Taxis in Mallorca: how not to get hot under the collarAugust 28, 2019

Although I’ve lived in Mallorca for many years, I’ve never known exactly how taxi fares are calculated on the island. I decided to find out about taxis in Mallorca.

There’s a big difference between the way taxis in Mallorca calculate their fares. Inside Palma city limits, it’s rather more Byzantine and confusing. Outside, in the campo or country, it’s much simpler although you can still get caught out.

If, especially on trips to and from the airport, you’ve watched a taxi meter shoot up and wondered why a driver is adding additional supplements seemingly at random, you’ll be pleased to know that it is possible, in theory, to know precisely why you’re being charged what you are.

You’ll find details of how fares inside Palma are calculated here. The page is only available in Castellano or Catalan so you’ll have to translate but it’s a good way of broadening your Spanish vocabulary.
 

Taxis in Mallorca: supplements

The two big things are the supplements you’re charged to and from the airport and the fact that you also pay 65 cents for every item the taxi carries in its trunk.

There isn’t really any way of getting around the trunk thing – believe me, I’ve tried. If you try to take a small suitcase inside a taxi, the driver will refuse to take you. And, although they’re usually friendly and speak some English, drivers of taxis in Mallorca, especially Palma, can be rather fierce on occasion. They probably need to be.

Although it’s not mentioned, I think the 65 cents supplement also applies to journeys within Palma. So, if you do a big shop and put your bags in the taxi trunk, you’ll be charged.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other supplements and I’m sure if you really wanted to find out what they were, you could ask the Adjuntament de Palma. But taxis here cost considerably less than they do in other European cities. And you’re not likely to get ripped off by an unlicensed cab, as you can be in, let’s say, Stockholm. So, taxi fares seem, well, fair to me.

Taxis in Deià

If you’re staying in Deià, you’ll probably have seen the big sign showing taxi numbers and prices in the car parking space in front of Belmond La Residencia, opposite the Charles Marlow office.

These are pretty self-explanatory. I use Juanito, on +34 609386168. He speaks English and is, in my experience, friendly and completely reliable. The only thing is that, at the height of the season and on busy nights, he can get seriously busy so it’s always best to book him well in advance.

There’s also Taxi Deià, which I’m sure is equally reliable. Find out more about Taxi Deia here.

Although the taxi prices given on the board are accurate and straightforward, you do need to know that you’ll be charged €3.95 extra for trips to and from the airport, although you won’t have to pay extra for your luggage. If you book Juanito, Taxi Deià or any other Deià taxi by phone, there’s an extra charge of €1.05. There’s an additional cost of €4 for trips to Soller which, according to Juanito, covers going over the mountain. For similar reasons, I guess, you’ll be charged an extra €8 on top of the fare for taking a taxi down the snaking road that leads to Sa Calobra.

If you want to know more about Deià and other villages in the Tramuntana Mountains, we recommend our Deià Guidebook.

Don’t get caught out by taxis in Mallorca

One thing you absolutely need to know is that taxi drivers like Juanito are not allowed to pick up outside their particular area. So, if you book Juanito to take you to Valldemossa, he won’t be able to take you back. You’ll have to book a Valldemossa taxi.

I’ve been caught out like this before, which resulted in me and my friends walking from Fornalutx to Soller on a hot afternoon after a very long lunch because the two Fornalutx taxis were busy. Not fun.

If you’re planning a trip from Deià to another town or village, it makes total sense to book your return trip well in advance.
 

Tipping for taxis in Mallorca

As with bars and restaurants in Mallorca, tips for taxis are most welcome but not expected. The standard tip for taxis in Mallorca is 10% of the fare. But you can always round up an amount to something that seems reasonable to you. I do both, depending the size of the fare and how much I’ve enjoyed the ride.
 

Private cars

One of the drawbacks of taxis in Mallorca is that, unless you specifically ask for a larger vehicle, you’re limited to the four passengers the car can carry. This can be an expensive pain.

But, if you’re a guest at a Charles Marlow rental home, you can always ask Charles Marlow concierge to hire you a vehicle. Hayley, at Charles Marlow Concierge says, ‘We can arrange E, S and V class Mercedes’, Sprinters, large coaches and cargo vans for guests with lots of luggage. Costs start at around €88 for a single car journey but, of course, it all depends on distance and how many people are travelling.’