How much spending money do you need for two weeks in Peru?

For a two-week trip to Peru, a sensible amount of spending money is roughly £500 to £900 per person — assuming your flights, hotels, main transport and guided sightseeing are already booked as part of a tour. That range covers the meals that aren't included, drinks, snacks, tips, a few optional extras and some souvenirs, with a little cushion. Spend less if you're a light eater who doesn't shop; budget more if you enjoy good dinners out and coming home laden with alpaca goods.

Peru is, on the whole, very good value for British visitors. Everyday costs — a decent lunch, a coffee, a taxi, a bottle of water — are noticeably cheaper than at home, so your money goes a long way once the big-ticket items are paid for.

The honest answer depends on what your trip already includes and how you like to travel, so below we break down exactly what you'll pay for day to day, what to tip, and how to handle cash and cards safely. (Prices here are approximate and in pounds; exchange rates move over time.)

The quick answer

• Budget roughly £500–£900 per person as spending money for two weeks, on top of a pre-booked tour.
• Peru is good value — meals, taxis and snacks cost less than in the UK.
• Carry cash (Peruvian soles) for markets, tips, taxis and small cafés; use cards in hotels and better restaurants.
• Set aside about £3–£7 a day for tips for guides and drivers, plus more on treks.
• A mid-range restaurant meal runs about £8–£20; a smart dinner in Lima or Cusco £25–£40.
• Bring some US dollars as a backup — widely exchangeable — and tell your bank you're travelling.
• A new airport fee (TUUA) at Lima may need paying separately if it isn't in your ticket.
• Keep a contingency of £100–£150 for the unexpected.

On an organised small-group trip, most of the expensive things are already covered, which is what keeps your day-to-day spending low. Typically included:

• internal flights and train journeys (for example the train to Machu Picchu)
• hotels
• guided sightseeing and entrance fees to the main sites
• airport transfers, and often breakfast plus some other meals

What you'll usually pay for yourself:

• lunches and dinners that aren't included
• drinks — soft drinks, coffee, wine, the famous pisco sour
• snacks, bottled water and treats
• tips for guides, drivers and restaurant staff
• souvenirs and shopping
• any optional excursions you choose to add
• personal bits: laundry, a massage, postcards, pharmacy items

Always check your specific itinerary for exactly which meals are included — it's the single biggest factor in how much cash you'll get through. A trip with most dinners included needs far less spending money than one where the evenings are left free.

Here's what everyday things actually cost, to help you picture it. Prices are approximate, in pounds:

• Lunch at a good local restaurant: £6–£12
• Dinner, mid-range: £8–£20
• A smart dinner in Lima or Cusco: £25–£40
• Coffee or a soft drink: £1.50–£3
• A pisco sour or glass of wine: £4–£7
• Bottled water and snacks for the day: £2–£4
• Short city taxi ride: £2–£5
• A typical optional extra (a museum, a spa treatment, a cookery demonstration): £10–£40

Put together, if you're covering your own lunches and dinners, a comfortable £40–£60 a day per person handles food, drinks and small extras without counting the pennies. Over twelve to fourteen days that's roughly £500–£800, before any serious souvenir shopping. Add your tips and a contingency and you land in that £500–£900 range. If more meals are included in your tour, you'll spend noticeably less.

Tipping is customary in Peru and genuinely appreciated, but the amounts are modest. As a rough guide:

• Tour leader / guide: around £3–£5 per person per day is a common benchmark on group tours
• Local city guides (half or full day): a few pounds each
• Drivers: a small tip for a day's driving, £1–£3
• Restaurants: around 10% if service isn't already added
• Hotel porters and housekeeping: the equivalent of £1 or so
• Trek porters and cooks (if you do a trek): tipping is expected and more significant — your operator will suggest an amount

Tips are easiest to give in cash, in soles, so keep small notes handy. On a guided trip your tour leader can advise on local norms if you're unsure.

Souvenirs. Peru is a joy for shopping — alpaca scarves, jumpers and blankets, ceramics, silver, coffee and chocolate. A quality alpaca scarf might be £15–£40, a jumper £30–£80, smaller crafts just a few pounds. Markets expect gentle bargaining; fixed-price shops don't. Set a souvenir budget separate from your daily spending so it doesn't quietly creep up.

The local currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN). You can't easily buy soles in the UK, so most people draw cash from ATMs on arrival or change a little money there.

Cards versus cash

• Cards (especially Visa and Mastercard) are widely accepted in hotels, larger shops and better restaurants in the cities.
• Cash in soles is essential for markets, small cafés, taxis, tips and rural areas — carry a mix of small notes.
• US dollars make a useful backup — widely exchangeable — but change or spend them rather than relying on them everywhere, and bring clean, undamaged notes.
• Tell your bank and card provider you're travelling so your cards aren't blocked, and check foreign-transaction fees.

Staying safe with money

• Use ATMs inside banks, malls or hotels in daylight rather than street machines, and be discreet withdrawing cash.
• Carry only what you need for the day; leave the rest and your spare card in the hotel safe.
• Avoid changing money at the airport, where rates are poor, and never change money with people on the street.
• A new departure fee (TUUA) applies at Lima and may not be in your ticket — keep a little aside in case.

How our experience helps

On our small-group trips your tour leader handles the logistics that would otherwise cost you money and stress — transfers, entrance tickets, the train — and can point you to good-value restaurants and trustworthy places to change money or shop. Because so much is arranged in advance, most travellers find they need less spending money than they expected, and rarely worry about carrying large amounts of cash.

Frequently asked questions

Should I take US dollars or British pounds to Peru? US dollars are far more useful as a backup and easier to exchange than pounds. Take some dollars in good condition, but plan to spend mostly in soles drawn from ATMs.

Can I use my UK debit or credit card in Peru? Yes, in most hotels and city restaurants and shops, though smaller places and markets are cash-only. Tell your bank you're travelling and expect some foreign-transaction and ATM fees.

How much should I budget for tips over two weeks? Roughly £40–£90 per person across a fortnight, depending on group size and whether you do a trek with porters. Keep it in small soles notes.

Is Peru expensive for tourists? Not especially — everyday costs are lower than in the UK, which is why spending money goes a long way once your tour is paid for. Fine dining and imported goods are the main things that add up.

Do I need to carry a lot of cash? No. Draw modest amounts as you go, use cards where you can, and keep the bulk in the hotel safe. Carrying large sums isn't necessary and isn't wise.

What if I run low? ATMs are available in all the main towns you'll visit, so topping up is straightforward. It's the reassurance of a contingency, more than the amount, that matters.

Related reading

• The best time to visit Peru
• Will the altitude affect you in Cusco and at Machu Picchu?
• How many days do you really need in Peru?
• Is Peru safe for travellers over 60?