Taking Taxis in Medellin, Colombia and Latin America

Most likely the best way for you to get around any city in Colombia or Latin America will be in a taxi. I’m going to go over the best rules to follow for taking taxis based on my Colombia experience. However, based on my other travel experience, the general rules apply to just about every other Latin American country and will give you a good overview of taxi etiquette no matter where you’re heading in Latin America.

First of all, in order to be 100% safe it’s recommended that you call a reliable taxi company and give them your location so that they can send someone from their fleet.

If you find a taxi driver you really like and trust, get his cell phone number and give him a call whenever you need a ride. I would generally not trust any taxi driver who does not work for a taxi service, or who you did not meet through a taxi service. But, even if you do meet someone who you think you can trust always be cautions and on alert. If you go out with the taxi driver as a companion make sure you don’t drink too much, and keep on eye on your cell phone and wallet. Most taxi drivers will be available as companion or tour guides for about 20,000 an hour. Keep in mind that after they pay the taxi fee and gas, most taxi drivers make between 30,000 and 50,000 pesos per day (in Medellin Colombia).

Specifically in Medellin, I’ve found that best taxi service to be available at this local number 444-000. You can even speak to a dispatcher in English. However there is another taxi service called “flota bernal”, which has a number of 444-8882. You can also find other taxi fleet numbers in the local phone book or just ask someone. The phone numbers for taxi fleet services are usually made easy to remember on purpose.

The Do Nots of Hailing Taxis

• Never take a taxi that is not yellow.
• Never hop in a taxi that already has two guys in the front seat.
• Never let someone hop in the taxi while you’re being taken somewhere. If this happens tell the taxi driver “no”, or just get out and catch another taxi

Other Things To Watch Out For
Be cautions when haling taxis off the streets. Sometimes hailing a random yellow taxi off the street is necessary but use you’re judgment, if you something doesn’t feel right just hail a different one. Generally speaking younger guys will try to hustle more then the older taxi drivers. When hailing a taxi off the street and not through a taxi service you should take a look at the drivers face and demeanor. If you’re not sure about it, just wave him off and stop another one.

There are generally three ways taxi drivers will try to hustle a little extra cash out of you. The first playing a taxi meter, or “metro”, trick on you. They either don’t erase the meter from the last customer, or they start it way before they get to your location. In Medellin the meter should start around 2000 pesos, but it may not be the same in other Colombian cities, this is something you have to find out on your own. Don’t ever fall for the meter is broken trick either. If the meter isn’t working, just get out and get into another taxi. Sometimes the taxi driver will start the meter the correct way, but he’ll turn it off as soon as you get to your location and round off the taxi fair to get a little extra out of you, don’t fall for this one either.

The second is by taking the long way to your destination, or even taking you out of your way to run up the meter. Most taxi drivers won’t do this, especially those that pick you up from the taxi service, but you should be on the lookout for that. The third and final way is that they will tell you that they don’t have change for your bill. When this happens you can ask them to get out and find some change “consiga cambio”, it’s their obligation to find a local store, small kiosk, or even gas station for them to find some change.

In order to avoid change problems, try to always have small bills and coins to pay for the taxi. It’s not a good idea to pay with a 50,000 peso bill for a small taxi ride, because most likely the driver will not have change for such a big bill.

In order to avoid being hustled, always make sure they restart the meter. All you need to say is “el metro” and point to it. In Medellin Colombia the meter starts at 1,900. Keep in mind that the driver might start the meter as soon as he gets to your location so if you make him wait a minute or two the meter will already be running so if you notice that it’s a 2,000 or a bit higher and the driver has been waiting, that’s the reason. Currently the meter starts 1,900 pesos approximately one dollar. If the fair falls under 3,900 pesos you have to pay the minimum or “minimo” which is 3,900 pesos, approximately 2 dollars.

Finally, all taxi’s have two form of identification, a fleet number that the fleet uses to identify them and a license plate. If you ever run into a problem with a driver, make sure you get both numbers and call up the taxi service to file a complaint against the driver. This is the main reason you should always try to call a taxi service, because in the event of a situation, you can file a complaint to the service and possibly get some type of compensation.

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A Little About Medellin

Medellin has the natural setting and weather of various other Latin American and Central American cities. The two things that differentiate Medellin from the rest is the vast transformation it’s had over the past 20 – 30 years, and from a man’s point of view, all the beautiful women.

Once known for being home to arguably the most powerful drug cartel ever known, the Medellin Cartel, lead by Pablo Escobar called this nestled valley city home. Since those times Medellin has seen a renaissance. Safety has improved greatly, the weather is still splendid, yet today you can find hotels, apartments and other accommodations in the city that have all the amenities you would find anywhere else in the world.

Medellin is the type of city that can cater to back backers and businessmen a like. Within the city you can stay at one of the many hostels or rent a luxury apartment with ease. Medellin boasts of good food, good weather, friendly locals, great night life, and many tourist attractions including the “la piedra del penol”.

The Women

Within Colombia, Medellin is known among Colombian men for it’s beautiful and marriage material women. Many Colombians from all over Colombia have been known to say that the when it’s time to settle down, they’ll do it with a “Paisa”, the local term that refers to the women of this region of the country.

Although the culture of the city and the city itself has changed a great deal over the past 15 years, you eyes will not deceive you, when you walk down the Poblado Avenue. The sexy women of Medellin can be seen prancing around the city streets throughout the day. Because of Medellin’s climate, the local women find a local walk refreshing as well as good exercise.

Medellin has become the fashion capital of Colombia and probably one of the hottest fashion focal points in Latin America. Twice a year, Medellin hosts two international fashion events that bring in some of the top fashion names in the world. It’s not surprising that Medellin has become famous for it’s fashion because the women of the city sure know how to dress and look their best.

The Weather

The city of Medellin has an average annual temperature is 22 °C (72 °F), and because of its proximity to the equator, its temperature is constant year round, with minimal temperature variations. Temperatures range from 15 °C (52 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F). Because of the pleasant springlike climate all year, Medellín is known as ‘La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera’ or ‘City of the Eternal Spring’. Exercising, walking, pool activities, and other out door activities can be done all year due to the nice constant spring like weather.

EL Poblado

El Poblado is a large section of city that hosts some of the best hotels, malls, restaurants, bars clubs and casinos in town. If you’re going to Medellin you’re most likely going to want to stay here, at least if you’re a first timer. Most of the hostels in Medellin are located in this section of town close to the famous “Parque LLeras” pronounce “Yeras” (seen on the picture to the left). The blocks surrounding this small park have the highest concentration of bars, restaurants and clubs in the entire city. Most of the best hotels, and hostels are also within walking distance of the park.

Why Do These Girls Get So Dressed Up For The Airport?

“Why do these girls get so dressed up for the airport?” That’s what the two American girls behind me were saying about the Latin women who were also waiting on the check in line for our flight to miami. There was a stark difference between the two. The American girls looked like they just hoped out of bed. They both had baggy sweats and baggy sweaters on. Their hair was a mess and they honestly couldn’t care less.

It was a 6:40 am flight and I can understand that maybe they didn’t bother because the flight was so early, but from their attitude I wouldn’t be surprised if they would show like that for a 4:00 PM flight. Even though it was an early flight, the Latin women on the line found the time to “dress up”.

On the flip side, the Latin women were all very presentable and some were even very dressed up. I wouldn’t expect less. An “Americanized” Latin girl may step out in public in her sweats and baggy shirt, with her hair all over the place, but a real Latin woman wouldn’t dream of leaving her house if she doesn’t fix helself up a bit.

It’s part of the Latin American culture. In Latin America there is much more competition among females. I explain in full detail why this is the case in my book, “The Global Dating Revolution“, but I also touched on the subject in a post I made about American Vs Latin women in Miami.

American women “slack off” because they can. But foreign women never let their guard down in this aspect. Even though foreign women may not have as much income to give themselves a Jenny Jones makeover, they do their best with the tools they have to always look their best and always try to draw the attention of men as well as the women they feel they’re competing with. If you doubt my point of view, you can read an article from an American girl who agrees with me, its called It’s not easy being a white girl in Miami.