Peru Facts and Advice

Find all the basic and key information regarding Peru and its destinations to get ready and make your adventure trip to the next level, if come up with any further doubts, contact your tailor-made trips specialist of Peru Summit Adventures.

Money Exchange

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available, there are no guarantees that your credit cards or debit cards will actually work in Peru. Check with your bank. You should be aware that way to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5% – 10% usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US$ dollar cash, travellers cheques and cards is best, although you will usually be charged a commission or given a less-favourable exchange rate for travellers cheques. Always take more rather than less. We do not recommend bringing travellers cheques as they are very difficult to change in country.

In Cusco, there are 2 banks where you can withdraw cash until USD 3000.00 or even more just having your passport and Visa credit card (credit card should be in Visa) covering a commission of 3 to 6% and you need let your bank know that you will withdraw cash abroad. At regular ATMs, you can withdraw up to USD 200 a day with a credit card.

Coca Leaves

Either chewed or brewed for tea, are not illegal in Peru, where they’re not considered a narcotic. The use of coca leaves is an ancient tradition dating back to pre-Columbian civilizations in Peru. You might very well find that mate de coca (coca-leaf tea) is very helpful in battling altitude sickness. However, if you attempt to take coca leaves back to your home country from Peru, you should expect them to be confiscated, and you could even find yourself prosecuted.

The hallucinogenic plants consumed in ayahuasca ceremonies are legal in Peru.

PERU’S NATIONAL DISH

There is no doubt “Ceviche” is Peruvian cuisine’s most representative dish around the world, which explains why TasteAtlas has ranked it 17th among the top 100 most popular dishes worldwide.

Ceviche is the Peru’s flagship dish, so it’s a must-try dish. This popular seafood dish claims its origins in Lima, Peru but is found in many coastal areas throughout Latin America such as Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia. Ceviche is also known as cebiche and sometimes spelled seviche. In its simplest form Ceviche consists of raw fish and fresh lime juice with some chilli, or hot peppers. We’re talking about classic Peruvian Ceviche (Peru’s national dish) or Ceviche Peruano in particular, but the overall cooking methods, preparation, and ingredients are similar to other forms of this dish such as Mexican ceviche or shrimp ceviche, but there is only one winner that’s Peruvian Ceviche.

PERU’S NATIONAL DRINK

Peru’s flagship cocktail is Pisco Sour, a wonder for the palate and the mood. Ask any Peruvian what’s his or her favorite drink. Now, ask the same question to a tourist visiting our city. There is no doubt the answer would be the same: Pisco Sour.

The most famous cocktail of Peru’s cuisine is, without a doubt, the Pisco Sour. This delicious drink is created through a deft combination of pisco, lemon juice, egg whites, gum syrup, and Angostura bitters. Its consumption is extensive throughout all of Peru and it is a must at all celebrations, meetings, and all types of gastronomic events where the cultural identity of the country is exalted.

Pisco is an alcoholic beverage from the grape that exists in four varieties (Mosto Verde, Puro, Aromático, and Acholado) originating on the coast of Peru. This liquor is the base for the creation of the cocktail.

DRINKING AGE

The legal drinking age is not strictly enforced in Peru. Anyone over the age of 18 is unlikely to have any problems ordering liquor in any bar or other establishment. Wine, beer, and alcohol are widely available – sold daily at grocery stores, liquor stores, and in all cafes, bars, and restaurants – and consumed widely, especially in public during festivals. There appears to be very little taboo associated with public inebriation at festivals.

ELECTRICITY

All outlets are 220 volts, 60 cycles AC (except in Arequipa, which operates on 50 cycles), with two-prong outlets that accept both flat and round prongs. Some large hotels also have 110-volt outlets.

SMOKING

Smoking is common in Peru, and it is rare to find a hotel, restaurant, or bar with nonsmoking rooms. However, there are now a few hotels (usually high-end) and restaurants with designated nonsmoking rooms, and the trend is growing, albeit slowly. There are nonsmoking cars on trains, and most long-distance buses are also nonsmoking.

TIME

Peru is 5 hours behind GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Peru does not observe daylight saving time.

TIPPING

Most people leave about a 10% tip for the waitstaff in restaurants. In nicer restaurants that add a 10% service charge, many patrons tip an additional 5% or 10% (because little, if any, of that service charge will ever make it to the waiter’s pocket). Taxi drivers are not usually tipped unless they provide additional service. Tour guides on group tours should be tipped ($3-$5, per person for a short visit, and $15 or more per person for a full day). On the treks with our private guide, tip about $ 50 or more per person for the whole trek. And on the treks, the muleteers, cook, assistant cook, and the other personal staff are tipped $ 60 or more.

LANGUAGE

Spanish is the official language of Peru, some villages in the Sierra (highlands) of Peru have as their main language the Quechua and Spanish comes as a second language. Aymara is another language that is mostly limited to the area around Lake Titicaca. English is not widely spoken but is understood by those affiliated with the tourist industry in major cities and tourist destinations. Most people you meet on the street will have only a very rudimentary understanding of English, if that. Learning a few key phrases of Spanish will help immensely to ease your travel across the country.

WATER

Visitors should drink only bottled water, which is widely available. Do not drink tap water, even in major hotels. Try to avoid drinks with ice. Agua con gas is carbonated; agua sin gas is still water.

PERU’S NATIONAL ANTHEM – Himno Nacional del Perú

Peru’s national anthem was composed by José Bernardo Alcedo shortly after the Peruvian independence. While since then the lyrics of the “Marcha Nacional” (the National March) were rewritten several times, they tell the story of a proud and free nation.

PERU’S “UNOFFICIAL” NATIONAL SYMBOLS

National colors: red and white

National animal: Vicuña

National bird: Andean Cock-of-the-rock

National flower: Kantu, also known as Flor de Inca (flower of the Inca)

National instrument: Cajón

National drinks: Pisco Sour and Inka Cola

National dish: Ceviche

POPULATION IN PERU (INEI 2018 – data from census 2017)

Population: 31,237,385

49.2% men; 50.8% women

Population density: 25 persons per km² (64 persons per square mile)