Yellow taxis: You don't have to go far to find a taxi in Rio - they are everywhere. And hard to miss, too - taxis are a bright yellow, blue stripe on the sides. Yellow taxis run by the meter. The initial fare is R$2.70, and the meter starts ticking as soon as you get in. After 9 p.m. and on weekends fares are a little higher (the meter is set to bandeira 2). You do not need to give fat tips: R$1 is plenty enough. Some taxis are air-conditioned at no extra charge.
A word to the wise: do not agree on pre-paid deals with yellow taxis. They are illegal, and probably mean the driver is trying to take advantage of you. Hail the next cab. We've heard of taxis trying to pull this dirty trick right at the door of a couple of 5-star hotels, the bus station, or airport. To give you an idea of rates, a ride from Ipanema to Copacabana or Leblon is about R$5; to Downtown about R$15-20; to the international airport or Barra about R$30.
Radio taxis: A more sophisticated alternative, radio taxis may be white, blue or red. Cars are bigger and usually air-conditioned. Call one of the companies providing this kind of service and tell them where to pick you up, where to drop you off, and at what time. Some radio-taxis charge by the meter, others charge flat rates. Ask for all details first. They will need from you a a contact phone to call you back and confirm the ride.
from Ipanema.com
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