From a special service for drunk drivers in Colombia to an UberBICI service for cyclists in Lima and Santiago de Chile, Uber is introducing interesting new ways to travel around Latin American cities. But is Uber a good option for you when you travel in the region?
Some cities in Latin America have a reputation as being less-than-secure places to take a taxi on the street. For years, the advice in places like Mexico City and Bogota has been to travel only by taxis that are arranged by a hotel, a restaurant or other venue, or from a secure taxi stand. But the so-called sharing economy has brought new travel options to many parts of the globe — and Uber has arrived in many Latin American destinations.
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So how do you use Uber if you’re a foreign visitor in Mexico, Central or South America? I have to be honest. I live in New York City and I don’t have a car, but believe it or not, I’ve never used Uber in the Big Apple. I use the more economical subway and bus system, or splurge on street taxis, which are plentiful.
But during a recent trip to Bogota, Colombia, I realized I needed a new option. I had always heard that it wasn’t a good idea for foreign travelers to take taxis on the street in Colombia’s capital. And since I’d opted to rent an apartment via Airbnb on this stay (read my review of what $55 buys you on Airbnb in Bogota), rather than stay at a hotel, I couldn’t count on having a line of taxis lined up outside my building. Add to that the fact that I need to get to Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport super early in the morning, and clearly I needed to try something new.
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I downloaded the Uber app while in Bogota and signed up. The car showed up on the little map and — after a bit of confusion when I didn’t see it right away — I boarded and arrived on time, without having to hand over a single peso or dollar. It was efficient, comfortable and safe, and I’d recommend it. A friend of mine who lives in Mexico City uses it constantly too, especially at night — as a woman traveling alone, she said she feels more secure boarding a car with a driver who’s registered with the service, rather than a random taxista on the street.
One thing to consider before booking Uber in a foreign country: Will your cell phone work if you don’t have WiFi, or will you be able to access WiFi in the place where you need to meet the driver? (If not, it can be frustrating trying to find and track the car while you’re waiting.)
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The offerings in each Latin American country vary slightly. If you go to the Uber city listings, you’ll find a complete list of everywhere the service operates, and can click for details. A few highlights:
Uber in Bogota, Colombia: You can choose from UberX (the cheapest service), UberBlack (slightly nicer vehicles), UberVAN (a van for seven or eight passengers) and UberAngel (a unique service designed specifically for people who get drunk while going out at night in Colombia; Uber sends a driver to drive you home in your own car!). Uber used to list UberCóptero — an actual helicopter service — but they seem to have dropped it.
Uber in Buenos Aires, Argentina: Here, the service is limited to UberX.
Uber in Lima, Peru: Choose from UberX, UberBlack, UberSUV and UberBICI (for which a driver shows up with a car that can carry you and your bicycle)
Uber in Panama City, Panama: Choose from UberX, UberBlack and UberSUV (which provides a larger SUV)
Uber in Mexico City, Mexico: Choose from UberX, UberXL (which provides lower prices for larger groups), UberBlack and UberSUV. Bonus travel tip: Check out the LatinFlyer Hotel Awards for 8 great hotels in Mexico City.
Uber in Lima, Peru: Choose from UberX and UberBlack.
Uber in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil: Choose from UberX and UberBlack.
Uber in Santiago de Chile: Choose from UberX, UberXL, UberBlack and UberSUV. In addition, Uber this April introduced UberBICI, which is designed for cyclists; the driver picks you up with a car that carries up to three bicycles and four passengers. Bonus travel tip: Check out these tips for cycling and bicycle tours in Santiago.
Photo via Visualhunt