Peru

Top 5 Orte

1. Machu Picchu · Aguas Calientes / Cusco region

   Inca citadel in the Andes; timed entry tickets sell out in high season.

2. Historic centre of Cusco · Cusco

   Former Inca capital with colonial churches built on Inca walls; base for the Sacred Valley.

3. Sacred Valley · Pisac / Ollantaytambo

   Inca terraces, ruins and markets along the Urubamba river.

4. Lake Titicaca · Puno

   High-altitude lake with the floating Uros islands and Taquile island.

5. Colca Canyon · Arequipa region

   One of the world's deepest canyons, known for condor viewing; Arequipa is a white-stone colonial city.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Fahrdienst-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.

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Metropolitano (Lima)

  Bus rapid transit line through Lima, paid with a rechargeable card. Cheap but crowded at peak times; watch your bags.

• Busse

  Cruz del Sur / Oltursa

  Reliable long-distance bus companies with reserved seats. Buy tickets a day ahead. Avoid cheap night buses on mountain routes.

• Züge

  PeruRail / Inca Rail

  The only trains to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) from Cusco area and Ollantaytambo. Book ahead in high season; luggage limits apply.

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: 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.

Wechselkurs nach PEN prüfen

Trinkgeld

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.

Nützliche Sätze

• 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.

Umgangsformen

• 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.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Fake or unlicensed taxis

  Wo: Lima airport, bus terminals, Cusco at night

  So funktioniert’s: Unlicensed drivers overcharge, and some are linked to robberies and express kidnappings.

  So vermeidest du es: Use official airport taxi desks, app rides, or taxis booked by your hotel.

• Street money changers with fake or old notes

  Wo: Cusco tourist streets, border crossings

  So funktioniert’s: Changers hand over counterfeit notes or the old, worthless intis currency.

  So vermeidest du es: Change money only at banks, official exchange houses or use bank ATMs.

• Fake tour agents and Inca Trail permits

  Wo: Cusco (Procuradores and Plateros streets), Lima airport and bus terminals

  So funktioniert’s: Touts sell non-existent tours, fake permits or very low-quality trips.

  So vermeidest du es: 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

  Wo: Cusco Plaza de Armas and around the San Blas area

  So funktioniert’s: Someone puts an alpaca or child in your photo, then demands US$5-20.

  So vermeidest du es: Agree a price before taking a photo or politely decline; a small tip in soles is the norm.

• Counterfeit soles and dollars

  Wo: Taxis, markets, change given anywhere

  So funktioniert’s: Fake notes are passed as change or a seller swaps your real note and claims it is fake.

  So vermeidest du es: Check notes (watermark, colour-shifting ink), pay with small notes and keep sight of your money.

• Bag theft on buses and at terminals

  Wo: Long-distance buses and bus stations

  So funktioniert’s: Bags under seats or on overhead racks are taken while you sleep or are distracted.

  So vermeidest du es: Keep valuables on your body and use reputable companies that tag checked luggage.

• Unsafe ayahuasca retreats

  Wo: Amazon region (Iquitos, Pucallpa) and Cusco area

  So funktioniert’s: Unregulated 'shamans' sell ceremonies; there have been serious illnesses, deaths and sexual assaults.

  So vermeidest du es: UK advice warns about these ceremonies; they are unregulated and often far from medical help.

Sicherheit

• 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.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Good in tourist hotels, agencies and guided tours in Cusco and Lima (Miraflores, Barranco); limited elsewhere. Basic Spanish is very useful.

Quellen

• 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

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