Taxis
I will start with Taxis as they are familiar to most people with Combi information following. Taxis are readily available throughout Calderitas and Chetumal and are much less expensive than in the U.S. As the price for a ride is up to the driver, it is best to establish the price before you get in. Be aware that if you haggle with the driver for too long, he may pass and leave you standing on the street. Keep the pricing in perspective. The difference between a 35-peso ride and a 50-peso ride is less than $1.00, so if I get the lower price, I will tip the driver up to the 50-peso price. If I get the higher price, I do not. It is that simple. That said, there are places I do my best to avoid hailing a taxi due to the pricing. Bus stations and supermarkets are the big two. The Taxis, at the stand, in front of the Chetumal Bus station will most likely charge you 100 pesos to get to Caldereitas. If you walk one or two blocks down the street and hail a Taxi, it will cost half of that price at the most. Sometimes even less. The supermarkets aren’t quite as bad, but the same rule applies. You will save money by hailing a Taxi one or two blocks down the road. There is no Taxi stand at the Chetumal Airport. Only private transportation services are available. If you have booked a room at a hotel, be sure to ask if they provide this service. The two blocks down the road trick does not work in this case. The nearest location that Taxis are allowed to pick up is about a half mile down the street, and the pricing is the same as if you are at the Bus station. The best idea if arriving by plane is to prearrange your transportation from the Airport.
Combis
The Combis in Chetumal and Calderitas are a good inexpensive way to get around the area. For 8 pesos, about $.42 you can travel from the Combi stand in Centro to the far reaches of town. Most of the travel sites I have visited say, “If you are feeling adventurous take a Combi ride”. For me, considering the immersion with the locals and the lower cost of a taxi makes it the preferred method of public transportation. Here are some ups and downs so you can make your own decision. As with all public transportation, masks are required at this time, although the enforcement is up to the driver and the other passengers.
Schedule
The schedule does not seem to be written in stone as far as I have been able to tell. I have seen the Calderitas Combi run from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm on Monday through Friday fairly consistently. On Saturday it seems to take its last run from Chetumal at around 3:00 pm. On Sunday it ends around noon. While I have seen them running outside of these hours, I do not count on it.
Seating
There are times when I simply like to walk for a while and wait for the next Combi to come by. This is a known gamble. Sometimes the Combi is full, and it will not stop to pick you up. This is more likely in the early morning and late afternoon. When this happens to me, I keep walking and log another mile or so before the next one comes by.
Have Your Money Ready
I always keep 8 pesos in a separate pocket for quick removal. If you give the driver a 50 peso note, expect to get all coins back. Always have 8 pesos-“Combi food” ready. I have seen drivers give some people 92 pesos change in 5-peso coins when they were given a 100 peso note for their fare. Don’t be “some people”.
Doors
The side door is opened and closed by the driver. While you can push it open further if needed, do not try to close it. If you are told to get in the front seat, do not slam the door.
Head Check
If you are taller than the average person of Mayan descent, over 5”2’, mind your head getting in, out, or moving around in the Combi. Being 6” tall I can’t tell you how many times I have banged my head bloody. Maybe one day I will learn….
Overview
As I said earlier, this is my preferred method of travel in town. I like to hike and the places I need to go are on Combi routes or very close to them so I can always catch one if needed. Be aware there are Collectivos that look a lot like Combis but serve the surrounding villages. The difference is that Collectivos are more like shuttle buses with closed, tinted windows and air conditioning. The Combi windows are not tinted and are generally open. I will add more information on the Colectivos when I am able. You can see the individual Combi routes on this page for specific routes and remember, you don’t have to be “adventurous” to ride a Combi.
