Cash or card: you'll want both
Peru's official currency is the sol (PEN). Cards are widely accepted in Cusco's hotels, larger restaurants and tour operators, but smaller restaurants, local markets, taxis, tips and rural stops on day trips often work in cash only. Carry a mix: enough soles for daily small purchases and tips, and a card for hotels and bigger bookings. [CONFIRMAR: current card acceptance and any surcharge policies at partner hotels/restaurants, since this varies by business].
Getting soles: ATMs beat currency exchange counters
ATMs (cajeros) in Cusco are generally the most reliable way to get soles at a fair exchange rate, better than airport currency exchange counters in most cases. Look for ATMs attached to major Peruvian banks rather than standalone kiosks, and withdraw in soles, not US dollars, when the machine gives you the option — the conversion Peru offers at the ATM is usually worse than what your home bank applies. [CONFIRMAR: specific bank recommendations and current typical ATM withdrawal fees, as these change and vary by your home bank too]. Let your bank know you're traveling to Peru before you go, so a foreign withdrawal doesn't get flagged and blocked.
US dollars: useful, but not universal
Some tour operators, hotels and higher-end shops accept US dollars, but bills need to be in good condition — torn, heavily worn or marked bills are often refused outright, which surprises a lot of first-time visitors. Don't rely on dollars as your main currency; treat soles as the default and dollars as a backup for larger payments where it's explicitly accepted.
Tipping: not mandatory, but genuinely expected
Tipping isn't built into prices in Peru the way service charges sometimes are elsewhere, and it's not obligatory, but it's a real and appreciated part of how guides, drivers and porters are compensated on tours. As a general guide: restaurant service, if not already included, around 10%; tour guides, a per-day amount reflecting the quality of service and group size; drivers and porters on treks, a smaller per-day amount each. [CONFIRMAR: Tikaymi's own recommended tipping ranges by role and tour type, so travelers get a number specific to our itineraries rather than a generic range]. Bring small soles bills for this — porters and drivers on multi-day treks are rarely able to make change or take cards.
SIM cards and eSIM: get connected without overpaying
You have two practical options for staying connected in Peru: a local physical SIM card or an eSIM you activate before or on arrival. A local SIM (from providers like Claro, Movistar or Entel) is inexpensive and can be bought at the airport or in Cusco, but requires an unlocked phone and, depending on the provider, your passport for registration. An eSIM, bought through an international provider before you fly, skips the physical swap entirely and is often the easier option if your phone supports it — just confirm your model is eSIM-compatible before you leave home. [CONFIRMAR: specific provider recommendation and current data package pricing, as these change frequently].
Wifi: better than you'd expect in the cities, patchier on the trail
Wifi is generally reliable in Cusco hotels, cafes and restaurants, and in the Sacred Valley towns you'll pass through. It gets noticeably weaker or disappears entirely on multi-day treks and in more remote stretches of the Sacred Valley — plan for that rather than being surprised by it, especially if you need to stay reachable for work. Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) has wifi in most hotels and restaurants, but don't count on strong signal at the citadel itself.
A simple pre-trip checklist
- Notify your bank/card issuer of your travel dates and destination - Bring a card with low or no foreign transaction fees, plus a backup card - Carry small soles bills for tips, taxis and markets - Get a local SIM or activate an eSIM before or right on arrival - Keep some US dollars in good condition as backup, not as your main currency - Budget cash specifically for guide, driver and porter tips on tour days
One less thing to plan yourself
None of this needs to be guesswork. When Deicy designs your itinerary, she can tell you what's realistic to pay in cash versus card for your specific route, what tipping looks like for the guides and drivers on your tour, and where connectivity will be strong or thin on your travel days — so you land with a plan, not a spreadsheet of assumptions.
