Tipping in Peru
Tipping expectedService Breakdown
Notes by Service
10% is standard; may be included as "propina" in tourist areas.
S/.5–10 per night for housekeeping; S/.5 per bag.
Round up or add 10%.
10–15% is appreciated.
10% of tab.
10% is polite.
$5–10 USD per person for Machu Picchu and other tours.
S/.2–5 is appreciated.
About Tipping in Peru
Overview
Tipping is standard in Peru and particularly important in the tourism sector, where guides, porters, and hospitality workers on Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca routes depend on gratuities as a meaningful portion of their income. Ten percent at restaurants is the baseline in Cusco, Lima, and Arequipa.
When to Tip
Tip at sit-down restaurants, with taxi drivers (rounding up), hotel porters and housekeeping, and especially with guides and porters on multi-day treks. For Inca Trail porters specifically, ask your tour operator for the going collective tip rate before the trek begins — it's standard practice to pool and distribute it together.
How to Tip
USD is widely accepted alongside soles in tourist areas and is often preferred by guides who value currency stability. For restaurants, check the bill for a pre-added propina; if absent, 10% in cash is appropriate. For trekking and tour guides, hand the tip directly and personally at the end of the experience.
Cultural Context
The Inca Trail porter culture is one of the most ethically significant tipping contexts in South America. Porters carry heavy loads at altitude in physical conditions most visitors wouldn't attempt, and the recommended tip — typically $15–25 USD per porter for a four-day trek — is not just customary but widely considered an ethical baseline. Reputable operators make the expectation explicit in pre-departure briefings.