Taxis

FART taxi at its stand near the Basilica Full Image

Dancing Dog thinks it's time to inject a bit of juvenile humor into this chronicle.

Taxis are ubiquitous in Pátzcuaro, readily available and relatively cheap: a flat 18 pesos (about US$1.60) anywhere in the city, 20 pesos (US$1.75) from the Plaza Grande to the Lake (2–3 miles).

Several taxi groups compete for your business, including the Monarca and the FART pictured here. Each group has its own stands scattered at strategic locations around the city. The FART stand is in front of the Basilica, not far from D.D.'s house.

The Monarca logo is styled after the monarch butterflies that winter in the mountains of Michoacan Full Image

FART, by the way, is an acronym for Federación Agrupaciones Regionales de Transportistas (“Federation of Regional Carrier Associations”).

The FART drivers are aware of the alternate meaning of their association name in English and are good-natured about it. Their taxis are clean, and the drivers courteous and efficient. Interestingly, taxi licenses are an inhertible commodity, passed from father to son.