Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Peru, or should I carry local cash?
Cash is the way to go if you’re using regular taxis. Even in tourist areas like Barranco or San Blas I never found a driver who accepted cards. Some airport taxis accept them but often with a 5 percent fee. I used Uber for airport pickups in Lima and paid with my Revolut card through the app. Worked perfectly. But for day to day transport keep cash ready especially if you’re going to rural areas or smaller towns.
Don’t count on paying for taxis with your card. Most taxis are informal and don’t even have meters let alone card machines. I tried asking one driver in Cusco if he took card and he just laughed. I used Uber in Lima with my Wise Visa and had no problems. Outside Lima, carry cash. I kept 10 and 20 soles notes for local rides and always asked for the price before getting in to avoid surprises.
I was hoping to use my card for taxis but it was a no-go. Even in Miraflores, none of the regular cabs took cards. I used Cabify and InDrive and paid through the app with my Visa card. It was super easy and felt safer than flagging someone on the street. For short trips or in smaller cities like Puno or Ica, it’s cash only. Best to break 20 or 50 soles notes before hopping in.
Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Peru, or should I carry local cash?
You’ll need to carry cash for most taxis in Peru. I was in Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa and not a single street taxi accepted cards. They don’t even have card readers. I used Uber and Cabify a lot in Lima though and paid through the app with my Mastercard. In Cusco I paid cash every time. Definitely keep some soles in small bills because many drivers won’t have change either.