Mototaxis – Second Most Popular Way to Get Around Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
Walking is the most common way to get around Puerto Lopez. Riding in a mototaxi is second.
Dogs welcome
Puerto Lopez is a casual town. Sometimes you will even find a mototaxi driver who brought his dog to work.
Hiring a mototaxi
Wave your arm when an unoccupied mototaxi is approaching to flag them down. Unless they are already on a call, they will pick you up for your trip anywhere within Puerto Lopez.
There is no central dispatch. If you regularly need pickup in less traveled areas, get a couple of driver’s phone numbers.
Want an informal tour? Hire a mototaxi! Many drivers are happy to take you around Puerto Lopez. The four mototaxi cooperatives are providing English lessons for their drivers. If you speak no Spanish, ask around to find a driver who speaks some English. Jon, in the top photo and below, asks us to speak English so he can practice.
Traveling outside Puerto Lopez
When traveling outside of Puerto Lopez, options are bus, taxi (not mototaxi) or drive your own vehicle.
What are common travel methods in your town?
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A look back
Last year, I wrote Monkey on my head.
Emily Bloomquist
I am a US Expat in Ecuador. I grew up on a Minnesota farm, worked in IT in California's Silicon Valley, then moved to a coastal Ecuador fishing village. My goal is to share Ecuador with you, one snippet at a time. Topics include attractions, compassion, ecotourism, Ecuador products, everyday Ecuador, and flora and fauna. Please let me know what you would like to read more about!
33 Comments
Keith's Ramblings
I've always wanted one of those little things myself, but not as taxi- a perfect means of transport in my town and easy to park!
A-Z of My Friend Rosey!
A-Z of My Friend Rosey!
Emily Bloomquist
They would be great to have! I have seen some used ones for sale, Keith. Perhaps you could export it?
Jz
I live on the edge of the boonies. You can walk, but there's nothing within miles to actually walk *to*, so that is purely a recreational activity. No public transport, the train station is 6 miles away – which is a long walk with luggage – so it's cars for us.
Think you could persuade Jon to come here and drive? I promise I'd speak English to him!
Emily Bloomquist
Cars sound like the most sensible method of getting from A to B there, Jz. I imagine Jon would enjoy seeing the wilderness there and how it differs from here. And speaking to you in English! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
April Hoeller
It is such a fun way to get around. I've seen these "Tuk-tuks" in India, Peru, Mexico and more. An adventure ride every time. Thank you for a bit of fun on what is here in southern Ontario, a miserable (ice pellets + freezing rain + wind) Saturday.
Cheers!
Emily Bloomquist
I do love riding in them! Hoping you get some spring weather sometime soon, April! Most of my relatives are freezing in Minnesota so you have company in that department. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
LauraEhlers
What fun! Those look like the perfect mode of transport!
Emily Bloomquist
They sure are! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Nancy Adkins
Where I live you walk, Drive, Ride a bike or Horse or hitchhike. No taxi of any kind exist. But we are small and rural. This looks like fun.
Emily Bloomquist
It is fun, Nancy! I do get a little spoiled having mototaxis all around. If it is too hot or raining, I just flag down a ride home. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Heather Erickson
These were very popular in India (I'm sure they still are) but we called them Tuk-Tuks. I never rode in one because we had a driver and translator, but they looked fun.
Emily Bloomquist
So glad you have seen them, Heather, even if by another name. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Emily – they sound ideal for the local area … and excellent the companies are encouraging the drivers to learn English – can only help in the long run for them. Love the photos – cheers Hilary
Emily Bloomquist
They are perfect for this area, Hilary! They would not really work where snow falls, unless they only worked 1/2 the year (summer, of course). Thanks for stopping over and commenting! I have no idea how you visit so many blogs but I am super impressed!
Deborah Weber
Looks like a fun way to get around. And bonus points for dog co-drivers. 🙂
Emily Bloomquist
LOVE the dog co-driver, Deborah! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Nilanjana Bose
We call them auto-rickshaws in India – very popular everywhere. Also seen them in the suburbs of Cairo. Economical and fun way to get around.
Emily Bloomquist
I agree, Nila – economical and fun way to get around. Ours are only in small towns, not the cities or suburbs. Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Donna B. McNicol
So cute!! Love them!
Donna B. McNicol|Author and Traveler
A to Z Flash Fiction Stories | A to Z of Goldendoodles
Emily Bloomquist
Cute and fun, too! Thanks for visiting and commenting, Donna!
Arti Jain
Mototaxis are called auto-rickshaws or three-wheelers in India and they are everywhere. And each city/region comes with its own urban legend/temperament associated with the drivers of these vehicles. You'd be warned about the rude ones in Chennai or the ones in Delhi who refuse to use their meter and charge you extra.
M is for Mawphlang
Emily Bloomquist
How funny and interesting that each region has a reputation for their drivers. Now I know – in Delhi I would ask the amount before getting into the auto-rickshaw. Thanks for visiting and commenting, Arti!
Shari Elder
What wonderful photos and a fun post. Good on you for leaving corporate America. I've become addicted to Uber and Lyft in the States since I broke my right foot.
Emily Bloomquist
Thank you, Shari. Sorry about your broken foot! Hope it is healing well. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Shilpa Garg
The dog in a mototaxi is so cute. We have similar mototaxis with a similar way of operating, in India, but we call them Autorickshaws. 🙂
Emily Bloomquist
That dog is cute, Shilpa, and well behaved – just sits there enjoying the sights while they are working. Thanks for visiting and commenting!
DeeDee
Awesome pictures
Tongue Twister for N
Tongue Twister for M
Tongue Twister for L
Emily Bloomquist
Thank you DeeDee!
Bruce Bindon
Good day, from Puerto Lopez, Ecuador:
Can I buy one of the used mototaxies and get a License to run it here legally as a private resident?
Thank you.
Emily Bloomquist
I have seen them for sale on olx.com so they can be purchased. I have never asked about owning one as a private citizen but you can ask at any ANT office (Manta and Jipijapa both have offices) if you would need a drivers license for a car or motorcycle to operate one.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Bruce! Hope to see you around town.
Bruce Bindon
Good day. While I am aware that a driver’s license is required, it is the ability to get Private License Plates for a Private Tuk Tuk that was of interest. Visiting an ANT Office doesn’t work for me, as I cannot speak Spanish.
Thanks
Ronel Janse van Vuuren
So cute — the dog going along to work. Mine like to cuddle with my feet while I’m writing 🙂
Ronel from Ronel the Mythmaker A-Z road-tripping with Everything Writerly: M is for Making
Emily Bloomquist
Sounds perfect, Ronel! Thanks for A-Z road-tripping.