Buy A Jeepney

If somebody asked you: what is the most popular mode of transport in the Philippines? You would probably answer either ‘Jeepney’ or ‘Tricycle’.

Most Filipinos don’t even have to think about using Jeepneys – it’s part of their daily routine, a cheap way of getting from A to B. That accounts also for tricycles, although mainly when going shorter distances. For a foreigner coming to the Philippines, both concepts are probably fairly new. We know motorcycles or cars, but those ‘hybrids’ we don’t have back in our home countries.

You can buy both, jeepneys and tricycles for private use in the Philippines. A used Jeepney goes for something around 200K-300K Pesos and would perfectly take you around the country with all the luggage you may want to bring.

So what about a tricycle? Wouldn’t that be the perfect alternative?

Most Filipinos don’t even have to think about using Jeepneys – it’s part of their daily routine, a cheap way of getting from A to B

You bet!

The initial costs to having a tricycle are much lower than buying a Jeepney. It mainly consists of a standard motorbike (minimum 125cc or better 155cc) and a sidecar. And it can be repaired (if necessary) in every village by almost any mechanic. Welding Shops are also located every few blocks in any given Barangay of Pinas, so your support network is already set.

With your tricycle you can always go forward, exploring a new area every day, without ever looking back. It can carry all your belongings, your partner and yourself.

But the best reason of having your own tricycle to tour the country is simple: it’s the freedom that comes with it.

In contrast to a car, which isolates you practically from the environment, you are here right in the middle of it. Like with a motorbike, you are an easy rider, born to be wild – you will feel the wind in your hair, hear the sounds of bird, roosters or water buffaloes around you, will smell the coco copra that is stored along the way and the lechon bbq prepared on the sidewalk.

!