Guide to Tipping in Peru and the Inca Trail

Tipping in Peru and the Inca Trail

Tipping in Peru and the Inca Trail—here’s our guide.

Want to know how much to tip in Peru, the Inca Trail, Amazon, and more? This guide helps you understand why people tip when visiting and how much to leave.

Do I Need to Tip in Peru and on the Inca Trail?

Peru’s culture around tipping may differ significantly from that of your home country. But tips, or propinas in Spanish, are very much part of Peru’s service and tourism culture.

Travellers to Peru will encounter a wide range of people during their trip, many of whom will contribute to the holiday’s enjoyment and smooth running. Leaving a tip rewards and acknowledges great service, and it’s always appreciated.

Small tips make a big difference to some people, many of whom work in the informal economy. Peru’s average monthly wage is around $550, while the minimum monthly wage is $300.

Once you’ve read this Peru tipping guide, knowing what to tip the people you’ll meet, from better-paid guides to cleaners, hotel staff, and waiters on lower wages, will be easy.

Remember: tipping is not obligatory in Peru. It is a reward for good service. Never feel pressured into giving a tip, and only tip what you feel comfortable with.

Should I Tip in USD or Soles?

Peru uses the Sol as its currency, the best tipping currency in the country.

It’s common to see USDs, and they are widely used, but most people use the Sol every day. Small tips left in Soles don’t require the beneficiary to exchange them.

Keep and carry small Soles notes in good condition so you’re not left short if you want to tip a porter or driver. You can use USD in emergencies. If you’re caught short, it’s better to leave a USD tip than none at all.

Are Tips Included in Restaurant and Bar Bills in Peru?

Some restaurants and hotels include a voluntary 10-15% service tip within the bill. You can remove this or pay it, but check before paying. Be careful not to confuse an included tip with the 18% sales tax (called IGV) on bills.

Add 10% to our bill as a tip if you’re happy with the service, or more if you are delighted. Cash tips are preferred, given straight to your server. Tips paid by card may be divided between all staff. If you’re unsure, ask the establishment to remove the added 10% service tip, then leave a cash tip that’s 10% of your total bill.

Although you may see tip jars, bar and café workers don’t expect tips. Therefore, consider giving a Sol or two for every drink you have as a way of saying thanks to a friendly worker.

Should I Tip a Taxi Driver in Peru?

Most taxi drivers in large Peruvian cities use a fixed meter to calculate fares. Usually, locals don’t tip taxi drivers. However, if your driver has been kind and helpful, round the fare up a few soles.

Your Peru tour may include a driver for several days. If the driver drives well and safely, is friendly, etc., then a pooled (not per person) tip of Soles 20-35 ($5-10 per day) would be very welcome.

Additionally, porters at long-distance bus stations sometimes grab bags and demand a tip for their work. This is customary–watch what others pay and hand over something similar, usually around 2-3 soles per bag.

Do I Tip Hotel Staff in Peru?

A friendly and helpful porter who carries your bag to your room is typically given $1-2 per bag.

Similarly, for breakfast waiting staff, leave Soles 4-10 ($1 to 2.5) on the table per person per breakfast. Leave the same amount for cleaning staff on your bedside table – this is not expected in many hotels, but the staff will be grateful.

Tipping in Peru: How Much to Tip?

Here are some guideline tipping amounts for the various service providers you may meet during a Peru tour:

• Restaurants                            10-15% for good service.
• Bartenders                              A few Soles (or 1-2 soles per drink).
• Taxi-hailing doormen            1-2 Soles.
• Housekeeping                         5-7 Soles a day. Leave this daily on the bed or table since different members might attend throughout the stay.
• Airport porters                       Soles 5 per bag ($1.5 per bag). Porters receive no wage: your tip is their wage.
• Hotel/lodge cleaners              Not expected, but Soles 5-10 per night ($2-3 per night) is always appreciated.
• Taxis                                        Tip not expected, but can round up the fare.
• Transfer driver                       Soles 10-20 ($3-5), depending on the journey length.
• Group tour drivers                 Soles 20-40 ($5-10) per day total from the group (not per person).
• Specialist guides                      Soles 75-255 ($20-60) per day total from the group (not per person).
• Trekking support teams:         Soles 30-50 ($7-12) per day total from the group (not per person).
• Amazon Lodge guide:           Soles 35-50 ($10-12) per person per day.
• Amazon Lodge staff:             Soles 20 ($5) per person per day.

How Much Should I Tip on the Inca Trail?

Many people hike the world-famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu as part of their Peru holiday.

Fortunately, the fair treatment of Inca Trail porters is a live subject and one we take seriously. Read about our welfare programme.

There are three potential tips to leave on the Inca Trail:

• An individual or pooled tip to the guide
• A pooled tip to the support team of the cook, assistants, and porters
• A direct tip to your personal porter who has carried your kit

That said, these are recommended total tipping guidelines for a 4-day trek. Overall, these amounts to around $45-50 per person in total to divide among the team.

• Guide: $20-30 per day, $80-120 group total (240-480 Soles), around $5 per person, per day.
• Cook: $10-12 per day, $40-50 group total (160-200 Soles), around $3 per person, per day.
• Porters: Everyone gives $5-7 per day, $20-28 in total (80-110 Soles) to be divided between the porters.
• Personal porter: Consider $5 per day, $20 in total (80 soles).

Remember: Large individual tips may cause issues within teams. Also, tipping is voluntary on the Inca Trail. Some people may ask for more—do not feel pressured into giving extra amounts.

How Much Should I Tip at an Amazon Lodge?

Many Amazon lodges assign a guide to each group to lead them throughout their visit. Therefore, tip a good guide between Soles 35-50 ($10-12) per person per day.

Similarly, lots of people work behind the scenes to keep the lodge running during your stay. Leave Soles 20 ($5) per person per day to reward good service, which the workers later divide between themselves.

Why Do Guides Get the Largest Tips?

On many Peru trips, you encounter a number of specialist guides, such as trekking, mountaineering, biking, or Amazon and cloud forest lodge guides.

In most instances, these guides have spent several years studying at Colleges or Universities to qualify as guides. Generally, these guides will be with you for a few days, but sometimes just for a day trip. As a general guideline it would be expected to tip each specialist guide USD 20-60 a day in total from the group (this also depends on group size).

Again, the depth of knowledge of their area or specialist skill, command of English, and friendliness should help determine the tip.  

Similarly, guides on ‘free’ trips depend on tips for an income and should always be tipped around USD 5-7 per person (20-35 Soles).

Should I Tip Street Performers in Peru?

Thanks to Peru’s vibrant street performance culture, buses, subways, and even traffic lights are often colourful and musical experiences. You might get serenaded in a restaurant, café, or terrace with El Condor Paso, a favourite performance across the land.

The age-old courtesy of a passed hat at the show’s finale is your chance to reward the spectacle you enjoyed. A few Soles will be fine; do contribute if you have stopped and watched the performance.

People might leave trinkets to buy on buses, from tissues to pens. Pay for it if you wish to buy it, or say no gracias, and the vendor will take it back. If they haven’t returned and your stop nears, leave the item on your seat.

Tipping in Peru: Best Advice

It’s crucial to remember that tipping in Peru is entirely voluntary. Indeed, while anyone travelling to this wonderful country will encounter the tipping culture, it shouldn’t be a source of worry, stress, or confusion while away.

Also, the above tipping guidelines for Peru are just that. However, only give what you think is fair. Many people working in Peru’s tourism industry provide wonderful service. Remember, tipping recognises their work and your appreciation for those who help create an unforgettable holiday.

Contact us about your dream Peru holiday.