A chalupa (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

word coming from the

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

''Txalupa'') is a small

boat A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size or capacity, its shape, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically used on inland waterways s ...

that functions as a shallop,

water taxi A water taxi or a water bus is a boat used to provide public transport, public or private transport, usually, but not always, in an Urban area, urban environment. Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a simil ...

gondola The gondola (, ; , ) is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. It is typically propelled by a gondolier, who uses a rowing oar, which is not fastened to the hull, in a scul ...

, such as those seen at the "floating gardens" of

Xochimilco Xochimilco (; ) is a borough () of Mexico City. The borough is centered on the formerly independent city of Xochimilco, which was established on what was the southern shore of Lake Xochimilco in the precolonial period. Today, the borough cons ...

south of

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

, Mexico. ''Txalupa'' is originally the name of the type of whaling boat used by the Basques in the mid-16th century in what is now Newfoundland and Labrador.

Description

Chalupa boats are normally rowed or poled, and less commonly motorized. Common characteristics are shallow drafts and narrow benches or seats for one, two or three passengers. A chalupa is not to be confused with a

trajinera Xochimilco (; ) is a borough () of Mexico City. The borough is centered on the formerly independent city of Xochimilco, which was established on what was the southern shore of Lake Xochimilco in the precolonial period. Today, the borough consi ...

, which is a boat housing long benches along the edges, and a table through the middle, and poled by a standing person. These boats are typical of

channel and are frequented by local families for weekend picnics on the water. Chalupas transit on the same channel offering food, beverages, or even live music trios to the trajineras. Chalupa in Portuguese is a small boat used for cabotage, either with oars or sails, in the latter case with a single mast. The mid-16th century chalupa used by the Basque whalers was long, and would have been manned by a steersman, five oarsmen, and a harpooner. Examples of four of these have been discovered in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

at Red Bay in what is now Newfoundland and Labrador since 1978. One such chalupa has been given extensive conservation treatment, and as of July 1998 was on display in the visitor centre of Red Bay National Historic Site of Canada.Archaeology of a Sixteenth-Century Basque Whaling Boat
/ref>

References

Boat types Water transport in Newfoundland and Labrador {{Ship-type-stub