Living in Peru : your everyday companion

I looked at my watch. I had about three minutes until my appointment. Suddenly, I felt myself overcome by a surge of annoyance. After all, I'd hired a taxi because I was in a rush! I didn't have time to stop for gas.

"No it's not OK. I'm late!" I said.

The driver turned around and started grumbling to himself, but he pulled through the gas station and took me the rest of the way.

Upon my arrival at Taxi Excel, I told my story to Guillermo Quintana and he began to laugh.

"You see," he said, "those are the exact deficiencies of Lima's taxi system which we are trying to revolutionize."

From the first time Guillermo had contacted me about Taxi Excel, I was both intrigued and skeptical. Although there is the occasional moment of annoyance with a street taxi, they do have the distinctive advantage of being extremely inexpensive. Furthermore, knowing the approximate fares to various destinations and being able to haggle them with taxi drivers is one of the quaint joys of this great city.

However, as Guillermo led me through Taxi Excel's control center and showed me their computer system with GPS tracking for all their cars, I couldn't help but nod my head in appreciation. There's something reassuring about such levels of organization and technology; drivers of monitored vehicles simply perform at a higher standard.

We sat down in the conference room and Guillermo began to elaborate on concept of this new business.

"Taxi Excel was born out of a desire to provide a necessary service, in a way that also helps people. Our concept is to manage a group of drivers who all own their own cars. We felt that drivers who are the vehicle's owners would take better care of the car than if they were just hired help."

The logic was sound.

He then went on to explain about a recent promotion in Peru which makes this possible. With a down payment of $3000, a taxi driver receives a new car which he then pays for with a surcharge on every tank of gas. If the driver fills up his tank twice a day (a conceivable number for a taxi driver) he will pay off his vehicle in approximately 60 months. As you can guess, this promotion is only feasible with a stable gas price. To that end, the government has set a fixed price for the promotion (they pay the difference) until 2012.

"That's a bit of a risk isn't it?" I asked with last year's ridiculous inflation of oil price coming to mind.

Guillermo shrugged.

"Peru has a lot of oil," he said smiling. We decided to leave it at that.

He then continued, "the problem that we're currently having is finding good drivers who have the initial $3000 payment. So, right now we're in the process of getting some more financing so that we can offer an option where drivers can buy their vehicles for $1500. Again, our whole concept is to get drivers into their own cars so that they're earning both from their daily labors, and through their ability to pay off the value of the taxi."

I found the idea extremely appealing. Being a taxi driver is extremely hard work, but providing a system that allows people to work towards gaining a property is an example of highly sustainable social development.

"We currently have about 40 cars," Guillermo continued, "but we'd like to get as many as 150. All our drivers wear a standard uniform of an orange shirt with gray tie and black pants. Our motto is security, confidence, punctuality and comfort. Our drivers even open the doors for you."

Everybody likes getting into a clean, professional taxi, but there remained the question of price. Upon asking, Guillermo was happy to show me their fare chart and, considering the service, the tariffs seemed entirely reasonable. For example, a trip from the Ovalo de Miraflores to the Airport will cost you 40 Soles. The standard rate for a "street taxi" is around 25, but I'm happy to pay the difference for the assurance that the driver won't need to stop for gas and cause me to miss my flight.

I thanked Guillermo and left with a good feeling about this company. It's appealing that they have such an obvious interest in the situation of their drivers, but it only makes sense as it's the only way to ensure you have high-quality chauffeurs. Taxi Excel is a young company, so it will be interesting to watch how it develops, as well as to read the comments and suggestions of our valued Living in Peru readers regarding this service.

Taxi Excel
Central: 302-7770
Nextel:105*4907
Av. Paseo del Bosque 527, San Borja
Web Page: Taxi Excel

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I took that Taxi twice because was recommended by a close friend, and I always have the Excel phone number in case I need a ride to somewhere in a late hour or to leave someone in a date when is really late in places where there is no car transit at all.

And it is a good service, the good thing is that is secure and you do not have to worry about been stolen, seeing that I heard some cases of people who have been stolen in taxis taken at the streets at night.

The prices are reasonable, and the safety is the most important thing in this case and it is priceless, so, I recommend everyone who is used to take private taxis, to take Taxi Excel, the security is important.

Sounds good! I am just working on establishing a global taxi booking system; seems to be a good shop, shall include them.
Currently CabChap.com is focused on Germany and UK, but hopefully in the near future we'll cover the Americas as well.

There´s another good and reliable cab company in Lima: Taxi Directo.

Phone: (511) 614-9814
Web: www.taxidirecto.com

Seems nice, I often use AKATORI.COM for me Its the best transportation Taxi van company in Lima Peru, I feel more secure on their large vehicles works for me, lots of lugage space an air-conditioned.

Best way to go:  http://www.akatori.com/index_ing.htm

Email: contact@akatori.com
USA calls (202) 4702936
24Hrs (011511) 997377388

MICHAEL

I've used TaxiExcel and really recommend it!!! Excelent customer service and spirit!

This is such an opportune articule. I posted a request for safe taxi information recently because I am quite concerned about my arrival in Lima (late at night) and the distance to my hotel in Miraflores. Thank you ever so much for provided this information.  Tom