A St. Thomas safari taxi is an open-air truck with bench seats that carries several groups at once and charges a fixed fare per person, not a metered price per car. From Cyril E. King Airport (STT) to Charlotte Amalie, the official fare is $11 for one person or $9 each for two or more traveling together. A second kind of safari, the “dollar ride,” runs along the main road for a flat $2.
Those two vehicles look almost identical, which is why visitors get confused. This guide explains how each one works, what it costs under the current Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission tariff, how to tell them apart from the roadside, and when a private, never-shared ride is the better call.
Key takeaways
- Safari taxis charge per person, by destination. A family of four pays four fares.
- The lower “two or more” fare applies only to people in your own party, not strangers sharing the truck.
- Expect the driver to wait until the truck fills, then make several drop-offs.
- The $2 dollar ride is a different service: main-road corridor only, no airport runs, no luggage space.
- Every licensed taxi must carry the official rate card. Ask to see it if you are unsure.
What is a safari taxi in St. Thomas?
A safari taxi is a pickup truck whose bed has been fitted with a canopy roof and rows of bench seats, with open sides. It is the most common taxi on St. Thomas and the default ride from the airport, the cruise docks and the busiest beaches. Larger licensed taxis on the island can carry up to 26 passengers, according to VINow’s summary of the taxi rules.
Safaris work like a shared shuttle. The driver loads people heading in the same general direction, leaves once the benches are full, and drops each party at its own stop. If your stop is last, you ride the longest.
There are no seat belts on the benches, and the open sides mean sun and rain come in. Small children, travelers with mobility needs, and anyone carrying a lot of luggage often find a closed van or SUV easier.
Safari taxi vs dollar ride: two services, one kind of truck
The tariff safari and the dollar ride use the same style of truck, but they are separate services with different rules. Mixing them up is the most common way visitors overpay or end up on the wrong road.
| Tariff safari taxi | Dollar ride (safari bus) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fare | Fixed per person by destination, from the official tariff | Flat $2 per ride |
| Where it goes | Any destination on the rate card, door to door | Main-road corridor only, stops along the way |
| Where to catch it | Taxi stands at the airport, cruise docks, beaches and hotels, or by phone | Flag it on the main road, often at or near bus stops |
| Airport | Yes | No |
| Luggage | Yes, $3 per bag | No luggage space |
| Best for | Arrivals, beach days, cruise stops | Cheap hops between town and Red Hook |
How do shared safari rides work?
You walk up to the taxi stand, tell the dispatcher or driver where you are going, and get directed to the truck heading that way. The dispatcher groups passengers by area, so a truck leaving the airport for the East End might stop at Bolongo, then Sapphire, then Red Hook.
Four rules from the tariff matter most:
- You pay per person. There is no single fare for the vehicle unless you hire it exclusively.
- The group discount is for your party only. The “two or more” rate applies to people traveling together, not to everyone on the truck.
- The driver must take you to your exact stop. Licensed drivers are required to drop passengers at the precise location agreed when the fare was accepted.
- The rate card must be on board. It is titled Island of St. Thomas Motor Vehicles For Hire Official Minimum/Maximum Rates, and drivers can be cited for charging above or below it.
One caveat on rule 3: some villa driveways are steep, narrow or unpaved, and a large safari may stop at the road. Mention your driveway before you board.
For dispatch numbers and pre-booking, see our guide on how to book a taxi in St. Thomas.
How much does a safari taxi cost?
Safari taxi fares come from the tariff the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission put into effect on October 24, 2022, which is still the published schedule in October 2026. Prices below are one way, per person, before luggage and night charges. Our full St. Thomas taxi rate tables list every zone.
| Route | 1 person | 2+ in same party (each) |
|---|---|---|
| Airport to Charlotte Amalie | $11 | $9 |
| Airport to Magens Bay | $18 | $15 |
| Airport to Coki Point | $21 | $15 |
| Airport to Red Hook (St. John ferry) | $23 | $17 |
| Charlotte Amalie, within town limits | $6 | $6 |
| Charlotte Amalie to Drake’s Seat | $11 | $8 |
| Charlotte Amalie to Magens Bay | $15 | $12 |
| Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook | $20 | $15 |
| Havensight (West Indian Company Dock) to Magens Bay | $15 | $12 |
| Crown Bay to Magens Bay | $18 | $15 |
| Red Hook to Magens Bay | $18 | $14 |
Source: VI Taxicab Commission tariff effective October 24, 2022, as published by VINow.
Extra charges on a safari fare
- Luggage: $3 per bag; up to $6 for items larger than 30 x 20 inches.
- Midnight to 6:00 AM: $3 extra per person.
- Waiting: first 5 minutes free, then $2 per minute.
- Round trip: double the one-way fare, plus waiting time.
- Called by phone or radio: one person pays the fare plus one third; groups add $2 per person.
The waiting charge is the one that adds up. Asking a safari to wait two hours at Magens Bay costs far more than taking a fresh taxi back from the beach stand.
Hiring a whole safari
You can also hire a safari by the hour or book a set sightseeing tour. The tariff lists these rates for one to four passengers; prices for extra passengers are agreed with the driver.
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| 14-seat van or safari, per hour | $83 |
| Large safari, per hour | $120 |
| 2-hour sightseeing tour | $75 for one person; $38 each for two or more |
| 3-hour sightseeing tour | $90 for one person; $45 each for two or more |
| Exclusive taxi, airport to Red Hook | $135 for 1 to 4; $23 per extra person |
How much is the $2 dollar ride?
The dollar ride costs $2 per ride. The Taxicab Commission approved the flat $2 fare in August 2024, effective immediately, after drivers paused service in protest, VI Consortium reported. The increase followed the VITRAN public bus fare rising from $1 to $2 on June 1, 2024, according to the Department of Public Works.
Before that change, the Commission described the route this way: $1 in the west from the Highway 30 and Bournefield Road area to Wheatley Center, $1 in the east from Red Hook to Fort Mylner, and $2 for anyone crossing Raphune Hill, the St. Thomas Source reported. Older guides still quote those $1 fares.
How to catch a dollar ride?
- Stand on the main road, ideally at or near a VITRAN bus stop. Dollar rides carry no destination sign or route number.
- Raise your hand as the safari approaches. If it stops at the bus stop and riders are paying a couple of dollars, it is a dollar ride.
- Ask “dollar ride?” before you sit. If the driver quotes a tariff fare, it is a regular taxi.
- Press the buzzer or call out when you want to get off, and pay the driver in small bills.
Dollar rides do not pick up at the airport terminal, have nowhere for suitcases, and keep no timetable. They suit a day trip along the corridor, not an arrival. [NEED: Majestic chauffeur to confirm whether any dollar ride currently goes up to Magens Bay, and the best roadside spot near Havensight to catch one.]
How do you spot a licensed safari taxi?
A licensed taxi has a dome light or taxi placard on the roof, license plates showing taxi status, an on-duty or off-duty sign, a passenger capacity sign (usually on the fender), and the driver’s taxi license on the dashboard. Those markings come from the Commission’s operating rules, as summarized by VINow.
Unlicensed “gypsy” cabs, private cars that hustle fares outside bars and grocery stores, follow none of the tariff rules. Skip them.
Safari taxi tips for cruise passengers
Both cruise docks, Havensight and Crown Bay, have safari taxis waiting whenever a ship is in. Fares from Havensight are slightly lower than from Crown Bay because it sits closer to town.
- Tell the dispatcher your all-aboard time. Trucks wait to fill, and you may not be first off.
- Plan the ride back. Beach stands at Magens Bay and Coki usually have taxis during the day, but lines build in the afternoon when several ships are in. [NEED: Majestic’s rule of thumb for how early to leave the beach on a busy ship day.]
- Agree the total, not the per-person number. Say “four of us, two bags, to Magens Bay: what’s the total?”
- Carry small US bills. Most taxis are cash only. If you need to pay by card, tell the driver before you board.
If you have a short port call, a private cruise port pickup at Havensight or Crown Bay leaves when you are ready and plans the return around your ship.
Safari taxis from the airport
At Cyril E. King Airport, taxis wait outside baggage claim whenever flights are due. Tell the dispatcher your destination and they will point you to the right vehicle. When several flights land together, you may wait while the truck fills.
Two situations make the shared safari a poor fit on arrival. The first is a tight ferry connection at Red Hook, because a multi-stop run to the East End can take longer than you planned. The second is a late arrival: taxis thin out at night, and a $3 per-person surcharge applies after midnight. A meet-and-greet airport transfer with flight tracking removes both risks.
What a safari ride really costs: worked examples
Per-person fares look small until you count heads and bags. These totals use the tariff above and exclude tips.
| Trip | How it adds up | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook, tariff safari | $20 | $20 |
| Same trip by dollar ride | Flat fare | $2 |
| Couple, Havensight to Magens Bay and back | 2 x $12 x 2 | $48 |
| Family of four, airport to Red Hook, four bags | 4 x $17 + 4 x $3 | $80 |
| Same family, exclusive taxi airport to Red Hook | Published exclusive rate (confirm bag fees) | $135 |
| Group of eight, 3-hour sightseeing tour | 8 x $45 | $360 |
The last row is worth noticing: for big groups, the per-person tour rate and an hourly safari hire can land close together, so ask for both prices.
Is a safari taxi safe?
Licensed safari taxis are regulated by the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission and are a normal way for visitors and residents to get around. The practical risks are about comfort rather than crime: no seat belts on the benches, open sides on steep, winding roads, and loose items that can slide out. Keep bags on your lap and hats in hand on the climb over the hills.
If you leave something behind and don’t know the driver, call the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission at (340) 693-4211. Licensed drivers carry radios, and the Commission can put out a call.
Safari taxi or private ride: which should you choose?
Take the shared safari when you are traveling light, your schedule is loose, and you are one or two people going somewhere on the rate card. It is the cheapest licensed way to move around St. Thomas.
Book a private ride when timing or comfort matters more than the fare: a ferry or flight to catch, an all-aboard time, small children, a hillside villa, a late arrival, or a group that wants to stay together. Uber and Lyft do not operate here, so a pre-booked car is the only way to get door-to-door service on your schedule. Our other ways to get around without Uber guide compares every option, and our taxi vs private transfer cost comparison runs the numbers on the island’s busiest route.
Majestic Limo & Tour runs private rides only. Your group rides alone in a limousine, executive SUV or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, the chauffeur meets you at the time you set, and we quote the price before you book. Airport transfers start from $90 per person. A 2-hour private island tour covering Drake’s Seat and Mountain Top starts from $711 per group and gets cruise guests back to the dock with time to spare. Guests have rated us 5.0 on TripAdvisor across 17 reviews.
Ready to skip the wait? Book your ride or call or text (340) 626-1165, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily.
Safari taxi FAQ
Are St. Thomas safari taxis metered?
No. Fares are fixed per person by destination under the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission tariff, and the rate card must be posted in the vehicle.
How much is a safari taxi from the cruise port to Magens Bay?
From Havensight it is $15 for one person or $12 each for two or more in the same party. From Crown Bay it is $18 or $15 each. Each direction is charged separately.
Can I take a safari taxi from the airport?
Yes. Tariff safaris and vans wait outside baggage claim when flights arrive. The $2 dollar ride does not pick up at the airport terminal.
Is the dollar ride still $1?
No. The Taxicab Commission set a flat $2 fare in August 2024.
Do safari taxis take credit cards?
Some do, but most are cash only. Tell the driver before you board if you want to pay by card.
How much should I tip a safari driver?
On a shared per-person ride, rounding up or adding a dollar or two per person is common. For an hourly hire or tour, plan on 15 to 20 percent.
Do safari taxis run at night?
Yes, but fewer are on the road late, and fares rise by $3 per person between midnight and 6:00 AM. Book ahead for late flights and dinners.
Can I have a safari to myself?
Yes. Ask for an exclusive taxi. Airport to Red Hook is $135 for up to four people; other exclusive routes are priced with the driver.
