In a previous article, we talked about public transportation as an easy and inexpensive way to get around Cabarete. Although the guagua, moto concho, or carrito is the most common form of transportation, it is not always the most comfortable. If you are in need of a little legroom or if you have a few friends you would like to share a ride with, taxis are a great alternative.
The taxis around here are typically vans (often times a Toyota Previa) and they hold 1-6 people comfortably. If you are looking to travel a little further than “locally” for a kiting or surfing trip, or need a ride from the airport to where you are staying with all of your luggage, a taxi will definitely be much easier. The taxis are also used to picking up people with tons of surfing or kiting gear, so they will be more than eager to help you load it up. Not to mention they have air conditioning—a rare commodity in this town. Additionally, taxi rides tend to be a little safer than the other forms of local transportation. Maybe it’s the higher fare that makes the drivers a little more conscientious.
Rates for most destinations are posted at the taxi stands and at the airport, but for the times where you grab a taxi from the side of the road, here are the fees. Rates are often posted in US$ but you can pay in RD$ at the daily exchange rate.
Pro Tips:
If you happen upon a taxi that is not at a stand with listed prices, keep in mind they may try to overcharge you, so just know your rates and stand your ground. This may or may not always work as taxi drivers are sometimes great at standing their own ground when they know you are in need. But if you do know your rates, at least you stand less of a chance of getting raked over the coals.
Just as some motochonchos will do, some taxi drivers will agree on a set price when you book, but when you get to a certain mileage they somehow come up with an excuse as to why they need to charge you more (rising fuel prices, taxes, new law, etc.). This is not typical, but just something to be aware of and prepared for.
If you find a taxi that you enjoy, be sure to get his number so you can call him again. There are plenty who understand the value of repeat customers and word of mouth marketing. You can usually tell the type when they drive carefully and charge you what was agreed upon with no issue.
If you are arriving from the airport, keep in mind that we don’t necessarily have “addresses” here. Although there are addresses listed on websites and such, you won’t be able to tell your taxi driver the address of a hotel or house and expect to get there. If it is a hotel on “Calle Principal” just give them the hotel name and that is good enough. If it is a private residence, find out which area of Cabarete it is in (kite beach, encuentro, pro cab, etc.) and also general directions on how to get there. For example: Blue House (Casa Azul) across the street from Kite Beach Inn. OR Casa 7 in Sea Horse Ranch (the name of a neighborhood here).
Most taxi drivers only speak Spanish, but that is ok, so don’t freak. Just prepare yourself accordingly. You will be able to get to most places just by knowing the name. If you want to go somewhere a little more complicated, maybe you want to bring a map and directions just to cover your own butt.
*If you are staying at our hotel and you need a taxi to pick you up from the airport, just let us know when you book your room and we will have one waiting for you at the airport when you arrive.