Tip Calculator — Peru (PEN S/)
Tipping 10% at restaurants is appreciated in Peru if a service charge is not included. Tour guides and drivers should receive 10–15 soles per person per day. Porters on the Inca Trail should receive 10–15 soles per porter per day.
Do You Tip in Peru?
Tipping is appreciated and increasingly expected in Peru, particularly at tourist-oriented restaurants, with tour guides and on the Inca Trail. Peru's tourism industry is central to the economy and hospitality workers earn wages that make tips a meaningful supplement. Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Machu Picchu all have well-established tipping cultures for international visitors.
The most important tipping situation in Peru — and one where generosity genuinely matters — is the Inca Trail. Porters carry extraordinarily heavy loads (25–30kg) at high altitude over four days to make your trek comfortable. They earn modest wages and rely on tips. The Inca Trail Porters' Association provides recommended tipping guidelines that all trekkers should follow.
Lima's restaurant scene has become one of the world's most celebrated (multiple global top 10 rankings), and at these world-class establishments, tipping is standard. Many Lima restaurants add a 10% service charge — always check before adding more. At local Lima cevicherias and huariques (neighbourhood restaurants), 10% for good service is appreciated.
How Much to Tip in Peru — By Service Type
| Service Type | Tip Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Lima/Cusco) | 10% | Check for service charge first. 10% if not included. |
| Local restaurant | 5–10% | Appreciated at local Peruvian eateries. |
| Hotel porter | S/5–10 per bag | When bags are carried to your room. |
| Hotel housekeeping | S/10–20 per night | Leave daily. Appreciated especially at lodges. |
| Tour guide (Lima/Cusco) | S/20–50 per person | For city tours and half-day experiences. |
| Inca Trail guide | S/30–50/pp/day | Per person per trekking day. |
| Inca Trail porter | S/15–25/pp/day | Per porter per trekking day. Critical income. |
| Inca Trail cook | S/25–35/pp/day | For the camp cook. |
| Private driver | S/20–50 per day | For private transfers and day trips. |
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Compare Plans →Frequently Asked Questions — Tipping in Peru
The Inca Trail Porters' Association recommends S/15–25 per person per trekking day for porters, S/25–35 per person per day for the cook, and S/30–50 per person per day for the head guide. On a classic 4-day Inca Trail with 2 trekkers, budget approximately S/800–1,200 total for the entire team. Tips are given at a final ceremony at the end of the trail — bring cash in soles specifically for this purpose.
At Lima's celebrated restaurants — Central, Maido, Astrid y Gastón — 10% is standard and appropriate. These world-class establishments often add a 10% service charge automatically — check your bill. At local cevicherias and neighbourhood restaurants, 10% for good service is appreciated. Lima's taxi drivers are not tipped — negotiate the fare before getting in and pay exactly that amount.
Both Lima and Cusco have well-established tipping cultures for tourists. Cusco, as the gateway to Machu Picchu, has particularly strong tipping norms due to the volume of international visitors and the poverty context of the Andean region. In Lima's wealthier neighbourhoods like Miraflores and Barranco, 10% tips are standard at upscale restaurants. At local Limeño restaurants, tipping is slightly less expected but appreciated.
At Machu Picchu itself (the archaeological site), tipping is not applicable — you pay the entrance fee and explore the site. For your guide at Machu Picchu, S/30–50 per person for a half-day guided tour is appropriate. For the train journey (Vistadome or Hiram Bingham), restaurant service staff on the train deserve a small tip of S/10–20 per person.
Tipping in Peruvian soles (PEN) is preferred for most situations. USD is accepted at some tourist lodges and hotels in Cusco, but soles are always more useful to local Peruvian workers. Withdraw soles from ATMs in Lima, Cusco and Arequipa — exchange rates at ATMs are better than at exchange bureaus. For Inca Trail tips specifically, bring soles prepared in envelopes for each team member.
For Lake Titicaca tours from Puno — visiting the Uros floating islands and Taquile or Amantani islands — tipping your guide S/20–30 per person for a full-day tour is appropriate. If you stay overnight with a local family on Amantani island, leaving S/30–50 per person for your host family is a meaningful gesture that supports this unique community tourism experience directly.
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