Spanish for taking a taxi in Lima

From the pavement to the door

Eight on the Lima taxi script, in the order it happens — including the one verb choice that tells the driver whether you know how this works.

1. 1A street taxi slows down for you. You are going to Barranco. What comes out of your mouth first, before you get in?

   • *¿Cuánto cuesta ir a Barranco?*
   • *¿Tiene taxímetro?*
   • *Lléveme a Barranco.*
   • *¿Cuánto me cobra a Barranco?*
   Answer

   *¿Cuánto me cobra a Barranco?* — *Cobrar* asks the person what they charge, which is what a negotiated fare is. *Cuesta* asks about a fixed price and signals straight away that you do not know how this works.

2. 2He says twenty and you would rather pay fifteen. What do you say?

   • *Es muy caro.*
   • *Quince, no más.*
   • *¿Me lo deja en quince?*
   • *Quince o me bajo.*
   Answer

   *¿Me lo deja en quince?* — *¿Me lo deja en quince?* is a question naming one number, which is the whole move. It asks for a concession instead of arguing about value, and countering once is completely normal.

3. 3He will not come down and you would rather not pay it. What is the ordinary thing to do?

   • Pay it anyway — walking away causes offence
   • Say *no, gracias* and wait for the next one
   • Get in and argue about it at the other end
   • Offer half and keep repeating it
   Answer

   Say *no, gracias* and wait for the next one — Walking away is a completely ordinary move and often gets you a better number before you have finished turning. There is another taxi behind this one.

4. 4You are almost there and want to be dropped right here. Which sounds native?

   • *Acá está bien, gracias.*
   • *Aquí es correcto, gracias.*
   • *Pare aquí mismo ahora.*
   • *Estoy llegando, gracias.*
   Answer

   *Acá está bien, gracias.* — *Acá está bien* is the standard line, and Peruvians use *acá* far more than *aquí*. It stops the taxi politely without sounding like an order.

5. 5*Estoy en la cuadra tres de Larco.* Where are you?

   • At number three, Larco
   • On the third floor of a building on Larco
   • In the third block of Larco
   • Three streets away from Larco
   Answer

   In the third block of Larco — *La cuadra* is the block, and block-counting is how addresses actually get given in Peru. It is far more useful than a street number a driver cannot see.

6. 6You open with *disculpe, perdón, quisiera saber si sería posible...* How does that land with a Lima taxi driver?

   • As correctly formal and respectful
   • As confusing — the stacked politeness gets in the way
   • As rude, because *disculpe* is too direct
   • As perfectly normal for a first exchange
   Answer

   As confusing — the stacked politeness gets in the way — Stacked politeness is not more polite here, it is just harder to follow. *¿Cuánto me cobra?* in a normal tone is already courteous.

7. 7The driver asks whether you want dropping *en el óvalo*. What is he talking about?

   • A bus stop
   • A roundabout
   • A car park
   • A bridge
   Answer

   A roundabout — *El óvalo* is a roundabout and a very common landmark in Lima directions — *cerca del óvalo de Miraflores* locates you immediately.

8. 8You are in the taxi and want to add detail to the destination. Which is the natural way to do it?

   • *Voy a la avenida Larco solamente.*
   • *Quiero ir a Larco, ¿cuánto cuesta?*
   • *A la avenida Larco, por favor, cerca del óvalo.*
   • *Larco. Rápido, por favor.*
   Answer

   *A la avenida Larco, por favor, cerca del óvalo.* — Street plus landmark is how a driver actually navigates, and the fare has already been agreed on the pavement, so there is nothing left to ask about the price.