Travel Essentials › Peru
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types A and C, 220 V. Emergency: One number for everything 911, Police 105, Ambulance 106, Fire 116. Tipping: About 10% in restaurants if service is not included; small tips for guides, porters and drivers. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.
Types A and C, 220 V
| One number for everything | 911 |
| Police | 105 |
| Ambulance | 106 |
| Fire | 116 |
About 10% in restaurants if service is not included; small tips for guides, porters and drivers.
Greetings. A handshake is standard; women often greet with a single cheek kiss, including on first meeting in social settings.
Coca leaves and altitude. Chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea (mate de coca) is a common, legal way locals and visitors manage altitude sickness in Cusco and the Andes.
Respect for indigenous culture. Ask before photographing people in traditional dress, especially in the Sacred Valley; a small tip is customary if they pose for you.
Peru is generally safe for tourists who stick to well-traveled areas; most crime against visitors is opportunistic theft rather than violent, though protests and strikes can disrupt travel with little warning.
Fake or unofficial taxis. Unmarked cabs can overcharge or worse; use a ride-hailing app (Yango, Cabify) or a hotel-booked taxi instead of hailing one on the street, especially at night.
Distraction and phone-snatching. Someone bumps into you or creates a scene while an accomplice grabs a phone or bag; keep valuables zipped away in crowded markets and bus terminals.
Drink spiking in nightlife areas. Reported in Cusco's bar district; never leave a drink unattended or accept one from a stranger.
Women travelers. Catcalling and unsolicited comments are frequent but rarely escalate; avoid unmarked taxis at night and watch drinks in bars, especially in Cusco's tourist nightlife strip.
Legal · Mostly Safe
Same-sex relations have been legal since 1924 and discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity has been banned since 2017, but there is no marriage equality, and recent 2025 legislation has rolled back some gender-identity protections; public affection is best kept discreet outside Lima's LGBTQ+-friendly areas.
| Coffee (café) | S/ 8 | $2.10 |
| Local bus or metro ride | S/ 2 | $0.55 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | S/ 40 | $11 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | S/ 40 | $11 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | S/ 300 | $80 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | S/ 190 | $50 |
2026-09
May to October is the dry season across the Andes and best for Machu Picchu and trekking; May, September and October balance good weather with smaller crowds.
Basic Spanish phrases · Basic Quechua phrases · Basic Aymara phrases