Vehicles

1. Karru

   Car

   Usage

   Spanish carro adapted to Quechua sounds. "Huk karruta alqilaway" = please rent me a car

2. Taxi

   Usage

   No meters, so agree the fare first. "Hayk'a pagarini?" = how much do I pay?

3. Colectivo

   Colectivo (shared taxi)

   Usage

   A shared car on a fixed route that leaves once it is full; often faster than the bus between towns

4. Combi

   Combi (shared minivan)

   Usage

   A conductor shouts the destination out of the window; raise a hand to stop one. Keep valuables in front of you when it is packed

5. Mototaxi

   Mototaxi (three-wheeler)

   Usage

   A motorcycle with a passenger cab bolted on; the main way to get around lower-lying towns and valley villages

6. Bus

   Usage

   "Maymantataq busqa hamun?" = where does the bus come from?

7. Bus cama

   Sleeper bus

   Usage

   The long-distance night bus with deeply reclining seats. Journeys over ten hours are normal, so the better class is worth paying for; bring a blanket

8. Tren

   Train

   Usage

   The best-known line runs Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes; book ahead, same-day seats are hard to get. "Trenpa estacionqa maypin?" = where is the station?

9. Teleférico

   Cable car

   Usage

   In La Paz several lines form part of the city transport network at low fares; in a city with that much vertical rise it is the fastest way to move

10. Moto

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    Mountain roads are unpaved and prone to rockfall; not a good place to learn

11. Bicicleta

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Above 3,000 m you run out of breath fast; downhill-focused tours are the popular option

12. Camión

    Truck

    Usage

    In villages with no bus service people ride in the back; it is not safe, so take another option if one exists

13. Ambulancia

    Ambulance

    Usage

    In the mountains it can take hours; with serious altitude sickness, descending is faster than waiting for one

14. Lancha

    Motorboat

    Usage

    Used to reach the Uros and Taquile islands on Lake Titicaca; take a hat and a jacket, the sun is fierce and the wind cold

15. Avión

    Airplane

    Usage

    Flying straight from coastal Lima to Cusco invites altitude sickness; take the first day easy

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