A combi is a small van or bus that goes back and forth between towns all day. You also wait on the side of the road for it to pass.
We also have moto taxis! These are motorcycles with a small covered bench seat attached to the back. They are great for short rides in bigger towns. Sometimes, I even see entire families riding together on one motorcycle!
Can you imagine your whole family riding on one motorcycle together?
One of the coolest ways to travel here is on an overnight bus. These are big, two-story buses that travel between regions, like traveling between states in the U.S. The seats lean back almost like beds. Sometimes they even give you dinner and a blanket!
Have you ever slept on a bus overnight before? My first time with this experience was here in Peru!
At first, this way of getting around felt a little scary to me. In the United States, it usually isn’t considered safe to wait on the side of the road and get into a stranger’s car. Some combis also drive fast and can be very full.
Little by little, I got used to it. Now I recognize some of the taxi drivers and combi companies, and I feel much more comfortable. I learned that this is normal and is a trusted process in the community.
Where I live, the land is very mountainous. Sometimes heavy rain washes out the roads. It can be hard and expensive to take care of a car in these conditions.
In Peru, community is very important. People help one another and share what they have.
