A foreigner's guide to Peruvian Transportation

I thought I would take this time to share with you how to get around town without looking like a foreigner...you know, just in case you ever decide to come to Peru, and don't want to look like a foreigner. We have four main forms of public transportation here. All will get you where you want to go, some will get you there with a little extra motion. Forms 2-4 always have a driver and a porter, who will take your money, and make sure that you can get off at the right stop (read: the right any corner of any street along the route you need to stop at).

1) The Taxi-
Advantage: Taxis in Peru are your best bet if you need to get somewhere fast and specific.
Cost: Taxis generally start at 3 soles (= 1 US dollar) minimum to go wherever, though if your destination is close and you are a persistent haggler, you can get 2.50 once in awhile.
Foreigner's Safety Rule of Thumb: Do not get into a taxi unless it has the logo of a known taxi company, a license plate and identifying numbers painted on the side, and a non-creepy looking driver. That last one perhaps is a little subjective...go with your gut instinct.
Do not be afraid to: Bargain. If you don't like the price. Don't get in the taxi.
Be careful of: unmarked taxis, and taxi drivers who don't go the normal route.

2) The Colectivo-
Advantage: This shared taxi follows a constant route. You get in where you want and get out where you want. Because you can only have 6-7 people in the colectivo, they're a little bit safer
Cost: 1 sol to 1 sol twenty. The cost went up when the gas prices did, but when gas prices fell again, some drivers continued to charge 1.20 while others went back to the price of the good old days.
Foreigner's Safety Rule of Thumb: Make sure you know where you're going and that the colectivo passes by where you need to get off, otherwise, settle in for an hour and a half tour of the route
Do not be afraid to: break all your former personal space boundaries. 7 people in a Buick. you do the math of how much room you'll have.
Be Careful of: Filling up the Colectivo in the correct order. Start in the back, scoot all the way over. Don't mess with the system

3) The Combi-
Advantage: a van that in the states would carry about 9-12 people, combis can and often do take 18-25 people where they need to go along a specified route. Cheap and Reliable. That's the combi way.
Cost: 1 sol for however much of the route you need to take.
Foreigner's Safety Rule of Thumb: Just like the colectivo, make sure you know where to go.
Do not be afraid to: Squish in tighter than you ever thought you could, and speak up about exactly where you need to "BAJA" (get out of the combi).
Be Careful of: not holding up the bus when you get off...even if you feel like your hurling yourself out of the van when it's still moving.

4) The Micro-
Advantage: the largest of all the public transportation vehicles, the micros will get you where you need to go and give you a little extra leg room. A nice feature for those of us who are 5'9" and don't fit well into combis.
Cost: 1 sol for however much of the route you need to go, though a few are only 80 cents, and the ones to get you alllll the way out to the beach are 1.50
Foreigner's Safety Rule of Thumb: Be careful about the micros, because there are more people that can ride on the micro, there is more of a chance of your cell phone getting robbed.
Do not be afraid to: tell the door guy exactly which street you're about to get off at.
Be Careful of: sudden stops. If you are not sitting down in a seat, Hold on tight. Seriously.


Happy Peruvian Traveling!
Your Guide to All Things Peruvian