Tipping comes with traveling and tourism. It is a way to manifest gratitude and approval to people who have done a good work for us and also a way we can help those ones with mainly lower wages to earn some more. Read next about tipping in Peru.
Restaurants
Here the tipping is entirely voluntary. We can say though that in fine, gourmet restaurants not giving one is seen as not polite. In most family or small restaurants, customers usually do not tip. As to the amount, it is also up to the client. A tip ranging from 5 to 10 soles (around 1.50 to 3.00 American dollars) will be considered fair. Higher than this, will be considered generous.
Museum guides
It depends. In most cases, they do not require to be tipped. If you think there are reasons to do it, in Peru a tip of 10 soles and higher will be just fine. In other cases, you may be told to give your money as a donation to the museum instead. We recommend you ask the travel agency or the tour guide himself.
On the Inca Trails
Although tipping is not obligatory in any way, it has become a tradition for Inca Trail hikers. This is usually done on the last day of the Inca Trail. They aren’t included in the package price. When it comes to guides and porters, a good first step would be to ask the travel operator about how much would be a proper tip for them, about a proper range, because it varies. Small groups tip higher than large ones (from 6 to 16 hikers).
If we can give some reference amounts, based on the current market, the main guide usually receives from 100 to 200 soles (30 to 65 American dollars) from the whole group. If there is an assistant guide, something between 80 to 120 soles (25 to almost 40 US dollars) from the group. When it comes to porters, the range goes from 50 to 80 soles (around 17 to 25 American currency) each, also from the group. Another use is making a pot of 50 or 60 in Peruvian money (around 17 to 20 US currency) to be shared between guides and porters. Finally, they will surely appreciate a tipping beyond standard, which will entirely depend on your own judgement about them. Porters also very much appreciate donations for their children like garments, school items and similars.
Classic Machu Picchu tour guides
Here of course we’re not talking about any Inca Trail adventure options, but of regular tours instead. There is an estimated average for this situation which ranges from 30 to 50 soles per person of the group (between 10 and 17 American dollars). That will be considered fair. Over-tipping and going beyond standard is entirely up to the travelers.
United States dollars are good currency
Anywhere in Peru there will not be any problem in tipping with American dollars, because we have many money exchange places. Canadian, Great Britain pounds and Euros are way less usual, we recommend having dollars from the United States, which can be easily bought in our country.
As a final guideline, taxi drivers do not expect tips. Hotel porters do expect some, which can vary from 2 to 5 soles per bag (60 cents to 1.5 American currency). Peru has 1, 2 and 5 currency coins. The lowest bill is 10 soles, followed by 20, 50, 100 and 200. Naturally, it is always recommended to be familiar and fluent with the exchange rate. You can also talk to TOUR IN PERU of course in case of any further inquiry.
