Costs of Travel in Peru
Peru isn’t an expensive destination, with lots of great value shopping and eating opportunities even in touristy areas. Prices remain comparable to other destinations in Latin America.
One of the great benefits of travelling on our Peru tours is you don’t have to worry about paying for accommodation, transport and important sites - that’s all pre-booked and budgeted for. All you need is spending money, on average S150/day (approx USD $50) to cover expenses such as:
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Food & Drink
See our Food and Drink in Peru page for some restaurants for different budgets! -
Admission Fees
E.g. World Heritage Sites and optional excursions you choose in your free time. -
Private City Sightseeing Tour
On average S200 per person. -
Taxi/Three-wheeler Fares
Taxi/three-wheeler fares for getting around cities and towns - as these are mainly unmetered, you need to negotiate a price for every ride before you set off. If you think the fare is too high, get out and try a new one - it’ll be easier than arguing about it on arrival.
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Any other tips and government taxes
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Donations at sacred sites, churches etc
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Souvenirs
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Duty free
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Incidental items such as SIM cards, medicine.. etc
Tipping etiquette and costs
Tips should be considered purely discretionary - they’re generally not expected in Peru. Locals don’t usually tip in restaurants or bars, though gratuities are appreciated, particularly in mid- to high-level restaurants. If you’d like to tip bar staff, there’s no need to tip per drink or round, one tip at the end will suffice. You don’t need to tip for taxi or mototaxi rides, though you can always offer a tip if a driver handles large heavy bags, or round up the fare if you like.
Suggested tipping amounts for other services (none of which are obligatory):
- 5 to 10 soles for a museum guide for a couple of hours (depending on level of service)
- US$10 to $20 per day tip for a multi-day excursion tour guide (See Inca Trail Trek guide for specific tipping advice)
- 1 to 2 soles tip for hotel bag porters (per large bag)
- 1 to 2 soles tip per day for hotel room attendants
- US$10 tip for a full day driver/tour guide - but this can vary greatly and different amounts may be expected. It may be better to agree to an amount before you depart.
- Up to 10% of the bill at mid- to upscale restaurants, unless a service charge is on the bill
- A 1 or 5 soles tip may be requested for a photo of a local person in traditional dress posing for photos in a tourist location e.g. Cusco, Lima - so check before you take a picture
- If a local offers you directions, then suggests walking you to the destination, you may be asked for a propina (tip) on arrival.
- No tips are needed for public transport
Bargaining Etiquette & Discounts
It’s not unheard of for prices offered to tourists to be inflated compared to prices offered to locals. Bargaining is a way of life in Peru and haggling at markets is therefore expected.
Be sure to shop around various shops and stalls, and compare the materials and quality of the goods before you start to negotiate prices with a seller. There’ll be lots of beautifully hand embroidered clothing, spices, art, fruit, spices, jewellery and gems on offer in most of the markets. It’s particularly important to know the market value of your item before you agree a price - this can vary widely according to quality and materials. Wool is a particularly tricky one to judge - everywhere you go you’ll find ‘baby alpaca’, but perhaps it’s only maybe alpaca (there are plenty of sheep in Peru too!).
Fair trade involves a bit of give and take, so it’s important to respect the effort, detail and skill that’s gone into making the product you’re buying. When haggling in Peru, you can generally achieve a mutually-acceptable discount of around 10 to 20% depending on the item concerned. If the price seems unreasonably high, you can always start at 50% off, but if there’s a long pause, complete indifference or even a hard ‘no’, don’t be too surprised! It’ll be easier to achieve bigger discounts if you buy more items off the same seller.
If you come across a direct seller outside of a market environment, you can expect lower prices (assuming you’re not in a central tourist area). Bear in mind it’s possible they or their family actually made the product, so ask them a few questions to tease out their stories when negotiating your price - and make sure it’s fair to both parties.
It’s best to start with an open mind and friendly attitude, because it’s no fun bartering when things get heated or unfriendly. If at any stage you feel a negotiation has turned sour, it’s OK to walk away. You’re not obliged to pay a price you feel is unfair or unwarranted.
Duty Free Allowance
Peru allows visitors over 18 years old to bring in duty free 3 litres of spirits, 20 packs of cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco and gifts or new articles for personal use up to a value of US$500. But don’t try and bring non-Peruvian pisco across the border, it’ll be confiscated on the spot.
You may bring a reasonable number of personal equipment such as cameras, phones and laptops into Peru, but they have to be declared on arrival, and taken out of the country with you when you leave. Importing non-prescription drugs or unlicensed firearms of any form is an offence.
Don’t be tempted to buy anything made of any protected animal or plant species in Peru as export is strictly prohibited. The export of artistic and cultural articles is likewise not allowed.
See customs.uk for further information.
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