By Taxi in Buenos Aires

All taxis in Buenos Aires city are black and have yellow tops. An unoccupied one will have a small, red libre" sign on the lefthand side of its windshield. When hailing a taxi on the street make sure it says radio taxi" and that you see a CB antenna attached to the hood. Radio taxis are part of licensed fleets and are in constant contact with dispatchers; nonlicensed cabs are occasionally driven by unscrupulous men looking to rip off tourists; avoid them. If you telephone for a taxi, you'll have to wait a few minutes, but you can be sure of its origin and safety. Legally, all taxis are supposed to have working seatbelts, but this isn't always the case.

Meters start at 1.98 pesos and charge 22¢ per ¼ km ( 1/8 mi); you'll also end up paying for standing time spent at a light or in a traffic jam. From the central downtown area, it will cost you around 6 pesos to Recoleta, 5 pesos to San Telmo, 9 pesos to Palermo, and 11 pesos to Belgrano. Drivers don't expect tips; if you round up to the next peso and pay that fare, most drivers will be thrilled.

Taxi Companies

Blue Way Taxi (11/4777-8888). Cirtax Taxi (11/4504-8440). City Taxi (11/4585-5544). Su Taxi (11/4635-2500).