TIPPING YOUR GUIDE
Tipping Your Guide in Peru: A Complete Tourist Guide
Traveling in Peru often means joining guided experiences, from exploring Machu Picchu to trekking the Andes or navigating the Amazon. Many visitors wonder: How much should I tip my guide? Do I have to tip porters and drivers too?
Unlike some countries where tipping is strictly regulated, in Peru tipping your guide is more of a customary gesture of appreciation than an obligation. Here’s everything you need to know.
Do You Need to Tip a Guide in Peru?
Tipping in Peru is not mandatory, but it is expected in the tourism industry, especially on guided tours, treks, and expeditions. Guides, porters, and drivers often rely on tips to supplement their wages, which can be modest compared to the effort they put into ensuring travelers have unforgettable experiences.
How Much to Tip Your Guide in Peru
The amount depends on the type of trip:
City Tours or Day Tours
For group tours: 10–20 soles per person is a kind and fair amount.
For private tours: 40–60 soles per day per group, depending on group size and service quality.
Multi-Day Treks (Inca Trail, Salkantay, Ausangate, etc.)
Lead guide: Around 60–100 soles per person, per trek (not per day).
Assistant guides (if included): Around 40–60 soles per person.
Porters, cooks, and muleteers: Usually 20–40 soles each, handed out collectively at the end of the trek.
Most trekking groups pool their tips together and distribute them fairly among staff. Your tour operator usually explains the process.
Drivers
For full-day tours with a dedicated driver, 10–20 soles per person is a good gesture. For shorter transfers, rounding up the fare is enough.
Pros of Tipping Your Guide
Acknowledges their hard work - Many guides spend years studying history, culture, and languages, and trekking staff carry heavy loads through tough conditions.
Supports local communities - Tips go directly to the people who make your trip possible.
Builds goodwill - A generous tip shows appreciation and can create a warm connection between you and your guide.
Cons of Tipping Your Guide
Budget concerns - If you’re traveling long-term, tipping can add up quickly.
Unclear standards - Expectations vary between companies, making it confusing for tourists.
Group dynamics - In large groups, uneven tipping can feel awkward if some people contribute more than others.
How to Tip Properly in Peru
Cash is king - Tips are almost always given in cash (soles are preferred over dollars).
Hand it directly - Give your tip to the guide at the end of the tour, ideally with a word of thanks.
For treks - Follow your guide’s instructions on when and how tips will be distributed. It’s usually done during a farewell ceremony on the last day.
Pool with the group - On treks, it’s common for travelers to collect money and divide it fairly among guides, cooks, and porters.
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. For many guides and trekking staff, tips make up a significant part of their income. While not obligatory, tipping is one of the best ways you can support the people who bring Peru’s culture, history, and landscapes to life.
Think of tipping not as a hidden cost but as a thank-you gift for the knowledge, safety, and effort your guide has provided.
Final Advice for Tourists
Plan ahead and keep small bills ready.
Always tip in soles if possible.
If you’re unsure, ask your operator about standard tipping guidelines.
Don’t feel pressured to over-tip - give what feels fair for the service you received.
In short: Tipping your guide in Peru is a thoughtful way to show gratitude. Whether it’s a few soles for a city tour or a pooled contribution after a multi-day trek, your tip directly supports the hardworking people who make your journey unforgettable.
