Taxis, Lima

Lima is a huge city!!! If you are staying at the old city center, maybe you will be able to go everywhere walking (unless you are planning to visit Miraflores, Barranco or Callao).

But if you are staying at Miraflores, like I´ve done, it is impossible to go to the city center walking. A cab shall cost you around 10 soles, so don´t hesitate and take it. Save your legs to walk in Cusco!!!

If you arrive in Lima via plane, be aware that there will be a slew of taxi drivers waiting for you at the door. Had Luis not been with me, I would have actually been a bit nervous because of how aggressive they are. They're also pretty assertive at the bus stations, but the airport was the worst I experienced. Just tell them that you have a ride or car waiting for you and walk away. Once you get out of the parking lot and across the street, things will be calmer and you can find a cab just as quickly and more pleasantly there.

You should have in mind what kind of price you want to pay for a taxi to your destination before you approach the car. Like lots of goods and services, taxi prices in Peru are negotiable. There aren't meters in the cabs because the price is agreed upon before you step foot in the car. Don't be afraid to wave the driver thank you and approach the next car for his price because there are plenty of taxis. Also, when you're getting out of the car, be sure to grab your bag at the same time because the driver might not wait for you to turn around and retrieve it before he drives away.

We found the taxis to be very reliable . When we arrived we had our hotel send a cab to pick us up ...it was very early around 5AM . The charge for two was $25.00 to Lima.

WE paid about $20.00 by cab going back to the airport . It's best for security not to flag a cab down...better to call from the hotel or restaurant.

Be prepared to bargain any taxi in lima because they don´t use taximeter, and as soon as they hear you talk weird they´ll charge you more then usual.
Normaly short trip rate should be about 4 to 6 Soles , normal long distance n o more then 10…. If they say 10 you say 8…they are not expensive.

Taxi drives will attempt to wait on you after you have visited a place and do this over and over again in the hope that you will pay them $100 for a day long shofer. Always send them on their way it is much cheaper to just get another driver at every stop.

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Lima has a large amount of Taxi's. Most are safe, but be sure to arrange the price before you get in.

In heavy traffic, if there is no lane for your taxi, the driver will conveniently create a new one, using new and modern horn techniques.

La Rosa Nautica is a nice seafood restaurant located in Miraflores beach. Looking at a map I thought: well, I take a bus to Miraflores, go walking to the beach and that's all. But no, mistake!
Miraflores is located ON TOP OF A CLIFF, so from the last houses of the seashore to the beach there is a labyrinth of stairs and passages, so it took me about 15 minutes to get to the beach.
Do, to return to the civilization I took a taxi (extremely cheap BTW).

My advice: take a taxi to go there, specially at night.

I found that taxis were every where and very safe. Most of the time I was quoted a fair rates. At times they tried to hussle, I said sorry this is the fare and not once did the taxi driver refuse the fare I quoted.

Please do not uses this to your advantage and squeeze the cabs for their last penny's worth.

We can sometimes affort to pay a quarter more than is a lot for someone in Peru.

Well, if your catching taxi cabs in Lima, be ready to bargain!
There is no such thing as a taximeter, prices are agreed with the driver before gtting in the car.
A minimum price paid at the time I was there was $4 soles, for a distance up to 10 blocks.
Of course taxi drivers will try to overcharge you all the time, but, most of the time they'll agree on a fair price.
Be ready to have the first word! Suggest the price you want (as low as you consider to be appropriate for the run), then wait for a reply.
To go from San Isidro to Miraflores, I haven't paid more than 8 soles or less than 5.
Taxis from the hotels are alway much more expensive, and I'd say they cost 3 or 4 times more. But they are safer of course, and if you are on a business trip and the company requires it, they are the only ones which provide receipt.

There are 'millions' of taxis in Lima! I didn't take any, but I couldn't help seeing and hearing them. Every time they saw a tourist they blew their horn, every time I tried to cross the street several taxis blocked my way! The photo was taken from Plaza San Martin and the hotel in the back was closed because the workers hadn't got their pay. There were placades against President Toledo hanging on it.