Moving around is an essential part of daily life — whether it’s heading to your Spanish classes at Carmen Vega Escuela de Español, or setting out on an adventure.
And in Spanish, talking about how you get around opens the door to all kinds of conversations: asking for directions, explaining how to get somewhere, or telling a travel story.
At Carmen Vega Escuela de Español, our teachers love to explore this topic through fun and practical activities — how to get to the market, take a taxi, or plan a weekend trip to Sucre.
🚶 Essential Verbs for Getting Around
Let’s start with the most common verbs:
| Spanish | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ir | to go | Voy al centro. — I’m going downtown. |
| venir | to come | Ven a la escuela. — Come to the school. |
| llegar | to arrive | Llegamos a tiempo. — We arrive on time. |
| salir | to leave / go out | Salgo de casa a las ocho. — I leave home at eight. |
| volver / regresar | to come back / return | Regresamos a Cochabamba el domingo. — We’re returning to Cochabamba on Sunday. |
👉 In Latin America, “ir a” + place is commonly used to indicate direction:
- Voy a la universidad. — I’m going to the university.
- Voy al mercado. — I’m going to the market.
đźš— Means of Transportation
Here are the key words you’ll need to talk about how you get around:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el coche / el auto / el carro | car |
| el taxi | taxi |
| el bus / el micro / el trufi | bus / minibus / trufi |
| la bicicleta | bicycle |
| la moto | motorcycle |
| el tren | train |
| el aviĂłn | airplane |
| a pie | on foot |
Examples:
- Voy en taxi al centro. — I’m going downtown by taxi.
- Prefiero ir a pie, es más tranquilo. — I prefer to go on foot; it’s more relaxing.
💬 In Bolivia, the word “trufi” is very common — it refers to a small shared taxi that follows a fixed route.
It’s an affordable and local way to get around!
🗺️ Asking for Directions
When traveling, knowing how to ask for or give directions is essential.
Here are some useful phrases:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde está…? | Where is…? |
| ¿Cómo llego a…? | How do I get to…? |
| ¿Está lejos? | Is it far? |
| Gire a la derecha / izquierda. | Turn right / left. |
| Siga recto. | Go straight ahead. |
| Cruce la calle. | Cross the street. |
🧳 Talking About Trips and Travel
To describe a trip or a journey, we often combine different tenses:
- El fin de semana fui a las montañas. — Last weekend I went to the mountains.
- Mañana voy a viajar a La Paz. — Tomorrow I’m going to travel to La Paz.
- He estado en Santa Cruz una vez. — I’ve been to Santa Cruz once.
Some other useful expressions:
| Spanish | Traduction |
|---|---|
| viajar | to travel |
| hacer un viaje | to take a trip |
| salir de vacaciones | to go on vacation |
| dar una vuelta | to go for a walk / take a ride |
| tomar un bus / aviĂłn / taxi | to take a bus / plane / taxi |
Nos gusta viajar por Bolivia, es un paĂs increĂble. — We love traveling around Bolivia; it’s an amazing country
🚦 In Class at Carmen Vega Escuela de Español
Our lessons often include activities about the city and getting around:
role plays for asking directions, dialogues about transportation, or small travel projects.
Hoy aprendimos cĂłmo llegar al mercado central.
Cada estudiante presentĂł una ciudad que quiere visitar.
These real-life situations help our students speak with confidence — in Cochabamba or anywhere else.
🛣️ In Summary
Talking about transportation in Spanish is much more than learning a few verbs —
it’s about understanding how to get around, travel, and connect with people.
Whether you’re taking a trufi, asking for directions, or sharing a travel story, these words will take you everywhere in Latin America.
At Carmen Vega Escuela de Español, we’ll help you move with words as much as with your feet — with ease, curiosity, and joy.
🚍 Learn how to talk about getting around in Spanish and set off to discover Bolivia… and the Spanish-speaking world!