhering to their rules. The first three drivers refused to provide me the rate card. The fare should have been 260 pesos from Casa Mexicana to Iberostar. The first two drivers quoted 350 pesos to which I countered with the correct fare. The price was lowered to 300 pesos. Once I mentioned I wanted to see the rate card, they all of a sudden didn't understand what I was talking about. I walked away and headed down the road on foot to catch another taxi. Driver number three said 300 pesos and also refused to provide the rate card. Now I was running out of time to get to my destination, so I paid the $300 pesos.

Coming back from iberostar, with no option, I was forced to pay the $300 pesos from Iberostar to Casa Mexicana. Once we arrived, I waited till my stuff was out of the van and then I asked the driver for his rate card, to which he did not know what I was talking about. I then typed the question into Google Translate and showed it to him. He looked dumbfounded and wouldn't answer, even seeing the question in his own language. I then went to the front of the van and took a picture of his license plate. He conveniently found a rate card. This rate card was in USD for cruise ship passengers only, for transportation from the International and Punta Langosta Piers. It occurred to me now that the drivers are charging regular tourists the cruise ship passenger rates all the time. This was not a zone rate card and it was not in Spanish or Pesos. When I asked to take a photo of the rate card, he refused. Now I'm angry and telling him that by law he needs to show it to me. He finally let me get a photo, but he didn't make it easy and wouldn't let me touch it. He says that Casa Mexicana is at Punta Langosta Pier. So somehow that means I'm a cruise ship passenger?

I would be interested to know what the community here does in these situations in Cozumel. Besides taking a picture of the license plate, what other photos should one gather in the event of filing a formal complaint? I'm not saying I would take time from my vacation to do so, but this might be enough of an intimidation to the driver that I'm not a customer that will be taken advantage of.

I'm thinking that Maybe I should just get in the cab, knowing the price, and pay it at the destination. If he has a problem with it, then that would be another issue.

 

[loady]

The taxis charge $20 usd (4 people) to go from SSA Cruise ship terminal to Asipona Marina. Some even try to charge $15 usd per person if you are in a group. The actual fare is $4 for up to 4 people.

The shuttles are only a deal at exactly the right time please and price. If you’re leaving the airport more then 30 minutes after a place landed the prices quadruple cause the shuttles are gone. . So walk 5 minutes from the airport across the large road and haggle with the cab diver. Don’t pay mafia prices anywhere

 

[ReefHound]

The shuttles are only a deal at exactly the right time please and price. If you’re leaving the airport more then 30 minutes after a place landed the prices quadruple cause the shuttles are gone. . So walk 5 minutes from the airport across the large road and haggle with the cab diver. Don’t pay mafia prices anywhere

What are you talking about? I've been to Coz maybe 40 times and never, not once, been charged more than the fixed prices on the sign board at the shuttle kiosks. I've also never seen "the shuttles are gone". At no time of day that the airport is open. Maybe once upon a time you landed on a significantly delayed flight hours after normal operations?

 

[DandyDon]

I've been to Coz maybe 40 times and never, not once, been charged more than the fixed prices on the sign board at the shuttle kiosks.

Because the drivers do not collect for the rides. That's done inside where tickets are issued.

 

[brsnow]

I tend to over pay/tip. I really appreciate the service and it is a bargain.

 

[lnjohn]

I don't like the taxi services at the airport and this is how I have adjusted to avoid the high fees. I store a complete set of gear at Cozumel Scuba repair. I travel with only my backpack and walk to Cozumel Scuba Repair from the airport. I then grab my bag and will try to find a mototaxi for 50 pesos or a taxi for 70-100 pesos to take me to the hotel or airbnb where I will be staying. The rest of the time I walk up from the boardwalk and get in the mototaxis that are not allowed to go to the boardwalk. I spend the majority of my funds on diving, and cut corners everywhere else so that I can get to Cozumel 3-4 times a year. Another travel tip is Tijuana to Cancun direct flights, then Bus and Ferry. My September 2025 flight is already booked and total airfare with taxes, TUA etc. included was $95.50 USD on Volaris, roundtrip. I know this isn't practical for many but for some of us it works.

 

[ReefHound]

Because the drivers do not collect for the rides. That's done inside where tickets are issued.

I know. That's why I think the guy claiming "prices quadrupled" and the "shuttles are gone" is blowing smoke. And if it happened to be long after the last flight to where there are no shuttles at the airport, there aren't going to be taxis lined up at Diego's, either.

 

[ReefHound]

I don't like the taxi services at the airport and this is how I have adjusted to avoid the high fees. I store a complete set of gear at Cozumel Scuba repair. I travel with only my backpack and walk to Cozumel Scuba Repair from the airport.

How often do you go to Cozumel that $150/year storage fee is worth saving a $8 shuttle ride to centro? That's a pretty decent hike to their shop from the airport. (I understand there are other reasons and benefits to using their storage.)

 

[scrane]

Socks with sandals? Never!

I wear socks with my sandals if it's cold or I'm at formal occasions. Strangers address me in French.
I once apologized to my seat neighbor on a flight for my foot attire. She said in Denver such footwear is referred to as "Chocs n' Sox".

 

[loady]

I don't like the taxi services at the airport and this is how I have adjusted to avoid the high fees. I store a complete set of gear at Cozumel Scuba repair. I travel with only my backpack and walk to Cozumel Scuba Repair from the airport. I then grab my bag and will try to find a mototaxi for 50 pesos or a taxi for 70-100 pesos to take me to the hotel or airbnb where I will be staying. The rest of the time I walk up from the boardwalk and get in the mototaxis that are not allowed to go to the boardwalk. I spend the majority of my funds on diving, and cut corners everywhere else so that I can get to Cozumel 3-4 times a year. Another travel tip is Tijuana to Cancun direct flights, then Bus and Ferry. My September 2025 flight is already booked and total airfare with taxes, TUA etc. included was $95.50 USD on Volaris, roundtrip. I know this isn't practical for many but for some of us it works.

Great tips thanks! Question, volaris and the other budget air carriers to Cancun get terrible reviews. Are they as bad as spirit airlines the the USA or Ryan air in europe( late, bait and switch, coerced payment for regular services, super cramped seats? I do see the nonstop cheap flights TJ to Cancun. How much worse are those budget airlines than supermen or the US airlines that fly to coz and Cancun?

 

[loady]

I know. That's why I think the guy claiming "prices quadrupled" and the "shuttles are gone" is blowing smoke. And if it happened to be long after the last flight to where there are no shuttles at the airport, there aren't going to be taxis lined up at Diego's, either.

I am speaking from my own experience. Not sure why that offends you unless you’re involved in the taxi cab business there. And cabs don’t need to be lined up. You just need to hail an empty one. Or talk to any local with a car and make a deal. I dropped someone off at the airport for THIER departing flight , walked inside to see them to security, and then tried to get a ride back . I had no luggage. I was quoted a price four-8 times higher than the shuttle price for a cab. So I walked out of the airport and paid a lower reasonable price. What I should have done is just seen my friend off at the curb and then taken the cab back to the hotel for an earlier agreed on price. Except I think taxi mafia bans that under threat of violence. My mistake.