On-site Expenses

The average Peruvian salary, according to the World Bank, is 490 USD per month, so much lower than in the United States, but still much higher than most African and many Asian countries. The cost of everyday life is therefore cheaper than in the US, but you still can’t expect Vietnamese prices. The differences in wealth within the Peruvian society are higher than in Northern countries. Travelers can therefore find some incredible bargains, as well as some things at international prices.

Our tours usually include transport, accommodation, visits and excursions. Your local expenses should therefore only be meals (apart from some tours where these are included), and souvenirs.

Eating in Peru is relatively cheap. Informal restaurants offer meals for a few dollars. In a good, more upscale restaurant, a meal will cost closer to 10-15 dollars.

When it comes to buying souvenirs, artisan crafts are very varied and colorful in Peru. Whilst there are of course some regional products, for the most part you will find more or less the same products everywhere in the country. We therefore recommend you do all your shopping at the end of your stay, (particularly if your trip ends in Cusco). Prices can often vary from one place to the next, but usually remain very affordale. On the markets, the custom is to haggle the prices. Travelers can easily ask for at least a 20% discount (if not more) on the requested price.

In terms of local transport, it is very common and easy in Peru to travel by taxi. These work without a meter, one must ask the driver for the price of the journey before getting in (and once again, one can easily haggle the price). Fierce competition means prices always remain very low, costing maybe a few dollars per journey. Taxis cost more in Lima, where life in general is more expensive and the distances are longer. A transfer from Lima airport to Miraflores should cost between 15 and 20 dollars.

To tip, or not to tip?

« Should we tip the drivers, guides and restaurant servers and if so, how much? » is a very frequently asked and tricky question. Whilst tipping is very common in the USA, in Peru it isn’t as much. Our opinion is that tipping should never be an obligation. All servers, guides, and drivers receive a salary for their work, so you will have already paid for their services. We also require of our guides and drivers that they not broach this subject, which must always be completely voluntary and of your own free will.

Unlike some countries where tipping is a very common practice (for example, in the USA or Canada), this is not the case in Peru. We cannot therefore recommend any specific percentage or amount. Please feel free to tip or not, depending on how much you enjoyed the service, and with no pressure or obligation.