Perú
Última revisión:
Por ahora, esta guía está en inglés. Los títulos están traducidos.
- Capital
- Lima
- Moneda
- PEN · Peruvian sol
- Idiomas
- Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
- Enchufes
- Tipo A, C · 220 V
Números de emergencia
Los 5 mejores lugares
- 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.
Cómo moverse
App de transporte
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.
Transporte público
Metropolitano (Lima)
Bus rapid transit line through Lima, paid with a rechargeable card. Cheap but crowded at peak times; watch your bags.
Autobuses
Cruz del Sur / Oltursa
Reliable long-distance bus companies with reserved seats. Buy tickets a day ahead. Avoid cheap night buses on mountain routes.
Trenes
PeruRail / Inca Rail
The only trains to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) from Cusco area and Ollantaytambo. Book ahead in high season; luggage limits apply.
Dinero y efectivo
Moneda: 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.
Propinas
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.
| Restaurantes | About 10% in sit-down restaurants if no servicio is on the bill. Small local eateries: leave a few soles or round up. |
|---|---|
| Cafeterías y bares | Round up or leave small change; not expected at the counter. |
| Taxis y apps de transporte | Not customary. The fare is agreed in advance; tip only for help with heavy bags. |
| Hoteles | A few soles per bag for porters and per day for housekeeping (varies). |
| Tours y guías | 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). |
| Comida a domicilio | Optional; rounding up or a small tip in the app. |
Cargo por servicio: lo que hay de cierto
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.
Tácticas de presión que conviene conocer
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.'
Frases útiles
- 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.
Normas de cortesía
- 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.
Estafas y cómo actuar
Fake or unlicensed taxis
Dónde: Lima airport, bus terminals, Cusco at night
Cómo funciona: Unlicensed drivers overcharge, and some are linked to robberies and express kidnappings.
Cómo evitarlo: Use official airport taxi desks, app rides, or taxis booked by your hotel.
Street money changers with fake or old notes
Dónde: Cusco tourist streets, border crossings
Cómo funciona: Changers hand over counterfeit notes or the old, worthless intis currency.
Cómo evitarlo: Change money only at banks, official exchange houses or use bank ATMs.
Fake tour agents and Inca Trail permits
Dónde: Cusco (Procuradores and Plateros streets), Lima airport and bus terminals
Cómo funciona: Touts sell non-existent tours, fake permits or very low-quality trips.
Cómo evitarlo: 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
Dónde: Cusco Plaza de Armas and around the San Blas area
Cómo funciona: Someone puts an alpaca or child in your photo, then demands US$5-20.
Cómo evitarlo: Agree a price before taking a photo or politely decline; a small tip in soles is the norm.
Counterfeit soles and dollars
Dónde: Taxis, markets, change given anywhere
Cómo funciona: Fake notes are passed as change or a seller swaps your real note and claims it is fake.
Cómo evitarlo: Check notes (watermark, colour-shifting ink), pay with small notes and keep sight of your money.
Bag theft on buses and at terminals
Dónde: Long-distance buses and bus stations
Cómo funciona: Bags under seats or on overhead racks are taken while you sleep or are distracted.
Cómo evitarlo: Keep valuables on your body and use reputable companies that tag checked luggage.
Unsafe ayahuasca retreats
Dónde: Amazon region (Iquitos, Pucallpa) and Cusco area
Cómo funciona: Unregulated 'shamans' sell ceremonies; there have been serious illnesses, deaths and sexual assaults.
Cómo evitarlo: UK advice warns about these ceremonies; they are unregulated and often far from medical help.
Seguridad
- 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.
Nivel de inglés
Good in tourist hotels, agencies and guided tours in Cusco and Lima (Miraflores, Barranco); limited elsewhere. Basic Spanish is very useful.
Fuentes
- 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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