Peru
Last checked:
- Capital
- Lima
- Currency
- PEN · Peruvian sol
- Languages
- Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
- Plugs
- Type A, C · 220 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Machu Picchu · Aguas Calientes / Cusco region
Inca citadel in the Andes; timed entry tickets sell out in high season.
- Historic centre of Cusco · Cusco
Former Inca capital with colonial churches built on Inca walls; base for the Sacred Valley.
- Sacred Valley · Pisac / Ollantaytambo
Inca terraces, ruins and markets along the Urubamba river.
- Lake Titicaca · Puno
High-altitude lake with the floating Uros islands and Taquile island.
- Colca Canyon · Arequipa region
One of the world's deepest canyons, known for condor viewing; Arequipa is a white-stone colonial city.
Getting around
Ride-hailing app
Uber / Cabify / DiDi / InDrive
All operate in Lima and some in Cusco and Arequipa. Safer and clearer on price than hailing a taxi; UK advice says to use app or hotel-booked taxis.
Taxi
Official airport taxis
At Lima airport, use the official taxi company desks right outside the baggage hall. Street taxis rarely have meters, so agree the fare before getting in.
Public transport
Metropolitano (Lima)
Bus rapid transit line through Lima, paid with a rechargeable card. Cheap but crowded at peak times; watch your bags.
Buses
Cruz del Sur / Oltursa
Reliable long-distance bus companies with reserved seats. Buy tickets a day ahead. Avoid cheap night buses on mountain routes.
Trains
PeruRail / Inca Rail
The only trains to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) from Cusco area and Ollantaytambo. Book ahead in high season; luggage limits apply.
Money and cash
Currency: PEN · Peruvian sol
Cards work in hotels, malls and mid to upper-range restaurants in Lima and Cusco; cash rules in markets, small shops, rural areas and most taxis. US dollars are widely accepted for tours and hotels. Vendors often refuse torn, marked or worn notes in both soles and dollars, so carry clean notes. Use ATMs inside banks during business hours and never change money on the street.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. Around 10% is normal in restaurants unless a service charge (servicio) is already on the bill. Guides, drivers and trekking crews rely heavily on tips.
| Restaurants | About 10% in sit-down restaurants if no servicio is on the bill. Small local eateries: leave a few soles or round up. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Round up or leave small change; not expected at the counter. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Not customary. The fare is agreed in advance; tip only for help with heavy bags. |
| Hotels | A few soles per bag for porters and per day for housekeeping (varies). |
| Tours and guides | Common and expected. Sources suggest roughly US$7-15 per person per day for guides and less for drivers. Multi-day treks like the Inca Trail need a separate pooled tip for porters and cooks (varies by operator; ask them). |
| Food delivery | Optional; rounding up or a small tip in the app. |
Service charge: what’s true
Some mid and upper-range restaurants in Lima and Cusco add a 10-13% 'servicio' line. It should be posted and shown on the bill. Sources say it is not always passed directly to waiters. If it is there, no extra tip is needed.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Card terminals may suggest a tip on top of a bill that already includes servicio, and tourists are sometimes asked for tips in US dollars. Check the bill for 'servicio' before tipping. Tip in soles. You can say: 'Ya incluye el servicio, gracias.'
Useful phrases
- La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please.
- ¿Está incluido el servicio? Is service included?
- Ya incluye el servicio, gracias. Service is already included, thank you.
Etiquette
- Greet with 'Buenos días' or 'Buenas tardes' before asking for anything.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women and children in traditional dress in Cusco; many expect a small payment.
- Cover shoulders and remove hats in churches and cathedrals.
- Bargaining is normal at craft markets but stay friendly; it is not done in shops or restaurants with marked prices.
- Allow for altitude: Cusco is about 3,400 m. Rest on arrival and go slow.
- Do not touch or climb on Inca walls and ruins; fines apply at sites like Machu Picchu.
Scams and how to handle them
Fake or unlicensed taxis
Where: Lima airport, bus terminals, Cusco at night
How it works: Unlicensed drivers overcharge, and some are linked to robberies and express kidnappings.
How to avoid it: Use official airport taxi desks, app rides, or taxis booked by your hotel.
Street money changers with fake or old notes
Where: Cusco tourist streets, border crossings
How it works: Changers hand over counterfeit notes or the old, worthless intis currency.
How to avoid it: Change money only at banks, official exchange houses or use bank ATMs.
Fake tour agents and Inca Trail permits
Where: Cusco (Procuradores and Plateros streets), Lima airport and bus terminals
How it works: Touts sell non-existent tours, fake permits or very low-quality trips.
How to avoid it: Book Machu Picchu and Inca Trail permits only through the official site or licensed operators with reviews.
Pay-for-photo with alpacas and costumed children
Where: Cusco Plaza de Armas and around the San Blas area
How it works: Someone puts an alpaca or child in your photo, then demands US$5-20.
How to avoid it: Agree a price before taking a photo or politely decline; a small tip in soles is the norm.
Counterfeit soles and dollars
Where: Taxis, markets, change given anywhere
How it works: Fake notes are passed as change or a seller swaps your real note and claims it is fake.
How to avoid it: Check notes (watermark, colour-shifting ink), pay with small notes and keep sight of your money.
Bag theft on buses and at terminals
Where: Long-distance buses and bus stations
How it works: Bags under seats or on overhead racks are taken while you sleep or are distracted.
How to avoid it: Keep valuables on your body and use reputable companies that tag checked luggage.
Unsafe ayahuasca retreats
Where: Amazon region (Iquitos, Pucallpa) and Cusco area
How it works: Unregulated 'shamans' sell ceremonies; there have been serious illnesses, deaths and sexual assaults.
How to avoid it: UK advice warns about these ceremonies; they are unregulated and often far from medical help.
Safety
- Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in Lima, Cusco and on buses; robberies happen in tourist areas including Miraflores and Barranco.
- Do not use your phone near the kerb; motorbike thieves snatch phones.
- Use ATMs inside banks during the day.
- Do not resist robberies or express kidnappings; hand over valuables.
- Altitude sickness is a real risk in Cusco, Puno and Colca; acclimatise and seek care for severe symptoms.
- Road travel at night in the mountains has a higher accident risk; choose reputable bus companies.
How widely English is spoken
Good in tourist hotels, agencies and guided tours in Cusco and Lima (Miraflores, Barranco); limited elsewhere. Basic Spanish is very useful.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Peru, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Peru
- How to Peru: Tipping in Peru
- Oh La Lima: Tipping in Lima restaurants
- Dos Manos Peru: Tourist scams to avoid in Peru
- Just Cruising Around: Scams in Cusco
- Wikipedia: List of emergency telephone numbers
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.