1.- INTRODUCTION TO TIPPING CULTURE IN PERU
We know that it is very common to have the doubt of Do you tip in Peru? Whether for the good service, conformity or simply tradition, however as in many other countries the culture of giving Tipping in Peru has a great importance in the social and economic aspect at the same time. In fact the single act of Tipping in Peru is something quite common in various services but in particular it is an action that is performed as a satisfaction for an adequate service or product. Tipping in Peru is also seen as an additional compensation and is a reflection of the social interaction with the working relationships that exist between collaborators and clients.
This extensive tradition of Tipping in Peru is directly influenced by the Andean custom and the colonial time itself. During the pre-Columbian times there was no such action of giving a tip as we know it is done today, in fact at that time favors were exchanged as part of gratitude for services rendered and with the arrival of the Spaniards the economy as we know it was established and a practical way to repay the servants or employees for their good deed was through a compensation that was also called alms, this was essentially adopted by the upper social classes and later with the rest of the social classes.
Nowadays it is quite common to be able to give Tipping in Peru as retribution for a well received service essentially in the service sectors such as restaurants, hotels, cabs and of course tourist services in general, of course despite all this there still remains the doubt of Do you tip in Peru? At least with respect to its percentage part, this is clearly a disposition and decision of each person since there is no standardized or regulated percentage as official. Thanks to the growth of tourism and the internationalization of services that can be provided during visits to Peru, the Tipping in Peru obtained a more institutionalized character mainly in gastronomy and hotel sectors, since the 1990 with the freedom of the economy and the emergence of hotel chains as well as international restaurants this practice began to be more recurrent.
2.- Socio-economic importance of tips
Although many people do not know it, Tipping in Peru is a part of the economy of Peru being a very important source of income for many workers in the public and private sectors. In some situations, tips can represent an important aspect within the salary since this is a complement to the remunerations that have low or unstable rates in some cases, something quite common among waiters, tour guides, cab drivers and of course cleaning staff in hotels. Tips in Peru can represent a form of redistribution of wealth that is generated by tourist or commercial visitor services, in addition to all this also serve to provide a strengthening of interpersonal relationships and the perception of quality that a person may have towards another.
Of course, many people also argue the fact that Tipping in Peru can cause a perpetuity within the economic inequality and have a dependence on the generosity of customers in exchange for ensuring a fair wage.
| “To travel is to live.” |
3.- FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF PERUVIAN TIPPING ETIQUETTE
It is common that despite the information you can find on the Internet or that we can provide you within this guide, you still have doubts and ask yourself, Do you tip in Peru? In order to help you answer this question it is important to understand that Tipping in Peru is a vital aspect of the service culture and is connected to social norms that somehow regulate interactions between workers and customers alike. Although of course it is not regulated or written directly in any law for this reason Tipping in Peru is considered a fundamental principle of etiquette, although of course there are some guidelines that you can take into account depending on the place where you are and the social context.
3.1.- Providing and willingness
It is considered as one of the most essential aspects within the culture of Tipping in Peru the fact that it should reflect a direct proportion with the quality that was received within the service. Although it is never an exact amount, it is considered that the Tipping in Peru that a client can leave varies between 5% and 10% of the full value of the bill, this applies essentially in restaurants. Of course this is only an idea since the Tipping in Peru can increase if the service was exceptional or somehow exceeded the expectations that were initially had, but anyway it is important to understand that the Tipping in Peru is voluntary and subject generates is a socially accepted practice.
3.2.- Service Recognition
It is considered as part of the Peruvian etiquette that Tipping in Peru is not only an economic act, in fact it is a recognition of the effort made at the time of providing a service, the human quality that is involved in addition to the professionalism of a person. These details determine the amount of Tipping in Peru in addition to other aspects such as speed, courtesy, attitude and quality of service. Although it is clear that a high amount is not always expected, many of the workers consider that leaving Tipping in Peru is a symbol of respect and courtesy.
3.3.- It does not replace salary
You must consider that Tipping in Peru is an important part of the economic income for many workers who are dedicated exclusively to customer service and this also means that it should not be considered as a replacement for a fair salary, although of course this is not something that everyone shares since many employers designate low monthly salaries and encourage to improve it with tips which somehow increases the monthly income, this should not be an aspect to take into account since the most important thing is balance and equity.
4.- UNWRITTEN RULES ABOUT TIPPING IN PERU
4.1.- Restaurants and Cafes
In big cities like Lima, Arequipa and Cusco it is normal to consider that the Tipping in Peru in restaurants is 10%, although of course it is always important that you keep yourself informed as there are places that mention the tip already included which regularly generates a great confusion among customers so before making a payment it is important that you consult, naturally if the service was adequate you can increase it according to your will.
4.2.- Hotels
Inside the lodging spaces it is considered to offer a tip for the cleaning staff and the bellboys essentially, since regularly these two work spaces are remunerated with a quite low amount for what to offer them a tip represents a great appreciation to their work, usually this can vary between s/5.00 and s/10.00 Peruvian soles per night of stay.
4.3.- Transportation
When considering details such as cabs through an application such as Uber or InDriver, Tips in Peru is not mandatory but is considered as a courtesy depending on whether the service has been good, on the other hand as for tourist transport if it is considered as an act of kindness and appreciation towards the work done by the extensive roads traveled, usually it is considered between $5.00 and $10.00 dollars.
4.4.- Tourist Guides
Within the tourist field, the Tipping in Peru is always expected. In fact the tourist guides almost in their majority depend mainly on the Tipping in Peru since many companies plant the rates in a low percentage so if you still have the doubt or you ask yourself, Do you tip in Peru?. you can consider that your contribution represents a motivation for multiple professionals in tourism to perform their work and to have continuous improvement.
5.- VARIATIONS TO CONSIDER
5.1.- Urban vs. Rural Areas
As previously mentioned the tradition or culture of Tipping in Peru has many aspects to consider and among them is the environment or place you visit. Essential places such as Lima, Cusco and Arequipa tend to contain a higher percentage of tips. This is especially due to the tourist and hotel factors that contain where services are more oriented and aligned to international standards, however it is quite the opposite in rural or remote areas where leaving Tips in Peru is a less frequent practice and of course lower in percentage.
5.2.- Foreign vs Local Tourism
Many times the expectation of foreign travelers is much higher than domestic travelers because popular places like Cusco or Machu Picchu are governed by expectations and are constantly influenced by international customs, essentially when it comes to visitors coming from countries where the custom of tipping is something more structured and standardized, on the other hand domestic tourists are more flexible in terms of aspects of tipping and it depends on the situation they experience during the service.
5.3.- Local restaurants vs. haute cuisine
It is common to see the difference in tipping percentage in these types of restaurants, many of the high-end or haute cuisine restaurants already include the tipping percentage in the bill while local restaurants voluntarily expect the contribution that each diner can provide for the service received.
6.- BE CAREFUL WITH THE PHOTOS
“A very uncomfortable moment that you have to take care of is that in certain places there are flashy people with particular costumes or curious animals such as llamas or sheep, remember that these people always expect a tip for the photo taken and in some cases they exaggerate the amount, before doing so ask how much is the value.”
7.- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
- Is tipping mandatory in Peru?
No, the culture of tipping in Peru is completely voluntary, it directly reflects the comfort and satisfaction you feel with the service you receive from a person, often it is also considered as a gesture of appreciation for the effort made.
- What is the standard tipping percentage in Peruvian restaurants?
Usually 10% is considered an adequate amount to tip in a restaurant, of course you can increase or decrease this percentage as you see fit and according to your perception of the type of service received.
- Do I tip taxi drivers in Peru?
It is not an obligation, in fact many times the gesture of providing Tips in Peru will depend on the type of connection you establish with a person, there are cases in which it is not necessary to provide some type of tip if the service is limited.
- How much should I tip tour guides?
There are several factors to consider at this point, among them is the duration of the service, the effort made, the connection established and so on. Although some people consider that it is fine to establish a range between USD 10.00 or USD 20.00 per person, others consider that it can be increased for the great work done.
- Are service charges already included in restaurant bills?
Not all, in many cases the bill only brings the amount consumed, in order to be sure of this it is important that before making the payment you consider it to the waiter so that you do not have an unexpected surprise at the end.
Directly during your trip the Tipping in Peru will be a direct reflection of the satisfaction you feel for the service and experience you will live, remember this is completely voluntary. Auri Peru can help you design a great adventure for 2025, start planning now by contacting us and designing a tailor made experience for you.
“Go see the world before it’s too late.”
