What is the currency in Peru?
Official currency is Sole. US dollars widely accepted in bigger towns and large hotels, but you need soles for small hotels, shops and in villages.1 US$ = around 3. 2soles. Always carry plenty of soles in small denominations in coins (2 soles, 1 sole, 5 soles). Street stalls, taxis and even most shops do not have change. Travellers Cheques should be in US$. American Express Travellers cheques are easiest to change in Peru. In Lima cheques can be changed in “Casas de Cambios” (Change houses), open until quite late in the evening, or in banks, and in some hotels. In Huaraz, cheques can only be changed in banks open approx. 9.30am – 12 noon and 4.30pm to 6pm Monday to Friday. Also open Saturday mornings but best to avoid Saturdays as they are very busy. Note that most banks have a daily limit on cashing travellers cheques of US$1000 per day. For US$ bring most in small notes – 10’s, 20’s and 50’s. Avoid bringing US$100 bills if possible as there are a lot of counterfeit US$100 bills circu
