Our top tips for tipping in Peru are here. Did you know that tipping culture is different around the world? In Peru, tipping culture is very different from how it is in the United States. This is why it’s important to do a little research on how tipping works in your destination so that you know what’s expected by the people that you’re going to interact with and don’t have any unnecessary awkward moments.

Luckily for you, we have a lot of experience traveling to and living in Peru and are sharing our recommendations for tipping your guides, drivers, porters and airport baggage carriers, and restaurant staff while you’re in Peru.

It’s important to note that there's not a big tipping culture in Peru among locals, but it has come to be expected and appreciated in the tourism industry.

Here are some rough guidelines for tipping while visiting Peru.

How to Tip Porters and Airport Baggage Carriers in Peru

We recommend that you tip 5 soles per bag if you’re helped by a porter at your hotel or by an airport baggage carrier when you’re at the airport.

How to Tip Drivers in Peru

It is not expected for you to leave a tip for shorter, one-way trips. Short trips are often thirty minutes or less. For anything more than that, we recommend you tip 10%. If you’ve hired a driver for a half-day or full-day then we recommend a 10% tip at the end of the drive. One other instance where you’d want to tip regardless of the length of the drive, is if you’re in Lima and the traffic is extra terrible.

How to Tip at a Restaurant in Peru

If you’re dining at a small, local place, it’s not expected for you to leave a tip. If you’re dining at a tourist restaurant or fine dining like Maido or Astrid & Gaston, we recommend you tip 10% - 15% after your meal.

How to Tip Guides in Peru

This one depends on the length of the tour. If your guide is leading a half-day tour and activities, then we recommend a tip of 25 soles. If your guide is leading a full-day tour and activities, 50 soles is a good amount.

Servicio or Propina

Some restaurants already add a 10% tip to your bill. They should make a note of this on the receipt after your meal. If this is the case, you don’t need to tip on top of this charge.

Bonus! Is there a sales tax in Peru?

The sales tax in Peru, called IGV, is an 18% sales tax. This is charged to everyone, regardless of whether they’re a local or a foreigner. Many establishments build the 18% tax into the cost you see on a menu or sales tag, but sometimes they don’t. So if see this on your receipt, don’t be alarmed!

The second biggest mistake you can make when tipping in Peru is to not budget for tipping when you’re planning your trip. We make sure to share this with travelers who use our Travel Consulting Services as they plan out their budgets for their trips because this is a commonly overlooked expense. All of those little expenses can really add up and take a toll on your budget, so it’s important to plan for tipping.

Tipping also influences how much cash you need to have on hand and knowing where to locate an ATM so that you can get more cash throughout your trip if you need it. We recommend you ask your guide or the concierge at your hotel where to find a safe ATM.

Something that we’ve heard from our Taste of Peru travelers, is that they love that all the tips for guides, restaurants, and porters in the trip are an inclusion with the trip. That’s right - we eliminate the hassle completely! While you’re on the trip you never have to worry about needing to have cash on hand for tips or pulling out your wallet after dinners or tours. This means the only time you need to pull out your wallet is when you’re souvenir shopping with the local weavers or at stalls at Urubamba Market. We take care of it all so you can sit back, enjoy, and be present on your dream trip to Peru.

Written by Christiana Jones, Administrative Assistant and Taste of Peru Tour Host

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