Business Customs

In Peru, business attire is conservative. Women typically wear dresses or skirts and blouses, and suits and ties are customary for men. It is customary for business partners to exchange business cards at the outset of a meeting. Business travelers to Peru seeking appointments with U.S. Embassy Lima officials should contact the Commercial Service in advance.

Travel Advisory

The U.S. Department of State’s webpage  provides travel information, including travel warnings and alerts.  The Embassy’s webpage contains information on routine passport and notarial services, guidance for travelers facing emergencies, and resources like lists of attorneys, translators, and medical personnel. The Department of State recommends that all U.S. citizens traveling overseas enroll their trip with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. travelers in need of an emergency passport should refer to U.S. Embassy in Lima, passport section.

The Department of State publishes country-specific information for all foreign countries including the location of the U.S. Embassy or consulate, immigration requirements, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. Peru’s Country Specific Information is in State Department Consular Information Sheet for Peru. Passports must have a minimum of six months’ validity at the time of entry. 

Visa Requirements

The U.S. Embassy in Lima maintains a website with information for business travelers seeking visas for travel to the United States. The national security of the United States and its citizens is the Visa applicants should go to the following link U.S. Department of State, Visas.

Currency

The Peruvian local currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN), and the average exchange rate in in 2024 was approximately 3.8 PEN to $1.   
 

Credit cards are accepted in most major retailers, hotels, and restaurants in Peru.  However, smaller businesses may only accept cash.  Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted credit cards, followed by American Express. Mobile payment applications such as Venmo and PayPal are not yet widely used in Peru, but Yape, a Latin American equivalent, is quite popular. ATMs are readily available in urban areas. Note that credit card companies as well as businesses themselves may charge foreign transaction fees for purchases made in Peru. These fees can be as high as 3 percent of the purchase amount. Credit card companies may also charge cash advance fees for withdrawing cash from ATMs in Peru. These fees can be as high as 5 percent of the amount withdrawn. ATMs in Peru often limit withdrawals to no more than 400 Peruvian soles (approximately $120) and charge ATM fees of up to $10.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Telefonica Movistar is the largest mobile service provider in Peru, with a market share of about 31 percent.  Claro is the second largest mobile service provider in Peru, with a market share of about 30 percent. This is followed by Entel Peru and Bitel both with a market share of approximately 20 percent. All four offer a variety of prepaid and postpaid plans, as well as mobile internet and data plans. For travelers to Peru, a smartphone will function if it has GSM/GPRS service. For long-distance calling, there are a variety of pre-paid calling services. In addition, Wi-Fi access is widely available in many public and private venues.

Transportation 

Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport has opened a brand-new terminal as of June 1, 2025, making travel to and from Peru smoother and more efficient for millions of visitors annually. This expanded, modern terminal serves as the country’s main hub for international arrivals and departures, further strengthening Lima’s role as South America’s gateway for both tourism and business.
There are direct flights from the following cities to Peru:
·    Atlanta, United States
·    Dallas, United States
·    Fort Lauderdale, United States
·    Houston, United States
·    Los Angeles, United States
·    Miami, United States
·    Orlando, United States
·    New York, United States
·    Bogotá, Colombia
·    Buenos Aires, Argentina
·    London, United Kingdom
·    Mexico City, Mexico
·    Panama City, Panama
·    Quito, Ecuador
·    Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
·    Santiago, Chile
·    São Paulo, Brazil
·    Cartagena, Colombia
·    Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
·    Medellín, Colombia
·    Guayaquil, Ecuador
·    La Paz, Bolivia
·    Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Domestically, there are daily flights between Lima and provincial cities, but flights between provincial cities are infrequent, and most travel between metropolitan areas will require a layover in Lima.

Current travel restrictions
Some countries in the region may require proof of yellow fever vaccination, particularly for travelers who have visited Peru.

Airport Taxis 
The U.S. Embassy in Lima recommends using official airport taxi services and cautions against hailing taxis on the street.  The safe and reliable taxi services located in Lima International Airport include Taxi Green, Taxi 365, Taxi Directo, and CMV Taxi, which may be hired at their own kiosk or at the “Taxis Autorizados” kiosks.  In major urban areas, Uber and Cabify are widely used and are generally reliable.

Rail
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications oversees Peru’s limited rail system, which consists of a basic metro system in Lima.  The only line of the Lima Metro currently in operation is Line 1, a 26.6-kilometer-long elevated line that runs from Villa El Salvador in the south to San Juan de Lurigancho in the north. Line 2 is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2026. Line 3 is still in the planning stages and is expected to be completed in 2030.

Ground Transportation
Driving in Peru can be dangerous, especially at night.  Visitors should familiarize themselves with local laws and customs before driving.  Inter-city bus travel is also not without certain risks.  In Lima, it is best to use the Metropolitano, the city’s first public, urban, and massive transport system. The Metropolitano has high safety and technology standards, and its buses are powered by natural gas.

Language

Peru has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara, but most business is conducted in Spanish. While some members of the Peruvian business community may speak English, marketing literature for the Peruvian market should be in Spanish. Quechua and Aymara are more common in the Andean highlands.

Health

Medical care is adequate in Lima and major cities, but quality is inconsistent elsewhere in Peru. Private, urban healthcare facilities are often better-staffed and better-equipped than public or rural ones. Public facilities in Cusco are generally unable to treat serious medical conditions. Visitors to popular Andean destinations, such as Cusco/Machu Picchu, Arequipa/Colca Canyon, and Puno/Lake Titicaca, often suffer from altitude-related illnesses. Travelers to Peru should purchase medical evacuation/global health insurance to cover the unlikely but costly instance of needing medical evacuation.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

Lima is situated directly south of New York in terms of longitude, occupying the Eastern Standard time zone (UTC minus 5). Peru does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The format for writing dates is the day of the month, month, and year, e.g., April 28, 2023, would be written as 28/04/20231.

Business hours in Peru are generally from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Breakfast meetings are becoming increasingly common, and people typically schedule business lunches between the hours of 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Business offices, excluding banks, are closed on Saturdays. In the provinces, business hours are usually from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is acceptable to arrive half an hour late for social functions. However, punctuality is the norm for business visitors to social and business functions. See a list of official Peruvian holidays. 

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

The Customs authority SUNAT oversees the temporary entry of items into Peru. Goods for registered trade fairs may temporarily enter Peru by paying a bond without paying duties. In addition, travelers may enter Peru with a cellular phone and a laptop computer as long as the items are for personal use. Information regarding items that require temporary entry registration is on ADUANET’s “Temporary Entry for Travelers.” A customs guide for travelers can be found at SUNAT. The Peruvian Customs Baggage Declaration form is also available at SUNAT.