Tipping in Peru: All You Need to Know

Should you tip in Peru? I’m Peruvian, and over years I have had countless foreign expat friends and rommates. When it comes to tipping in a restaurant in Peru, there have been many times when I have been surprised to hear that they don’t leave a tip.

Something I usually hear is that they have been told or they have read that “you don’t tip in Peru”. This is not true! If you are traveling in Peru and receive a good service, tipping is strongly encouraged.

As a Peruvian, tipping at a restaurant or cafe is very normal for me. And basically every Peruvian friend that I have is used to tipping as well. It is true though that there are many Peruvians who don’t, but that will also depend on the income level of people.

But unless you are only eating out at very cheap restaurants in cheap neighborhoods, tipping is expected at an average restaurant.

Who Should You Tip in Peru?

Tipping in Peru: Tipping the porters if you do a trek is part of a good tipping etiquette

You should tip in bars, restaurants and cafes.
If you go for a massage, a tip is also appreciated.
Tipping your travel guide and tour driver will also be good tipping etiquette, especially if you take a private tour.
If you go on a trek with a tour company, consider tipping your porters and cooks as well.
If you are in Cusco and take a picture with women dressed in traditional clothing with a more or less dressed up llama, then you have to tip them. They are not just hanging out in the street with their baby llamas. They are expecting to get tipped in exchange for a photo.
Tipping the taxi drivers is not something that forms part of the tipping culture in Peru. But of course it’s up to you if you want to show your appreciation to the driver if he has been extra helpful.
Tipping at gas stations is not part of the Peruvian tipping culture either.

How Much Do You Tip in Peru?

Tipping in Peru: Make sure to leave a tip to the women that are dressed in their traditional clothing with their llamas.

Tipping at restaurants

A normal tipping percentage in Peru will be 8-10% at a restaurant or cafe.

Sometimes, though, if the bill is high, people may leave less than 10%. For example, if your bill at a restaurant is 100 soles, you can leave 8 or 10 soles. If it’s 200 soles, anything between 10 and 20 soles will be good as a tip.

If you pay by credit card and leave your tip by credit card as well. Usually that tip will be equally divided among all the waiters and shared with the kitchen staff as well.

On the other hand, if you think that you did not receive a good service, then don’t feel obliged to leave a tip.

Tipping your massage therapist

If you go for a massage, 8-10% is also a good tipping percentage.

Tipping your tour guide

Usually, travelers leave around a 20-25% tip for a private tour guide. And maybe around USD 10 for the tour driver.

If you go on a group tour, a USD$5 to $8 tip is good.

Tipping your porters and other trekking staff

The amount you can tip depends on how many days your trek takes, An estimate of USD$ 10 per day will be appreciated.

Tipping people that you take pictures with

If you take a picture with the women dressed up in traditional clothing with their llamas or baby llamas, you could tip them between 3 and 5 soles.

Why Should You Tip in Peru?

Something important to realize is that peple that work in the services industry, like waiters, don’t get well paid in Peru. They are usually payed the minimum wage or less, even at the good restaurants. This is because employers tell them they will make most of their income in tips.

Let me share my own personal experience. When I was in university I worked as a waitress for a couple of months at an international restaurant chain (TGI Friday’s). We got paid the absolute minimum, which was next to nothing (around USD $0.60 an hour!).

If you see how much things cost in Lima (where I’m from and where I worked), you will realize that’s almost nothing. But that’s because waiters are told that they will earn a lot in tips. So yes, a tip is appreciated and expected. But of course the service should be good. Otherwise there’s no obligation to do so!