Our Experience with Uber in Colombia

We’ve had our ups, downs and interesting experiences using Uber in Colombia. Below is an overview of our Colombian Uber experience.

Legal grey area

First of all, Uber is technically illegal in Colombia, but everyone uses it and even the hotel concierges recommend it. At any given time when you open the app, there will be an abundance of available cars.

Our first experience

Our first experience using Uber was in Bogotá when we first arrived to the country. It was positive overall. We found Uber to be safe, reliable and significantly cheaper than taxis. Since we didn’t know the going rates for taxis and were hesitant to use taxis due to safety concerns and not knowing the prices, we opted to use Uber.

Our first interesting experience

We had some interesting Uber experiences. The first of which was when we hailed an Uber to take us to the Bogotá airport. Upon entering the car, the driver informed us that if anybody asks to tell them that he is a member of a car service company through our hotel.

That was fine. No problems there. We know the airport can be a dicey place for Uber drivers with taxis being very vocally against Uber.

However, things got more interesting when we were approximately five minutes from the airport. When the car stopped in traffic (on a busy throughway I might add), our driver quickly leaped out of the car and ran to his trunk. After a few moments, he reappeared in the car with a new phone! He had hid his smartphone in the trunk and replaced it with a different phone that does not have the Uber app!

We thought his paranoia was a little odd, but we could understand why he was being cautious. However, it became more readily apparent where his apprehensions came from once we landed in Medellín.

An even more interesting experience

After retrieving our bags, Shaleen connected to the airport wifi and called an Uber (there were dozens in the area). While we were waiting for the car to arrive, her driver called through WhatsApp to inform Shaleen where he will be waiting.

It became fairly clear that we were not being discreet with our use of the app, as while we were searching for our driver in the parking lot, multiple local airport security officers reminded us that Uber is illegal. That is when things got even more intense.

Once we located our driver, we noticed that the airport security was following us! Our driver, a man in his early 20s who spoke perfect English, told us not to worry and to tell all the security that we are friends.

When we arrived to his car, he quickly blocked his license plate from the security guard, who was now attempting to take photos and radioing his colleagues. Our driver continued to tell the officer that we are friends, while waving his WhatsApp contact information for Shaleen at him to prove his point. As the situation seemed to be heading farther away from resolve, our driver then began threatening to call his lawyer.

At this point, we told him it was okay and we would find a taxi, but our driver insisted it was okay and that we should hastily leave the airport. As he was heading towards the exit, he continually checked his rear view mirrors, and was communicating with his network of friends who also drive with Uber to the airport to stand watch in case of police.

By the time we exited the airport parking lot, he informed us that we likely escaped more harassment because it was raining. He told us that he deals with similar situations at the airport daily, but refuses to quit taking fares from that location. In fact, while we were in the car, he updated his WhatsApp group of other Uber drivers about the situation that had just transpired. They keep each other up to date so others can hopefully avoid the same problems.

After all the hassle, we later discovered that the cost of that Uber was almost the same as the cost of the official airport taxis.

Price fluctuations

Despite these situations, this did not deter us from using Uber. However, while in Medellín, we began to notice that many times, Uber was actually more expensive than a taxi. These were not at unusual times when the demand pushes the prices up either. This was puzzling to us, as we had such a positive experience in Bogotá. But as we continued to travel through Colombia, we noticed the same discrepancy in Cartagena. The listed prices for Uber were more than a taxi every time we attempted to use one.

Airport problems

At the end of our second trip to Bogotá, we attempted to hail an Uber to the airport, as we knew we previously had mostly good experiences in that city. But this time, we were unsuccessful.

The first driver to accept our ride stopped at our pickup location, saw us with our bags, then drove away and cancelled the trip. The next two drivers that accepted our ride also cancelled. We suspect it was because they were unwilling to complete a fare at the airport.

Final thoughts

Overall, I stand by my word that Uber in Colombia is safe and the payment is convenient. Despite a few blips, Bogotá was an excellent city to use the service, while in Medellín and Cartagena, the prices were sometimes quite inflated.

Perhaps as time goes on, legislation will lift the illegality of Uber and it will help make it more and more reliable as a means of transportation in all Colombian cities. Only time will tell.